Jesus advocated poverty. Why are christians such hypocrites?

Question

EDIT:

Matthew 19:21
Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

Luke 6:20
Looking at his disciples, he said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God."

Luke 12:33
Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.

Mark 10:25
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

Note:
In a global veiw, how many Americans are poor when thousands elsewhere starve daily?

Max Marie:
That's a fair point. But you know the people I mean.

Swindled:
I don't proclaim a book to be the word of god and then ignore it when it suits me, while using it to vilify something else. That's what makes them hypocrites.

Answer 1

Not all of us are hypocrites.

In Catholicism, monks, nuns, priests and sisters, even the pope - take vows of poverty. They own nothing.

Many of the laity, such as myself - a Third Order Franciscan - don't make such a vow, but rather a promise to live simply.

Only what I need. Nothing beyond that.

You also have Christians like the Quakers, Amish and Mennonite. Some of whom won't drive cars. Don't have TV.

Don't judge us based on the likes of Pat Robertson.

Answer 2

Im going to guess you are refering to that rich young ruler that Jesus told to 'sell all he had and follow Him'. If you read the context of the passage, Jesus is talking to a very self righteous young man who feels he has all his t's crossed and his i's dotted. He's kept commandments, etc... Jesus says 'sell all you have then' to make a point that to follow Him you have to be willing to sacrifice. You have to let go of all the things that prevent you from having a close relationship with Him. In this case, he was proving that as righteous as the young ruler was, he was not ready to become a pauper for the Faith. He abandoned the idea of becoming a disciple because the price was too great. For any christian who loves their money MORE than God, then they will eventually be faced with a decision. If money has become their comfort instead of God..they will have to choose. The same rich pastors you see on tv, some, not all, have encountered times in their lives where God told them to sell off their cars and homes and some did. God was teaching them a lesson about being puffed up and losing sight of what their role was as shepherds over the congregation. As long as a believer keeps their heart and head right, and doesnt worship the provision OVER the Provider, Jesus is happy to see us living an abundant life. And what is that abundant life?

3 John 1:2 reads, "I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers"...Paul was saying that as our souls prosper in the Faith he prayed God would bless us in all other areas.

Answer 3

I never thought I'd agree with him, but Johnny Zondo is right . . .
Money and donations have always been something that for most Christians has been a part of the Church-going experience.
Even if you watch TV, many "televangelists" preach about how God wants to make you rich, etc.
So, you ask a valid question.
I suppose the answer is a lack of following the Bible when it comes to money and how much it's worth. After all, Jesus said it's not worth gaining the whole world when you lose your own soul.
However, one shouldn't strive to be poor, you should always do your best and do good with what God gives you. . .

Answer 4

Jesus's idea was not realistic. The world could not survive if everyone gave away all of their possessions and became full-time religious followers.

There's an old saying that one can be as much a saint in a factory as in a monastery, and there is as much need for saints in both places. While I don't think monasteries are necessary, the saying is right to emphasize business.


The most important result of Jesus's teachings was that the poor were "blessed" (in the Beatitudes, for example), not because being poor was good but because in those days the poor were assumed to be morally suspect. Bad things were believed to be just punishment from an angry god, and so the down and out must just be getting what they deserve.

Some Old Testament books (most notably Jonah and Job) argue against this idea, too.

Answer 5

Please don't make a blanket statement. I see what you mean, but not all Christians are rich. I am so far from it that it isn't even funny. As we all know, and as the Bible states, " it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of Heaven".

Answer 6

Walk in my shoes for a day and you find out I am definitely not rich. I can not go to the store til paycheck arrives and then I really can not afford to go then. You must be looking at those rich men on tv. Most christians are poor, unless they have good jobs and even some live in simple lives giving to christian charities.

Answer 7

He didn't advocate poverty.He merely asked to give money to the poor which I do even though i'm 15 years old so calling every christian a hypocrite is very stupid on your part.

Answer 8

where does the Bible say that Jesus advocated poverty? He told His disciples that He came to give abundant life. Doesn't sound like poverty to me.

EDIT: Matthew 19:21 refers to the rich young man who asked Jesus what he needed to do to go to Heaven. Jesus' answer was to him as an individual. Verse 22 states that the young man went away sorrowful because he had great possessions--he was possessed by his possessions, if he had done as Jesus directed, he would have been delivered of the addiction to "things" & would have gotten back what he chose to give up. Jesus told His disciples that anyone who had given up possessions to follow Him would have them restored in this life. LUKE 6:10 says "Blessed are the POOR IN SPIRIT, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven." Please don't misquote to "prove" your point.

Answer 9

Jesus never advocated poverty.He advocated "poor" in spirit.A poor man can be rich if he clings to his posses ion so also a rich man can be poor if he is not attached to his wealth.Jesus philosophy was for not clinging to ones possessions but share it with the have nots.

Answer 10

Let me guess, ummmmmm , you and your kind are not hypocrites . Right? let's get it down to where the rubber meets the road. We are all hypocrites . So in a nut shell your posting is just atheistic proselytizing. So what's new? Certainly not that.