Wealthy Christians
I grew up going to church, and almost every single Sunday when I’m home, I always go to church with my family. Santa Barbara is a wealthy area, and the majority of the members of my church drive up on Sunday mornings in their Mercedes or BMWs. The women wear designer outfits, and the men wear their Armani suits. And every now and then, Kathy Ireland will show up with her kids to attend the service. Bottom line is that this is not a normal community, but the church community is very strong.
A few years ago in one of sermons, one of the guest speakers brought up the question “Are wealthy people really Christian?” He is actually a respected professor at the Christian college in our town, and in his belief, being a wealthy Christian is a sin. He believes that if you have extra money, you should be giving money away to people who are less fortunate, all in the name of the Lord. From what I remember, he made it seem that you could not be a Christian and make over a certain amount of money because it was contradictory to everything Christians believe.
Why should someone’s level of income determine their religious standing? As we’ve discussed in my sociology class, someone’s education level is a great prediction as to how successful they will be later on in their life. If someone has put in the work required to receive a higher degree and is successful (money wise) from having received that degree, why would it make them less “Holy” compared to someone who works at K-Mart?
A few years ago in one of sermons, one of the guest speakers brought up the question “Are wealthy people really Christian?” He is actually a respected professor at the Christian college in our town, and in his belief, being a wealthy Christian is a sin. He believes that if you have extra money, you should be giving money away to people who are less fortunate, all in the name of the Lord. From what I remember, he made it seem that you could not be a Christian and make over a certain amount of money because it was contradictory to everything Christians believe.
Why should someone’s level of income determine their religious standing? As we’ve discussed in my sociology class, someone’s education level is a great prediction as to how successful they will be later on in their life. If someone has put in the work required to receive a higher degree and is successful (money wise) from having received that degree, why would it make them less “Holy” compared to someone who works at K-Mart?
2 Comments:
These are all great questions. What do you think was his answer? What in Christian Theology buts against wealth. It sounds like he did not have any problem with Christians making money, just with them using that money to maintain wealth (wealth is not necessarily how much you make, but based on ownership of resources). But this is an age-old debate in Christianity, and there is a strong current within that tradition which advocates renouncing wealth as central to the spiritual life.
Other traditions of ethics view wealth differently. For example, a classic Pagan ethic sees accumulation of wealth as a virtue, if the person uses that wealth for the betterment of others. But this is an ethic that has at its base a validation of the embodied, material life. So much of the christian tradition has been at odds with the body and the material world that you can see why it would reject wealth.
I'd love to hear others thoughts on this as well.
I am leading a house group this week on this same subject. We have to take into account that there were many great old testement personalities who were rich. E.g Job, Abraham, David etc. God said He would prosper people if they remain faithful and righteous, they had to commit 10% of their income to the temple and be kind to the poor(Perhaps a little simplistic but you get my drift). However in the new Testement at pentecost all that changed, the old law was superceded by the New Covenant. When we now look at the situation there was no 10% tithe mentioned, the Christians regarded everything they owned as God's possessions, ie they were simply custodians of Gods wealth. If they had planty of wealth they gave plenty. If they saw someone in the church in need they did something about it. It is God who gives us health and intelligence to study for higher qualifications and get rich.
My opinion is that there is nothing wrong with wealthy Christians but if they are not known for their kindness then there is a problem. James 1:9 - 11 clearly puts a person in humble circumstances in a better standing than a rich person. I think it totally ridiculous for a rich man to give away all he has because then God could not use that mans/womans wealth for His purposes.
Well thats my humble opinion.
Kind Regards
Andy
Post a Comment
<< Home