There is no need to do that. I can support my view with scripture and Church doctrine and the writings of saints and the use of reason. And priests do not always agree with scripture and Church doctrine, and their views are not always well thought out.
That ^ as an excellent description of how schisms have been created in the Church. Martin Luther had some valid points, which the Church addressed, but he had some that weren’t, so off he went, leaning into his own knowledge.(Proverbs 3:5) You’re also following in the very footsteps of Calvin, since the Prosperity Theology is based on similar ideas.
I’m quite sure you can dig through the Bible and pull out lines that fit your feelings so that you have the “confidence” to win" any debate, rationalizing and justifying your feelings, that the world is the way you want to see it, rather than accept the world the way it is.
The Bible is a “tool” for learning about God and God’s Will for us on Earth, and everlasting life with Him, after, not a “tool” for “debate” to pick nits out of context to use as sound doctrine. The simple fact is that our bodies are Temporary. Any one of us could die as easily today, in a car crash or some other accident, as tomorrow, or naturally, in a bed at 100+ years old, and living as a Catholic, while being doctrinal incorrect, isn’t the safest road to take. What we have and what we are, belong to God, and much of what we have, we also must Work for. It’s not merely handed to us “because god or faith.”
You puled out some scripture to back up your claim in favor of Prosperity Theology. Have you read all of James 1?
9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.
10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower.
11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business."
The lowly, sick and poor in the Material world, have High positions in God’s eyes. The Spirit is what makes a difference. Not the empty, soulless, “material” world that too many people see as “Real” rather than a temporary, fleeting, situation that we happen to be in.
What you have comes from God, true enough, since Everything does, including our souls. What you Do with “Matter” while you’re here, is what matters, not how much of it you have, while you’re here.
More from James:
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.
27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
I have a feeling from your previous posts, however, that you will continue to “defend” the position you have chosen, regardless of any other argument or scriptural perspective. I would suggest an honest reading of Matthew, being open to what God wants you to learn from it, rather than seeking tools and weapons to help you “win” arguments and debates.
Again I would suggest you also discuss these things with the Priests at your local parish, because we don’t simply walk in one day, and start preaching at Mass. Many go to college for years, and have multiple degrees, not including the time spent in seminary, and are often quite familiar with the ideas of rational, reasoned, logical debate, and you might find some that would Help you prevent the same sort of circular reasoning and justifications that often come from Earthly desires for things to be true, and find ways to support Other ideas you may have that Could be in line with Christ, the Pope, and Catholic teaching, that could actually provide Solutions to problems in the world.
That is a deeper meaning and understanding of Concupiscence. We may have the Spiritual understanding that “something is wrong with the way of the world” and seek answers, in ourselves and our own study, but if we allow the World, the “material” or the “flesh” to be our guides, we miss the greater Spiritual understandings that can arise from learning as a Church, from the Words spoken by Christ, and with brothers and sisters who have already thought on the things you describe and would like to address, as you would more likely find in Apologetics.
To self-examine in The Spirit, I often find Matthew to be the most help, and in reference to the many sources you might pull from to continue your arguments, I think Matthew 6 is a good place to start:
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal
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20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
If you’re merely here for a logical debate, and care not for the Spirit the Scriptures were given, then I would again suggest the Apologetics forums, under Moral Theology, as people there will be much more likely to understand the Rules of debate, and be more than willing to engage you in such a fashion, than some who might come to the news looking to express and exchange opinion in a less formal fashion.
