Living for God

[Clem is Me]

This is about me, but it is for you.

Let's say that tommorow God reveals himself to me, including answers for my difficult theological questions and all that kind of stuff. He is, for all intents and purposes, the God of the Bible and I realise that he is love and that there is an eternity waiting for me and Jesus sarificed himself and everything like that. God is real and I love him as I am supposed to and all is good.

You would never hear from me again. I would immediately sell away all the things that are not vital for survival and give the money to the poor, then I would go out into the world and work purely fro God, accruing no wealth and wrrying about no death, sickness, hunger or exposure. God will provide and if He doesn't then I will suffer and die knowing that I will be in God's presence all the sooner. ALl that would matter is spreading God's word and his love and helping those around me with my efforts to come to the same knowledge as I have.

This would seem the logical way to proceed. Wordly wealth and health and happiness are irrelevant, and actually a detriment to my walk with the Lord. I wouldn't seek death, but I also wouldn't go out of my way to avoid it if it might help someone else in any possible way to come to a closer relationhip with God.

Therefore I could not justify owning a computer, car, fridge, TV, radio, collection of anything, any but the barest food needs and water, very basic clothing to maintain modesty but nothing else. No medicines, no books other than the Bible. I could not justify living in Amwerica when my God given skills and attitude might helkp someone in dire need elsewhere.

My question to Christians is how can you read this if you know God?

 

[Thirst_For_Knowledge]

This is about me, but it is for you.

Let's say that tommorow God reveals himself to me, including answers for my difficult theological questions and all that kind of stuff. He is, for all intents and purposes, the God of the Bible and I realise that he is love and that there is an eternity waiting for me and Jesus sarificed himself and everything like that. God is real and I love him as I am supposed to and all is good.

You would never hear from me again. I would immediately sell away all the things that are not vital for survival and give the money to the poor, then I would go out into the world and work purely fro God, accruing no wealth and wrrying about no death, sickness, hunger or exposure. God will provide and if He doesn't then I will suffer and die knowing that I will be in God's presence all the sooner. ALl that would matter is spreading God's word and his love and helping those around me with my efforts to come to the same knowledge as I have.

This would seem the logical way to proceed. Wordly wealth and health and happiness are irrelevant, and actually a detriment to my walk with the Lord. I wouldn't seek death, but I also wouldn't go out of my way to avoid it if it might help someone else in any possible way to come to a closer relationhip with God.

Therefore I could not justify owning a computer, car, fridge, TV, radio, collection of anything, any but the barest food needs and water, very basic clothing to maintain modesty but nothing else. No medicines, no books other than the Bible. I could not justify living in Amwerica when my God given skills and attitude might helkp someone in dire need elsewhere.

My question to Christians is how can you read this if you know God?

Most likely, because how you would choose to worship is different than others. All humans, by nature, will do what it takes to be happy. This transcends gods and religion. It's human nature. If doing those things that you described above, makes them happy, then I'm sure they will do it. If it doesn't, they won't, but will look for a way to represent their faith in a way that also makes them happy.

 

[Clem is Me]

Most likely, because how you would choose to worship is different than others. All humans, by nature, will do what it takes to be happy. This transcends gods and religion. It's human nature. If doing those things that you described above, makes them happy, then I'm sure they will do it. If it doesn't, they won't, but will look for a way to represent their faith in a way that also makes them happy.

But all that is worldly. And that would seem to go against the teachings of the bible. God should be the one providing comfort and happiness, not anything of this earth. And all the things of this earth stand between a true believer and the aftelife, which is supposed to be what matters. I contend that believers rationaise their way into comfortable living, but that if they truly have the faith they claim...well..

 

[Thirst_For_Knowledge]

But all that is worldly. And that would seem to go against the teachings of the bible. God should be the one providing comfort and happiness, not anything of this earth. And all the things of this earth stand between a true believer and the aftelife, which is supposed to be what matters. I contend that believers rationaise their way into comfortable living, but that if they truly have the faith they claim...well..

I'd somewhat agree.

 

[Clem is Me]

I guess this thread is in answer to the "without God what is there to live for" threads.

 

[lijeb]

The cool thing about God is that He uses us in different ways. Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell all he had and give it to the poor and follow Him. He told the man who was dispossessed of the legion of demons to go home to his family. Both men were called to serve. There were those who followed Him who "ministered to Him out of their substance" I think that means they had some money, and a means to make more...

 

[DailyBlessings]

Well, some people have given up everything to serve their Lord. I don't have the strength to do so, and I suppose many others do not either. But, is that the only way to serve the Lord? Do you really think that America does not need help, for instance? If things do not change, the State of Colorado will have no public higher education system on account of TABOR, within ten years. In California they are trying to link teacher pay with "performance" thus further ensuring that children in poor neighborhoods cannot have the benefit of a good education. By becoming a teacher, I will join the last wave fighting against the rising tide of ignorance. Would my Lord dissapprove of that, really?

We all have tasks to complete, and not all of us have been given the same path through which to glorify God.

 

[Clem is Me]

But if the aim is to become closer to god none of those things matter. Education, wealth, family are all simply wordly pursuits that stand between the believer and his Lord. And in fact wealth is one of the most obvious things that lead people to distrust the motives of a believer. Even not being strong enough is just an excuse for not doing what will bring you closer to your God. Strength comes from God, after all.

 

[lijeb]

Every true Christian will put God first. You are right about things or other worldly pursuits, but Jesus said He was leaving us in the world to affect the world, so that leaves a lot of room for individuals to be called to serve in different ways. Each one should be willing to say to God - all of this is yours to use as you will - should I have it or should I not have it. Paul said that he learned to be content when "abounding" and when being "abased"

 

[Clem is Me]

I suggest that if you ask the question how much should I have the answer is going to be less than you do right now, at least if you can reply to my computer based messages.

 

[lijeb]

Well, perhaps God is big enough to use people who use computers. I think so.

 

[DailyBlessings]

Clem is Me, you are being awfully critical here- clearly most people wouldn't agree with you, so why are you claiming to know what Christianity demands? Your argument "If you are a Christian, then you must own nothing," is like saying "If you are a Christian, you must be a creationist." It doesn't accurately represent what the faith asks of us, or how most people within the group being questioned feel.

I agree that a Christian should be ready to give up our posessions if God asks us to. For that matter, I generally give freely of my things even if it is only another person asking me. But the Lord doesn't ask everyone to give up everything. It wouldn't even make sense for Him to do so. By your logic, the poor people themselves wouldn't be able to accept the gifts either. Since most all religions preach selflessness, your very extreme proposal would neatly set up a wealthy but innumerous elite class of athiests and millions of paupered religious masses soon to die. Soon, all the hungry believers would depart to the happy gates, leaving behind those who wouldn't listen, and Christianity would have seen it's last generation. How does that make sense from any perspective? God loses billions of souls, and the atheists lose their workforce.

 

[Clem is Me]

It all sounds a whole lot like rationalization, that's all. I can only speak form my own perspective, obviously, but if I had a belief that there was an afterlife then a computer in my house would make me feel horrendous, like the end of Schindler's List where he is going through all his personal stuff and equating it to a life he might have saved. Three hots and a cot would be all that I could suffer, and that only because suicide is a sin. I could rationalize my way through a comfortable life but my "soul" would know better.

 

[Clem is Me]

Well, perhaps God is big enough to use people who use computers. I think so.

Perhaps people are big enough to assume God is using them while they use computers, too.

 

[lijeb]

Perhaps people are big enough to assume God is using them while they use computers, too.

The Bible tells Christians that we are left in the world to affect the world. It tells us to continue in the role in which we were "called" to affect the people around us for God. Some are indeed called to do as you have said - and the Bible makes it clear that all should be willing to do so. Others are called to perservere where they are. Some Christians even work on computers for a living as shocking as that may be. It enables them to rub shoulders with a different set of unbelievers than the ones called to serve the homeless. We are called to be a light to the world - in the world - and subject to the world. It is difficult to know sometimes where and how much of your time and money to give. Certainly we are called to give. I am sorry that the "Christians" you have met have made you so cynical (assuming you are, but you seem like it from your posts) It makes me sad for them and for you.

 

[Clem is Me]

I am sorry too, but you are sort of like the ones you pity. You have rationalized your way to a comfortable job at a computer. I am not saying you shouldn't, but I am saying that my conscious, if I found Jesus, would not allow me such luxuries.

 

[repentandbelieve]

Satan presses upon people a sense of guiltiness that makes them feel unworthy. It is one of his devices to continually remind us, and accuse us, of being unworthy of the love of God. It bothers him to see people on earth who, even in their weakness and sinfulness, have respect for the law of God. So he leads us to think that our mistakes and transgressions are so grievous that the Lord will not hear our prayers and will not bless and save us.

His object is to instigate evil, and he hopes to succeed by throwing all the blame upon the tempted ones. He points to our filthy garments, our defective characters. He presents our weaknesses and follies, our sins of ingratitude, our unlikeness to Christ, and how we have dishonored our Redeemer.

All this he urges as an argument to prove his right to work his will to our destruction. He endeavors to affright our souls with the thought that our case is hopeless, that the stain of our defilement can never be washed away. He hopes so to destroy our faith so that we will yield fully to his temptations, and turn from our allegiance to God.

In ourselves we can see nothing but weakness, nothing to recommend us to God, and Satan tells us that it is of no use; we cannot remedy our defects of character. When we try to come to God, the enemy whispers, "It's no use for you to pray; you are living selfishly, you are sinning against God, you have violated your own conscience".

 

[Clem is Me]

And I suggest that when you can type all that on a computer at your liesure, Satan has accomplished his goal.

 

[lijeb]

I am sorry too, but you are sort of like the ones you pity. You have rationalized your way to a comfortable job at a computer. I am not saying you shouldn't, but I am saying that my conscious, if I found Jesus, would not allow me such luxuries.

It is possible that that is what God has called you to. It is a difficult path which many who are called refuse to take. There is even an example in the New Testament of one such fellow - the rich young ruler.

On the other hand, perhaps you are using the rationale that since you don't know any Christians who are living what, in your judgement, the Christian life should be, that we are all a bunch of hypocrites. I hope that isn't what you are doing.

 

[repentandbelieve]

And I suggest that when you can type all that on a computer at your liesure, Satan has accomplished his goal.

What is the difference between writing words on a computor and writing them on a scroll? The internet can be a most efective means of sharing the gospel.