Conflict between religion and job responsibilities

cloudyday2

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I often feel there is a conflict between managing our small business and the teachings of Jesus. I would think the same conflicts would occur in other area of life too. For example people often use other people, but Jesus said to forgive 7 times 70, lend the shirt off your back, go the extra mile, etc.

IMO, Christianity is not a practical way of life. It leads to humiliation and defeat - just as it ended for Jesus on the cross. People can water-down Christianity and claim to be successful in life while also being Christian, but they are deceiving themselves.

I suspect that Judaism must have more practical instructions that do not cause a conflict. I don't know if Buddhism is compatible with worldly success or not. Islam I'm sure has no conflicts.

Any opinions?
 
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RaymondG

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I often feel there is a conflict between managing our small business and the teachings of Jesus. I would think the same conflicts would occur in other area of life too. For example people often use other people, but Jesus said to forgive 7 times 70, lend the shirt off your back, go the extra mile, etc.

IMO, Christianity is not a practical way of life. It leads to humiliation and defeat - just as it ended for Jesus on the cross. People can water-down Christianity and claim to be successful in life while also being Christian, but they are deceiving themselves.

I suspect that Judaism must have more practical instructions that do not cause a conflict. I don't know if Buddhism is compatible with worldly success or not. Islam I'm sure has no conflicts.

Any opinions?
I disciple of Christ, will be prosperous in all aspect of life....even if it doesn't appear so to those without.
".....prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."
 
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royal priest

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IMO, Christianity is not a practical way of life.
You're missing the "why" behind it all. It's not so much about what the Christian gains in this life as it is what he shall gain in the life to come.
Matthew 16:24-26
 
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Quid est Veritas?

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It leads to humiliation and defeat - just as it ended for Jesus on the cross.
We are all to bear our own cross, to suffer in a sense with Christ. The old person of the world must die, to be reborn in Christ.
I think you are quite right here, though the difference is in kind, not degree.

You cannot worship both God and Mammon.
 
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cloudyday2

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I disciple of Christ, will be prosperous in all aspect of life....even if it doesn't appear so to those without.
".....prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."
But wouldn't you agree that success in this life is almost impossible for a person who is really trying to follow the teachings of Jesus?
 
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Radagast

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cloudyday2

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You cannot worship both God and Mammon.

Yet many Christians seem to live comfortable, happy, and long lives. It seems to me that Christianity wouldn't even exist today if it had not cut a deal with the god Mammon from the very start.
 
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dreadnought

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I often feel there is a conflict between managing our small business and the teachings of Jesus. I would think the same conflicts would occur in other area of life too. For example people often use other people, but Jesus said to forgive 7 times 70, lend the shirt off your back, go the extra mile, etc.

IMO, Christianity is not a practical way of life. It leads to humiliation and defeat - just as it ended for Jesus on the cross. People can water-down Christianity and claim to be successful in life while also being Christian, but they are deceiving themselves.

I suspect that Judaism must have more practical instructions that do not cause a conflict. I don't know if Buddhism is compatible with worldly success or not. Islam I'm sure has no conflicts.

Any opinions?
Why can't you forgive 7 times 70 and run a business? Why can't you lend the shirt off your back (I'm sure you have another) and run a business? Why can't you go an extra mile (how many times have you been asked to do that) and run a business?
 
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RaymondG

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But wouldn't you agree that success in this life is almost impossible for a person who is really trying to follow the teachings of Jesus?
It is impossible for one to follow the teachings of Jesus and Not be successful. The thing is, success is viewed differently to different people.

Those you put a high importance on money, judge success in spiritual and natural life, by the amount of money you obtain.....Those, who money is not important to them, would not use money to judge anything.....rich would not automatically be linked to numbers in a bank account or earthly possessions.

To the sick.....to be healthy is to be rich. To the starving....those with a weeks supply of food are rich. To those with no shoes......someone with 2 pairs is rich.

No matter what you desire....If you follow the teachings of Christ....you can have it.....or the bible isnt true.

"4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."
 
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discipler7

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I often feel there is a conflict between managing our small business and the teachings of Jesus. I would think the same conflicts would occur in other area of life too. For example people often use other people, but Jesus said to forgive 7 times 70, lend the shirt off your back, go the extra mile, etc.
.
The Word/Law/commandment of God to "Love your neighbor/friend as yourself and hate your enemy(as the devil)" still holds true.
....... Similarly for the law of ni4ni, eg convicted murderers are executed or imprisoned.

It is a mistake, contrarian and foolishness for Christians to "love their enemies", "turn the other cheek", "go the extra mile", "lend to all who ask" or "pluck out their eyes and chop off their limbs".
....... Only those who do not accept Jesus as their Christ/Messiah but still want to be saved from hell, would need to fulfill such foolishness, eg the stiff-necked Jews and Pharisees who personally rejected Jesus Christ.(cf; MATTHEW.5:17-48, ROMANS.12:19-21)
 
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cloudyday2

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Why? Many Christians have been in business over the past 2000 years.
I suspect that if you examined their lives in detail you would find that they compromised the teachings of Jesus with the teachings of Mammon. They watered-down their beliefs. When somebody asked them for water, they said "sorry we're all out of water today. I need to keep some for my family." Etc.

Have you tried it?
Yep, enough to see that it isn't very practical.
 
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cloudyday2

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Why can't you forgive 7 times 70 and run a business? Why can't you lend the shirt off your back (I'm sure you have another) and run a business? Why can't you go an extra mile (how many times have you been asked to do that) and run a business?
LOL, people will eat your lunch, that's why you can't do that. I have tried to do what I can, and I think that has been a mistake to be honest.

Another issue is that I am a partner. Probably my duty in my job is to maximize profits - PERIOD. My inclinations to be nice to people should not be mixed with my job. This is probably true of people who are managers in larger businesses too. One of my old managers told me that a good manager must be a bit of a jerk.

There's a saying I heard "to err is human, but to blame it on others shows management potential" ;)
 
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dreadnought

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LOL, people will eat your lunch, that's why you can't do that. I have tried to do what I can, and I think that has been a mistake to be honest.

Another issue is that I am a partner. Probably my duty in my job is to maximize profits - PERIOD. My inclinations to be nice to people should not be mixed with my job. This is probably true of people who are managers in larger businesses too. One of my old managers told me that a good manager must be a bit of a jerk.

There's a saying I heard "to err is human, but to blame it on others shows management potential" ;)
I don't think you have to give anything away to anyone. On those rare occasions someone would ask for something for free, you could probably afford to give it to him. If not, say, "I'm sorry, I can't afford it."
 
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cloudyday2

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Have put my job and life on the line at times, because I'm a Christian. Still had bills to pay at the one time...as to my job...an apartment, but not a car. It was paid for, but I soon bought a brand new car after that and was given a rare award from the company.
That brings up the so-called "prosperity gospel". There are many Christians who believe that tithing and other charitable activities done in the proper state of mind are likely to be repaid many times over in this life. That is probably based on applying the covenant that God made with the Hebrews to modern Christians.

I think it would basically take a continual flow of miracles for a person to earnestly follow the teachings of Jesus and not find himself/herself starving to death.
 
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cloudyday2

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I don't think you have to give anything away to anyone. On those rare occasions someone would ask for something for free, you could probably afford to give it to him. If not, say, "I'm sorry, I can't afford it."
If you have it in your possession, then you can afford to give it. Don't you think Jesus would have given away all his clothing and walked naked to clothe somebody else? On the other hand, if you give away all your clothing in real life, then you might catch pneumonia and die.

See you are talking about compromise and setting limits. There is none of that in the gospel that I can see. Jesus said cut off your hand if necessary. Remove your eye, etc.
 
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royal priest

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Yet many Christians seem to live comfortable, happy, and long lives. It seems to me that Christianity wouldn't even exist today if it had not cut a deal with the god Mammon from the very start.
Everything we have is given to us by God. This includes every bite of food, every breath of air, every cent we earn and spend, etc.
He gives us these things to carry out His purpose and agenda. Some of that agenda is for our own aid and comfort to the extension of thankfulness and inspiration to live for Him, and some for the aid and comfort of others to the extension of the same on their part. To some God gives little, and to some He gives much. The Christians greatest concern should not be how much he recieves from God, but rather that he use the gifts given to Him for the praise and honor of His God and for the well-being of others.
So that, whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, we do all to the glory of God, the Giver. 1 Corinthians 10:31
Consider just how obligated we are to be thankful and sacrificial to God in light of what He has provided in spite of our utter failure to love Him as we ought. Psalms 103:10-14
 
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Trimeresurus

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IMO, Christianity is not a practical way of life. It leads to humiliation and defeat - just as it ended for Jesus on the cross. People can water-down Christianity and claim to be successful in life while also being Christian, but they are deceiving themselves.

That's what I think too. Christianity is more likely to create victims because of its lack of defensiveness. Speaking about business and success there are not many "good" people on the top. Let's face it. If you are taking your religion seriously you have to make cuts in you life. I'm not judging or despising christianity but in my job I could't be an christian because it is just stone-cold business.
 
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joshua 1 9

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There is a book called What Would Jesus Do (WWJD) This was very popular a few years ago. This is a very big problem for me. For example I would never work in convenience store where you sell thing that are harmful to people. I had a job in home improvement. One day I realized that 1/3 of the people did not really want what I was selling but I talked them into it, 1/3 of the people wanted it but they had to borrow the money so they really could not afford it. Then 1/3 of the people wanted, needed and could afford what I was selling. I could not have made a living and bought food for my family if I had to live on one third of my income.

So I want back to work as a carpenter. I did remodeling, renovation and repairs. People need homes to live in. Jesus was a carpenter. So I feel this was one of the most honest jobs there is.
 
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