Why do modern Christians regard poverty as optional?

[Qoeleth]

The Gospel makes it quite clear that Christians are asked “to sell all they own and give the money to the poor.” It also explicitly condemns the rich- “Alas for you rich, you are having your consolation now.” It says explicitly- “gather not treaures on earth.” And Dives is condemned for “enjoying the good things on earth.”

Poverty was central to the message and example of Jesus. Why is it that most modern Christians selectively ignore this central commandment, or let themselves off the hook by saying it is not to be understood literally? There is no ambiguity in the Gospel about it.

 

[marty1818]

The Catechism states:

2547 The Lord grieves over the rich, because they find their consolation in the abundance of goods.340 "Let the proud seek and love earthly kingdoms, but blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven."341 Abandonment to the providence of the Father in heaven frees us from anxiety about tomorrow.342 Trust in God is a preparation for the blessedness of the poor. They shall see God.

Being rich is not necessarily sinful. The problem with the rich is their attachment to their wealth rather than with God.

 

[Qoeleth]

The Catechism states:

2547 The Lord grieves over the rich, because they find their consolation in the abundance of goods.340 "Let the proud seek and love earthly kingdoms, but blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven."341 Abandonment to the providence of the Father in heaven frees us from anxiety about tomorrow.342 Trust in God is a preparation for the blessedness of the poor. They shall see God.

Being rich is not necessarily sinful. The problem with the rich is their attachment to their wealth rather than with God.

Of course, the Catechism is not infallible. My question is, why do Christians (and I include here that last part of the Catechism) depart from something which is so clearly expressed in the Gospel?

 

[NickVA]

Joel Osteen. LOL

 

[marty1818]

The Gospel makes it quite clear that Christians are asked “to sell all they own and give the money to the poor.”

Where exactly is this expressed?

 

[exoflare]

The Gospel makes it quite clear that Christians are asked “to sell all they own and give the money to the poor.”

What verse are you talking about?

 

[exoflare]

haha jinx

 

[marty1818]

haha jinx

lol quit reading my mind

 

[Tantum_ergo]

I don’t know. So tell me, what is it like having given all your goods to the poor?

Also, would you mind showing me the passage that says that ALL Christians need to sell all they have and give to the poor --that this wasn’t directed to ONE ‘rich young man’ only?

I mean, Zaccheus only gave HALF his goods to the poor, according to scripture. How come Jesus didn’t tell him he had to sell ALL of them?

How about Joseph of Arimathea? How come he didn’t have to sell that new tomb?

How come in Acts when the first Christians met and shared their wealth that they didn’t give it ALL ‘to the poor’ but that the money was also distributed in providing for the individuals in the group as well?

See, this is what comes of ‘cherry picking’ Scripture and trying to distill Christ’s teaching into one passage only.

 

[bz5]

I am disgusted by a lot of the “health and wealth gospel” I have seen or heard of (and I wouldn’t say I’ve seen a lot, if any, of those examples from the Catholic church), but it also seems to me that many of the blessings we see in the Bible are of the material kind: a land overflowing with milk and honey, a king’s crown, restored health, etc…

The only Christians I know of who follow the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience are Catholic religious. We lay people must all have a detachment from wealth and a generous spirit, following the corporal as well as spiritual works of mercy, but how can we truly sell everything and give it to the poor when we have children to support, don’t want to be a burden in retirement, etc… And wouldn’t the recipients of our goods have to turn right around and give them all away in order to be moral? What would anyone do for a living if a lot of us didn’t produce, market, sell, buy stuff that isn’t strictly necessary just to stay alive? Even if Jesus has a special love for the poor, does He really want to see us all in dirty rags, living in the dirt, scavenging for food? Be reasonable.

 

[LegoGE1947]

Joel Osteen. LOL

Kenneth Copeland, Richard Roberts, Robert Schuller, Benny Hinn, Just about anyone who broadcasts on TBN, or DayStar or most “Christian” radio stations. Many local evangelical “churches” preach the prosperity message. Years ago Oral Roberts even wrote a book on “Why Jesus Wasn’t Poor”. These are a few possible reasons why modern Christians regard poverty as optional or even something to be avoided!!

 

[jwinch2]

The social doctrine of the Church teaches that wealth should be view as a gift from God and thus, the wealthy person has the responsibility to use that wealth for the works of God. The way I have seen the particular passage about the rich man being told to sell his goods interpreted, is that Jesus knew what was in his heart and that he was attached to his wealth. Thus, in order for him to seek the kingdom of God, he needed to get rid of his money.

 

[the_phoenix]

The Catechism states:

2547 The Lord grieves over the rich, because they find their consolation in the abundance of goods.340 "Let the proud seek and love earthly kingdoms, but blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven."341 Abandonment to the providence of the Father in heaven frees us from anxiety about tomorrow.342 Trust in God is a preparation for the blessedness of the poor. They shall see God.

Being rich is not necessarily sinful. The problem with the rich is their attachment to their wealth rather than with God.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church is available on the Vatican website. That makes it good enough for me.

Thanks for posting, marty.

 

[Dakota_Roberts]

Of course, the Catechism is not infallible. My question is, why do Christians (and I include here that last part of the Catechism) depart from something which is so clearly expressed in the Gospel?

I dare you to tell the head of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith that the ordinary and universal Magisterium of the Church is not deserving of assent.

 

[TrueLight]

A book that was a real eye opener for me is “Happy Are You Poor” by Thomas Dubay.

I encourage anyone who can to get it. It is a book on evangelical poverty and how to live a simple life.

 

[Kithrus]

I feel trolled reading this…

 

[LegoGE1947]

I feel trolled reading this…

I have heard that being “poor in spirit” is acknowledging that God, not ourselves, is the source of all things and depending on Him not this world-system to be our provider. It doesn’t necessarily mean being destitute, or wearing rags, etc. In other words one can be wealthy in the eyes of this world but humble enough to credit God as the source of everything one has.

 

[jwinch2]

I have heard that being “poor in spirit” is acknowledging that God, not ourselves, is the source of all things and depending on Him not this world-system to be our provider. It doesn’t necessarily mean being destitute, or wearing rags, etc. In other words one can be wealthy in the eyes of this world but humble enough to credit God as the source of everything one has.

This is an excellent point. There is actually a group of TOR Franciscans I am aware of which deliberately chose to work in a wealthy boarding school because of the extreme poverty of spirit which they found there. It was a situation where you have kids from wealthy families who had anything they could want from a material standpoint but who were basically left at school by their parents while they went off gallivanting around the world.

Thanks for making that statement.

Peace,

 

[Splagchnizomai]

A book that was a real eye opener for me is "Happy Are You Poor" by Thomas Dubay.

I encourage anyone who can to get it. It is a book on evangelical poverty and how to live a simple life.

It’s an essential book for anyone trying to understand poverty as the Gospels reveal and as Christ taught and lived. Fr Thomas Dubay is a remarkable, insightful writer.

 

[Kathryn_Ann]

What verse are you talking about?

**I believe that The OP is referring to: Luke 12:33

“Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.”
Peace,
Kathryn Ann
**