Why do people have such issues with Christians being wealthy?

Question

Sincere answers, please.

the question was based on a comment by another questioner.

Bob N--this is a sincere question--if you don't like it, you didn't have to answer it.

((((malcolm))))

Answer 1

((((Hey NURSE)))))

No issues here....

I believe that EVERYONE who earns it, deserves to be RICH and WEALTHY.

But many people here (most, I guess) claim to be die-hard Christians, but do otherwise.

They're in the Do-As-I-Say-Not-Do -As-I-Do mood. So what I point at is the terrible discrepancies and contradictions of what they preach and the way they live.

Preach with examples, I'd say.

Or, Walk the talk, boost rather than boast, etc.

Answer 2

It's not wealth so much as the obvious and indiscriminate pursuit of money that certain Christians demonstrate as well as a showy display of it to an obscene amount.

And while America is a capitalist society, there is a big difference between productivity and empty materialism and greed which result in things like the Enron scandal, the layoffs of thousands of hardworking Americans just to get a stock increase of .001%, unfair financial practices, fleecing of honest citizens and unbridled consumerism for things we really do not need, unsafe and dangerous products being KNOWINGLY sold to us just to make a profit, materialistic tele-evangelism, the millions of Americans in credit card debt because they cannot be content with the material possessions they have and the shameless flaunting of wealth while others go hungry.

I think it is those things Jesus had in mind in Matt 19:23-24, Luk 16:14, 1John 3:17.

Answer 3

Money divides us. It takes our attention away from God and places it on our wealth.

My fear is that many Americans, who believe they are saved, will find at their judgement that they are not. Remember, Jesus will tell many believers to go away, that He never knew them. That's directed as us - those who believe they are Christians!

He added that its almost impossible for the rich to get into heaven. Why? Because we cannot worship God and money. While we may not bow down to the dollar and praise it, we worship it by how much attention we pay to it.

And why do we need the comforts of life? Why do we need the $40,000+ car, $200,000+ house and nice furniture? Its precisely because we worship money, or else, we worship the American dream and a comfortable life.

Remember, Jesus was homeless. He was poor. He loved those who gave it all away and condemned those who could not do so.

So is it better to be wealthy or to have nothing?

Edit:
And who are the rich?

Just about everyone in America. After all, 95% of Americans are richer than 95% of the rest of the world (or something along those lines). We are all rich. So we should all be on guard.

Answer 4

They shouldn't. God blesses some people with money for philanthropy. A good Christian tithes 10% or more of their income. Then you should give in addition to that. I have found that the more you give to God the more you get back from God. That has been the truth in my life. I believe that if the wealthy christian use their money wisely and not on exorbitant greediness then great. It is those that make the money sinful- greed, gluttony, gambling addictions, shopping addictions... that are the ones who need to be prayed for.

Answer 5

There's no issue with a person of any faith being wealthy.

The issue is that certain people preach religion in a way that tends to emphasise financial wealth as next to Godliness. And they do it for profit themselves. That some of them happen to be Christian is only incidental, not because it is what Christianity teaches.

Answer 6

I've never really heard of people having issues with 'Christians' being wealthy in particular. Where did you get that crap?

That's a stupid thing to ask.

Take out the word Christian, and you'll have a legitimate and provocative question.

Answer 7

Christmas being wealthy ????
It's the same as Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day.
You get the junk-mail in your letterbox saying .... "Buy Dad a big 42" Plasma TV for Father's Day" ...... yeah right.
You get the junk-mail in your letterbox saying .... "Buy mum a big 42" Plasma TV for Mother's Day"
Does everyone out there think that we can afford it. ?
No way ... my mum gets a basket filled with all kinds of canned stuff, plus biscuits, tea, coffee and chocolates which cost me about $40.

Answer 8

Well first of all not all Christians are financially wealthy, but many are vary wealthy spiritually, and this is the misconception many have about Christians, they simply cannot comprehend that there is a difference. peace be with you.

Answer 9

I think it has something to do with that quote Jesus said about it being easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into Heaven.

Answer 10

When God gives favor to His Children, the disobedient get envious.

Root of jealousy. Self righteous judging, that people who serve God should live in poverty. God blesses His own throughout the bible, why not let God bless those who believe in Him & His Word?

It is true that one can love money more than God, then the love of money is the root of evil. People lie, steal or kill for more money, because money is their God. Or they do it because drugs is their God. And they need the $ for the drugs.

Jesus said that you can't have two Gods. You will either love money first or love God first. Loving God first, God blesses and we increase. It is a promise to sow and it will return. Sow seeds of faith, hope, love, joy, peace, and money, etc... and it will return & multiply. It is Gods concept.

Greed is the sin, not having wealth.