Is your religion making Americans poor.

[GingerBeer]

The USA is driven by corporate profit and governed by politicians who are in the pockets of corporate lobbyists and churches are busy making people believe that this is all good and godly and right and as things ought to be. When things go wrong how many pulpits are filled by men and women preaching

(Romans 13:1-5) [1] Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. [2] Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgement. [3] For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, [4] for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. [5] Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.​

But the scriptures are not written to make people docile. Injustice is not to be accepted. Wealth and power are not to be taken by the strong and denied to the less strong, the old, widows, orphans, the weak, and the poor. The prophets railed against Israel's kings, nobles, and religious leaders when the poor were left homeless in poverty. How much more should churches be doing the same - railing against injustice and poverty and fighting to have it redressed. How much more should christian voters be voting to prevent wealth from being accumulated in the hands of a very small number of families while millions are in abject poverty? So is your religion making Americans poor?

 

[redleghunter]

But the scriptures are not written to make people docile. Injustice is not to be accepted. Wealth and power are not to be taken by the strong and denied to the less strong, the old, widows, orphans, the weak, and the poor. The prophets railed against Israel's kings, nobles, and religious leaders when the poor were left homeless in poverty. How much more should churches be doing the same - railing against injustice and poverty and fighting to have it redressed. How much more should christian voters be voting to prevent wealth from being accumulated in the hands of a very small number of families while millions are in abject poverty? So is your religion making Americans poor?

It's not the Christian 'religion' making people poor. It's people who think this life is the only one we have and they amass millions and billions. Christians are givers, missionaries and clothe the naked, feed the hungry and minister to the poor.

 

[crossnote]

The Church's main function is the proclamation of the Gospel (where all the riches in Christ Jesus is found). Secondly they are not to forget the poor. But what good does it do a person if he gains the whole world (status, wealth and health) but lands up losing his own soul?

 

[Anthony2019]

There are countless verses throughout the old and new testament about God's care and concern about the poor, the orphans, widows, those who are weak and sick.

Jesus gave some very comforting words for those who were poor and needy. However, he gave some very solemn and harsh warnings about those who put their heart in riches and neglect the poor.

 

[chevyontheriver]

So is your religion making Americans poor?

Interesting question. But what about Australia? Different or the same?

 

[Stormy]

How many ways can I steal from another? How many ways can I make them think that they owe it to me? How many ways can I twist their achievements to be the fault of my own lack of advancement? How in the heck can I possibly take responsibility for my own life?

The internal questions of a socialist

 

[JCFantasy23]

How much more should churches be doing the same - railing against injustice and poverty and fighting to have it redressed. How much more should christian voters be voting to prevent wealth from being accumulated in the hands of a very small number of families while millions are in abject poverty? So is your religion making Americans poor?

Most of my church's sermons are concerning those who struggle in life, reaching out, helping the community, and missionary work. We do charity drives and also help the local homeless shelter. Churches do help the community. As for the politics of the matter, that is on the Christian themselves and is a bit outside our control. Our country is made up of rich but it's oversimplifying to say you can vote that out as it currently stands. For one thing, the government wouldn't let that happen.

 

[crossnote]

If one takes the effort to read the Book of Acts, or the Epistles, the only time you see the Church helping the poor is when they are helping the other poor Churches or members. Even Peter and John in Acts 3 said to the lame beggar, "Silver and gold have I none". It's no where emphasized in the New Testament to the point that Socialists, Red Letter Christians, or theological liberals try to make it out as.
If a Christian believes that is his calling, fine and good, just don't try to lay a guilt trip on those who feel the need to concentrate on getting the Gospel message out to the lost.

 

[Rescued One]

My non-Christian mother didn't truly believe in charity; she preferred to receive. But she wanted the government to provide welfare and in the fifties she would pay African-American children to pull weeds in her yard.

I give to the poor but I'm no better than any other Christian. God enables Christians to do the works He has ordained for them to do (Ephesians 2:10) and (1 Corinthians 15:10).

 

[Athanasius377]

The USA is driven by corporate profit and governed by politicians who are in the pockets of corporate lobbyists and churches are busy making people believe that this is all good and godly and right and as things ought to be. When things go wrong how many pulpits are filled by men and women preaching

(Romans 13:1-5) [1] Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. [2] Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgement. [3] For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, [4] for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. [5] Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.​

But the scriptures are not written to make people docile. Injustice is not to be accepted. Wealth and power are not to be taken by the strong and denied to the less strong, the old, widows, orphans, the weak, and the poor. The prophets railed against Israel's kings, nobles, and religious leaders when the poor were left homeless in poverty. How much more should churches be doing the same - railing against injustice and poverty and fighting to have it redressed. How much more should christian voters be voting to prevent wealth from being accumulated in the hands of a very small number of families while millions are in abject poverty? So is your religion making Americans poor?

I would be careful painting with such a broad brush. The US has its problems and it’s amplified because of our wealth but there are plenty of churches that rail against the rampant materialism that are orthodox. They aren’t the televangelist programs you may get on tv they are small congregations on a corner in the heartland or the inner city that work tirelessly trying to find food and shelter to those left behind in our economic boom. But folks never hear about us because we don’t have have syndicated tv program. Believe me, there are many a Christian who knows there’s a reckoning coming.

 

[Albion]

There are countless verses throughout the old and new testament about God's care and concern about the poor, the orphans, widows, those who are weak and sick.

Jesus gave some very comforting words for those who were poor and needy. However, he gave some very solemn and harsh warnings about those who put their heart in riches and neglect the poor.

To the best of my knowledge, there is no prohibition preventing a person in this country from giving to the poor as much of his wealth as he chooses.

 

[GingerBeer]

Amass millions and billions? Not my bag.

No, do the things you listed - clothe the naked, feed the hungry and minister to the poor. when did you last do that?

 

[GingerBeer]

Interesting question. But what about Australia? Different or the same?

Similar but less wealth concentrated in the hands of a few.

 

[GingerBeer]

How many ways can I steal from another? How many ways can I make them think that they owe it to me? How many ways can I twist their achievements to be the fault of my own lack of advancement? How in the heck can I possibly take responsibility for my own life?

The internal questions of a socialist

God gave laws to Israel to return the land to its inheritors and to prevent wealth being amassed in the hands of a few while the many suffered in poverty so you light try consulting those laws and then ask your legislators why they are not working to pass similar laws suited to the times and condition of Americans. Or do you think God is a socialist? If he is then why aren't you?

 

[GingerBeer]

If one takes the effort to read the Book of Acts, or the Epistles, the only time you see the Church helping the poor is when they are helping the other poor Churches or members. Even Peter and John in Acts 3 said to the lame beggar, "Silver and gold have I none". It's no where emphasized in the New Testament to the point that Socialists, Red Letter Christians, or theological liberals try to make it out as.
If a Christian believes that is his calling, fine and good, just don't try to lay a guilt trip on those who feel the need to concentrate on getting the Gospel message out to the lost.

Does your bible has an old testament in it and if it does have you read the laws God gave to protect the poor, return the land to its inheritors and stop the rich accumulating all the wealth of the land? It is healthy reading if you take the time. Maybe God is "red letter" in his gospel too.

 

[GingerBeer]

My mother didn't truly believe in charity; she preferred to receive. But she wanted the government to provide welfare and in the fifties she would pay African-American children to pull weeds in her yard.

I give to the poor but I'm no better than any other Christian. God enables Christians to do the works He has ordained for them to do (Ephesians 2:10) and (1 Corinthians 15:10).

Yes, God does enable Christian to do the works he has foreordained for them to do: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothing to the naked, welcome to strangers, care to the sick, comfort and support to the imprisoned (Matthew 25:35-36). It would help if Christians also voted to support these works of mercy that Christ praises.

 

[chevyontheriver]

Similar but less wealth concentrated in the hands of a few.

I just found it interesting that you, an Aussie, made this look like an exclusively American problem.

 

[redleghunter]

No, do the things you listed - clothe the naked, feed the hungry and minister to the poor. when did you last do that?

Are you asking me to let my left hand know what my right hand is doing?

 

[(° ͡ ͜ ͡ʖ ͡ °) (ᵔᴥᵔʋ)]

How much more should Christian voters be voting to prevent wealth from being accumulated in the hands of a very small number of families while millions are in abject poverty? So is your religion making Americans poor?

The only flaw with this argument is that it wrongfully assumes that "If the rich are getting richer, the poor must be getting poorer." Which is untrue. In the United Stats, the rich aren't the only ones getting richer. The poor are too! The rich may get richer, but are the poor getting poorer?

 

[crossnote]

Does your bible has an old testament in it and if it does have you read the laws God gave to protect the poor, return the land to its inheritors and stop the rich accumulating all the wealth of the land? It is healthy reading if you take the time. Maybe God is "red letter" in his gospel too.

Those laws were addressed to Israel as a nation in Covenant with God. God put that program on the back burner til the Last Days. In the interim, He has formed the Church to
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Mat 28:19-20)
and Paul stated..
The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” (Act 17:30-31)

He has not called us to set up health kitchens or Christian Boutiques but to meet the urgent times and spread the Gospel because His Coming and Judgment can happen at any time.
God will judge those who have stolen land from the innocent, He doesn't expect the Church to set up a Kingdom here on earth like some institutional Churches try to do, nor did He teach the Church to practice communism against it's will.