A few weeks ago I was sitting in my local park with friends eating pizza when we were approached by some young men, aged 20 so. They started to joke around as if they were after some pizza, the last thing I expected was for them to turn out to be preachers!

They gave us the usual talk about how god loves us and one of them told us about how god saved him from a life of drug abuse. So far so normal, but then one of them started telling us about all the wonderful things that God has done for him. Apparently he prayed to God for a wife and an expensive guitar, the latter which he says was given to him for free. His overall point seemed to be that if we were to prey to God and convert to christianity we would get everything that we wanted.

Now, I'm no Christian nor am I religious, but I was always under the assumption that christianity was basically about loving everyone and living to the highest moral standards. I know it's slightly more complicated than that, but just in general. So, my question is; is that really what christianity is supposed to be about, or did this guy just have the wrong idea?

quote:Originally posted by piewalker101:

A few weeks ago I was sitting in my local park with friends eating pizza when we were approached by some young men, aged 20 so. They started to joke around as if they were after some pizza, the last thing I expected was for them to turn out to be preachers!

They gave us the usual talk about how god loves us and one of them told us about how god saved him from a life of drug abuse. So far so normal, but then one of them started telling us about all the wonderful things that God has done for him. Apparently he prayed to God for a wife and an expensive guitar, the latter which he says was given to him for free. His overall point seemed to be that if we were to prey to God and convert to christianity we would get everything that we wanted.

Now, I'm no Christian nor am I religious, but I was always under the assumption that christianity was basically about loving everyone and living to the highest moral standards. I know it's slightly more complicated than that, but just in general. So, my question is; is that really what christianity is supposed to be about, or did this guy just have the wrong idea?



Christianity is, these days, about accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior who died on the cross for Your sins. By doing so the Holy Spirit will enter you and you will become a good person.

to me it sounds like they are trying to bribe you

They are bribing, in a way. There's a proposition, and there's an incentive. But you have to believe that their intentions are genuine. It's an even tit-for-tat trade, really.

You turn your life over to a supernatural God, and they in turn be your friends, your alliance, and your support group for life.

Don't worry about the fine details or small print, and don't fret about what the future might hold. They'll do all the thinking for you from here on out.

I have come across some evangelical Christians who argue that the wealthier you are, the more God favors you or something to that extent. There's a term for the idea but I can't recall it. I am of the opinion that this is bullshit and that the two "missionaries" who approached you in the park are also full of shit.

I profess to be a Catholic Christian and I feel that the aim of being a good person is not the pursuit of material gain as the center of one's life. Of course, there are dozens of other Christian denominations with infinitely more opinions.

quote:Originally posted by AngryFemme:



You turn your life over to a supernatural God, and they in turn be your friends, your alliance, and your support group for life.



They weren't bribing me with their friendship though, they were basically bribing me with the promise of material possesions. it was literally "I preyed to god and recieved a californian stratocaster for free"

quote:Originally posted by karma_sleeper:

I have come across some evangelical Christians who argue that the wealthier you are, the more God favors you or something to that extent. There's a term for the idea but I can't recall it. I am of the opinion that this is bullshit and that the two "missionaries" who approached you in the park are also full of shit.

I profess to be a Catholic Christian and I feel that the aim of being a good person is not the pursuit of material gain as the center of one's life. Of course, there are dozens of other Christian denominations with infinitely more opinions.

Nah, evangelicals wouldn't think like that or they'd get owned by their own bible:

James 5: 1-6

1Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 2Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure for the last days. 4Behold, the wages of the labourers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6You have condemned, you have killed the righteous man; he does not resist you.

Matthew 19: 16-26

16And behold, one came up to him, saying, "Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?" 17And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments." 18He said to him, "Which?" And Jesus said, "You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19Honour your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbour as yourself." 20The young man said to him, "All these I have observed; what do I still lack?" 21Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." 22When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions. 23And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 25When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?" 26But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

quote:Originally posted by jb_mcbean:

[b] Nah, evangelicals wouldn't think like that or they'd get owned by their own bible:

I understand the whole Jesus preaching against materialism crap, but I am 100% serious when I say some evangelical Christians embrace the idea that wealth is a direct sign of God's favor. It's mostly among American fundamentalists. It's the idea that money itself is not evil and necessary to do good in the world, and they believe what Jesus preaches against is the love of money. When one reaches the point where money clouds one's life and prevents him from being a good Christian, whatever.

But I agree with you. I think scriptures would disagree. And since evangelicals generally embrace sola scriptura, they do indeed get pwned by their own book.

[This message has been edited by karma_sleeper (edited 07-26-2006).]