There's the flaw: It's not their money at all. As Christians, we are stewards of the Lord's money. Maybe this is the single biggest principle, and I for one tend to forget when I'm making some purchases. Of course, it's also true of the time allotted to us. It's not ours; the Lord gives us every breath, and it's our responsibility to put every second to best use.
OK, I believe that sometimes it would be great to simplify and do without a lot of things. In fact, just think of the money I could save if I didn't have a car. No car insurance, no gas, no repairs, and therefore more money. BUT, wait a minute, I wouldn't be able to get to my job. OK, I'll admit I could (it is 10 miles away), but that would be difficult. So, I wouldn't have any money to save. This is just a random thought, I sometimes wish I lived in a different time (like late 1800's), but I realize that I can't just change everything and live realistically in the place that I do. But, maybe I could give up some meals at restaurants. Maybe I could buy used clothes more often than new. We could go round and round about what we could/should give up. The main point is most of us could give up some of our luxuries if we wanted to or at least indulge less often. But, we cannot dictate what someone else should/could give up. For instance, my quilting (which I mentioned earlier) is like therapy. It is relaxing and invigorating. So, while one person may think it is unecessary (and in reality it is), I don't want to give it up, because of the healthy way it helps me.
No ONE person is required to go into all the world on their own. Meaning if each Christian is preaching the Gospel within their own neighborhood, the great comission will be fufilled.
My point, in summary: We ALL have WAAAAAAAAAY more than we need. Period. (that was what I was trying to get across by describing how we could live if we had to) Because we ALL have more than we need, how on Earth can we critize anyone else who has way more than they need? And maybe the solution is that we ALL reevaluate just how much we could live without and seek the Lord's guidance on whether or not we should live without any of it.
I think it depends on what you believe God can do. There are people all over the world who are spreading the Gospel because they are financially supported by others. Remember, the disciples were told not to take anything with them (if I remember correctly). There needs were provided and they spread the Gospel. God is bigger than our limitations. IF God were to call people to live simpler, than he would make a way for them to reach people. Maybe they would reach their neighbors or maybe they would go farther away. The mission field is all around us. We only kid ourselves if we think we have to travel to spread the Gospel. But again, that wasn't her point.
I wasn't talking about Christians when I said that. I did not read the post entirely and was a bit off point. I know everything is God's...that's like lesson 101 of Christianity. I was making another point but it didn't come out right...and no matter since it didn't fit in right anyway...lol. I am NOT saying that not being a christian means you have a right to your things...but the mindset is totally different. A non Christian would could never...nevermind...my point was not really part of this...I was up too late and commented incorrectly. Just ignore it.
I see your point and did from the beginning. I think you are exactly right. We all can make sacrifices and give more...and we all have more than we need...so who is to say who should give what. Sorry for the crazy sentence. lol. Besides, spreading the wealth is the heart of socialism. Not my thing. lol
That is where I disagree. Over 40% of the world is unreached and if you live in the western world it is is not your neighborhood. It will take many many people to get up and go to fulfill the great commission. All of us are required to do our part whether it is to go or send a substitute.
That puts it simply. I don't want to be quilty of judging others, although I do. I often find myself thinking they don't need this or that. The bottom line is we should be ready and willing to give it all up if the Lord wants us to. If He asks us to, He will provide for whatever we need. Honestly I don't know how I would react if He said to me "Give everything you own." I want to be the kind of person who would without hesitation, but I know myself.
Where in America is everyone serving God sincerely and truly following Christ? Oh, there is a lot of cultural Christians and yes, there are a lot of true Christians. There are millions who need to be reached right here in the U.S. Even if they have heard the Gospel, they need someone to reach them and share God's love. Just hearing it alone is not enough. There are also people here in the U.S. that haven't heard the Gospel. Go to any city and there are unsaved people. Go into any large city and the numbers of desperate people would astound us. There are many people who are drug addict, prostitutes, mentally ill, etc. who need the love of God extended to them right here.
This must by why churches hold penny drives for missions and huge building projects for themselves. It is all about priorities. Paul was supported by believers. In the epistles it says that those who preach the Gospel should make a living by the Gospel. Sure, people are tentmakers when necessary but their time and efforts are hindered in doing so.
Well, I don't know one rich missionary who has it all. God sends out some and some he sends to their neighbor. I also think that doing our part is spreading the Word to our neighbor. My dh cannot just quite his job and move to an unreached area of the world. Our house, car, etc. chain us to our location. Now, if we felt the call to move...we would. In the meantime, we witness to those around us and give our money to missions to support those who are called. Yet, my unsaved neighbor is just as important as an unsaved person in the outer reaches of the world. So the great commission is not solely about reaching outside your own country. Besides, the Word will get spread...God doesn't need our money or our jobs to do it.
This is one of two dilemmas with which I wrestle. The establishment church throughout history has been obscenely rich, yet it paid for some of the world's most beautiful buildings and music and art. The Puritans smashed stained glass windows and organs and other trappings of wealth (and, clearly, they were among the Founding Fathers). Were they right or wrong to 'hate' the church's wealth? For the record, the other issue can be seen in the lives of many Christians from the past. John Wesley was a tremendous worker for the Lord, but his family life was terrible because he was never at home! Is it right for individuals to be so committed to the Lord's work that our families suffer? It's certainly true of many well-known Christian leaders from the past.
Why should someone hear the Gospel 100 times when someone else who would readily accept has yet to hear it once? Sure, we don't give up on our neighbors, but why extend so much effort for so little results when the harvest fields in a nation far away are ripe?
Whoa! I live in the buckle of the Bible belt with a homeschooling family right next door and their six year old son did not know who the baby was in the manger when we put out our nativity set at Christmas time. My daughter at eight did her part in fulfilling the Great Commission that day. There are plenty of people in my neighborhood that have access to the Gospel but have not yet been touched by it. I love missionaries and support them, but there is plenty of missionary work to do here in the States. Do you know that Africans come here to be missionaries in the U.S. because they believe the message is too watered down in our society?
Romans 10 "14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" He needs people to go. He needs people to send.
Not everyone is called to go live in some far off land. Besides, I know MANY who have been prayed for over the course of years and then get saved. Little results? One soul is worth it all...at least Christ thought so. Those of us in our present location help people all over the world by giving money to missions and through prayer. Then we help those in your backyard...we cannot ignore what's in our face. We are placed here for a reason.
They have access to the Gospel. 40% of the world does not. A child of 6 can hear the good news in America. But a man of 76 may be dying across the world and he never even heard the name of Jesus once.
