- Mar 25, 2020
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So here's the question. How could 2 billion Christians across the globe, becoming homeless
We do need to be willing to be homeless. Jesus himself sometimes stayed in houses, but he also sometimes slept out under the stars. He even warned a would-be disciple with this fact, making it clear that followers of Jesus need to be prepared to rough it. People often react to these teachings by referring to homelessness with a kind of incredulity which suggests they think it's disgusting and dirty. It often comes across to me as fear mongering (i.e. the homelessness monster will get you if you try to obey Jesus!). Yes, there is the possibility that God may lead you into a situation where you will be homeless. So? Is that the line you will not cross?
and unemployed
So much of this requires sincere perspective. When you refer to employment, you mean work for money. The implication is that if you're not working for money, then whatever it is you do do is not really work. According to this standard, all that traveling and preaching and healing Jesus did wasn't really work, because he wasn't doing it for money.
We need to move away from this concept that it is really money which puts the food on the table rather than God. Jesus addresses this quite clearly in Matthew 6:19-34. He says we cannot work for God and money at the same time without cheating on one or the other. This makes sense, right? You can't say you love someone if you only help them because they agree to give you payment. Work for love and work for money are inherently opposite concepts.
He says we should not allow worry about food and clothing stop us from stepping out in faith. He says people who do allow this worry to stop them have little faith. He says we should consider the birds and flowers precisely because they do not work for money and yet God still feeds and clothes them. He even refers to Solomon, one of the richest men in history and says that he (Jesus) is offering something better than Solomon, with all wealth, could offer. He finishes by saying that our new, full-time job is to seek God's kingdom and God, our true employer, will provide the things we need.
There is no shortage of work to be done. The question is, why do we work; for money or for love? In fear, or in faith? So, you should not continue with this argument that either I, or Jesus, is promoting laziness (i.e. unemployment). When you do that, it indicates that you are looking for a reason to reject the teaching.
and all conglomerating in one spot, help spread the gospel better?
Obviously everyone gathering together in one spot is contrary to the concept of going out into the world to spread the gospel. But then again, Jesus did not say to gather in one spot in the same way you have suggested here (again, with that sense of incredulity which indicates that you are looking for a reason to reject the teaching).
There may be circumstances where God calls a large group together for fellowship or inreach, but that is not permanent.
And, what does this look like in practical life? The example of the church in Acts gives us perhaps the clearest scriptural indication.
Acts 2:44-45
And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
They shared "as every man had need". This would include clothing, food, tools, houses, skills, etc. Does that really sound so bad or unworkable? All it requires is people who want to do it. A desire for goodness is what makes it work.
However, I feel that I probably have not really answered the question well. I'm sorry about that. I perhaps feel a bit jaded because I used to put a lot of effort into these kinds of discussion with what seemed to me to be very little enthusiasm in return. As a result, I've created a new thread with a video which deals with these issues in a more enthusiastic way. I hope you will feel as inspired by it as I do.
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