[inthebox]

How is it any different? - a house is used, an suv is driven, a TV is watched.

Who are you to judge what another person should drive or what house they live in or the TV size they can watch?



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Romans 14



g&p

[NeedKarma]

So it's all very black and white?
American consumerism... believing that appearing wealthy is their god given right. LOL!
Apparently the OP felt that he had to give up his possessions to feel closer to the lord, I wonder where the hell he got that idea!



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Nk

[NeedKarma]

Who are you to judge what another person should drive or what house they live in or the tv size they can watch?

So you are OK with greed? You are not truly a Christian.

• Proverbs 30:8-9 — “Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”
• Luke 6:24 — “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.”
• Ecclesiastes 5:10-15 — “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them? The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep. I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner, or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when he has a son there is nothing left for him. Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand.”
• 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.”
• Proverbs 23:4-5 — “Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.”
• 1 Timothy 6:9-10 — “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
• Luke 16:25 — “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.’ ”
• Deuteronomy 6:10-12 — “When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”

• Mark 10:21 — “Jesus looked at him and loved him. ‘One thing you lack,’ he said. ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ ”
• 1 Timothy 6:6-7, 17-19 — “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ... Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
• Luke 12:15-17a, 19b-21, 33 — “Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’ And he told them this parable: ‘The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, ... “[I] have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you.” This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God. ... 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. ...’ ”

[inthebox]

So it's all very black and white?
American consumerism ... believing that appearing wealthy is their god given right. LOL!
Apparently the OP felt that he had to give up his possessions to feel closer to the lord, I wonder where the hell he got that idea!

nk

I never commented that the bible advocates consumerism or greed, American or otherwise. But thanks for the references ;)

My comments are directed to those who sit in judgement of those who drive suvs or live in large houses or watch TV on sets greater than a certain size. That smells of ENVY ;) Maybe they can afford it, maybe they go off roading, maybe they have 6 kids? Maybe they take care of elderly parents or more than one family lives in that large house? Why should I care if my neighbor drives an suv? How about if your neighbor has an $80 k or more 911? Why suv?



Odd that:

1] it is only American consumerism that you direct your comments at.
If it were not for American consumerism where would the economies of China, India
Etc be at? Were it not for people consuming the goods and services of others that
Provides them with a job? Is that not what an Obama "stimulus" package is suppose
To do, but theoretically, encourage consumption? Otherwise, we should all be Amish or
Subsistence farmers.

2] funny how on most of your posts indicate you don't believe in God or the bible yet are
Willing to quote from it :confused:






G&P

[andrewc24301]

Like I said, missionary work would be the way to go- if you were going to go down this road.

Personally, I don't buy into a lot of this "keeping up with the Joneses" thing. But its not because of any religious thing, its just because I fail to see the point in replacing a working TV set with a new one just because "everyone else is doing it".

[Credendovidis]

Obviously, you have not given up the "western" comfort of computer and internet access :p Just like a greedy westerner

No, indeed. I did not give up my computer and internet connection.
But I did give up 30 years of my life to help and educate those living under the worst of possible conditions in the third world.
Ever since I am back I spend lots of my time with participating in several unpaid volunteer work with handicapped children and with various activities in the local hospes.

So I did - and still do - my share of giving to others, instead of surrounding myself with more and more stuff.
Obviously, I'm not a greedy westerner...

How about you? What did/do you do for those who are in real need ?

? ? ? ? ? ? ?


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[N0help4u]

Since I basically live on the air I breath and most of what I own is stuff that was given to me for work I did. Since I try and help others and give a lot of what I worked for away I would say I am not a greedy westerner. I only have my vehicle, music, books, clothes, a few house decorations and boxes of stuff I either sell or give away.

[JudyKayTee]

I understand the live with less concept. I don't understand how dumping a CD collection in the trash instead of donating it to, say, the Salvation Army for resale, a homeless shelter, makes anyone closer to the Lord - ?

This seems the opposite of donating time/goods/services to the less fortunate.

[N0help4u]

I have to agree with Inthebox you can have material things and still be a Christian. As Inthebox pointed out envy is as much a sin as greed. If you work hard for what you have it doesn't mean you are greedy.

[cozyk]

I understand the live with less concept. I don't understand how dumping a CD collection in the trash instead of donating it to, say, the Salvation Army for resale, a homeless shelter, makes anyone closer to the Lord - ?

This seems the opposite of donating time/goods/services to the less fortunate.

I have to agree. Dumping them in the trash seems like a little "drama moment". Like you needed to do something radical to scratch that itch. Makes more practical sense and seems more beneficial to do something constructive than destructive.

Constructive beats destructive every time.;)

[N0help4u]

Some Christian groups teach that burning material possessions is the only way to really be free of them. They tend to see bad spirits or influences 'in' them and that giving them over to others is more like passing the sin instead of ridding it.

[JudyKayTee]

Some Christian groups teach that burning material possessions is the only way to really be free of them. They tend to see bad spirits or influences 'in' them and that giving them over to others is more like passing the sin instead of ridding it.

Just when I thought I'd heard everything - not arguing with you. I'm know you always know what you are talking about.

So if I decide to go with a less expensive car I'm supposed to torch mine? And a Christian group believes in bad spirits and influences in inanimate objects?

Yikes!

[N0help4u]

I didn't explain it very well but that is the gist of why some Christians started that and carried it over to any possessions.

(I was in what some people would call a cult in the mid 70's)

[Credendovidis]

N0help4u : I think that the idea to put the torch to personal "christian" belongings is quite a better and humane one than the previous "christian" idea to put the torch to persons with different "religious" ideas!!

So well done!!

:)

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[andrewc24301]

N0help4u : I think that the idea to put the torch to personal "christian" belongings is quite a better and humane one than the previous "christian" idea to put the torch to persons with different "religious" ideas !!!

So well done !!!

How true.

I still think that if burning CD's that you paid for brings personal satisfaction, have at it!

Would I burn CD's for this reason? No, but then that's me.
I have microwaved CD's before.

I would like to add, the original poster did not specify what KIND of CD's he is burning.
Perhaps they were CD's of a satantic nature, or otherwise contrary to his new belief. If this were the case, then I can see reason in burning them. If if that be the case, then better to burn them, than to give them away to someone for who those CD's might influence someone in the wrong way.

[N0help4u]

Probably heavy metal or rap.

[Credendovidis]

... I would like to add, the the origional poster did not specify what KIND of CD's he is burning.

Let's hope that all CD's of the fanatic fundamental religious type (whatever religion) are destroyed. That's the best you can do with them...

:)

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[inthebox]

No, indeed. I did not give up my computer and internet connection.
But I did give up 30 years of my life to help and educate those living under the worst of possible conditions in the third world.
Ever since I am back I spend lots of my time with participating in several unpaid volunteer work with handicapped children and with various activities in the local hospes.

So I did - and still do - my share of giving to others, instead of surrounding myself with more and more stuff.
Obviously, I'm not a greedy westerner ....

How about you? What did/do you do for those who are in real need ?

? ? ? ? ? ? ?


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My righteousness is by the blood of Christ - Ephesians 2: 8-9

So I will not get into a works contest with you, though I admire and respect and applaud you for the things you have done, are doing. :)






G&P

[Credendovidis]

... So I will not get into a works contest with you ....

That's just what I expected to hear...

:rolleyes:

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[cozyk]

My righteousness is by the blood of Christ - Ephesians 2: 8-9

What exactly does that mean?