by Denny » Wed 28 May 2008, 00:55:35
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vision-master', 'W')hat gets me is, these ppl tend to think they are good Christians.

Let us say a good Christian gives 10% of his income to charities, and does what he can to help others in his family, etc., with his time and or money as they need it. And, contributes a lot of his time for the parish or congregation. Is he not entitled thereafter to enjoy the fruits of his efforts? Should he carry around a sense of guilt for what he has?
I am asking this, not so much from the standpoint of criticiizing your statement, but to get other Christians perspective. I know Jesus counseled the rich man, that in order to serve Jesus more perfectly, to sell all he had and give his life over. And, the famous verse that its easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle than it is for rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. But, not even priests and ministers, for the most part, give up all their material possessions, and in fact, in real terms, many could even be considered to be rich.
I know of a Catholic priest who actually owns 11 rental properties. I think most would consider him to be rich, but he does not think of himself that way. (He feels himself burdened by the investments and gets ticked off with deadbeat tenants and having to deal with lawyers to sue people.)
Lets face it, if all the rich gave all their money away, would it not result in just everybody being poor, maybe a bit better off, temporarily, but still poor? And, just where would investment money come from for new technologies, energy exploration and replacement of outmoded facilities and equipment?