That being said:

It seems that your point is that there is a backlash among some Christian folk in favor of poverty for Jesus against some other Christian folk who favor wealth for Jesus, and that the backlash is not thusly justified. The problem with wealth is not the wealth itself, but the use of and relation to it in some circumstances, but not all…. Therefore look closer and stop the backlashing….

If that uderstanding is correct, I concur enough with it as put.

Some points that seem fuzzy to me are regarding the rich cannot enter the kingdom of God. Your sentence was:

So the Bible says that “a rich man cannot enter the Kingdom of God”

I believe the text actually says it is easier for a camel to go… than a rich man to…. This actually supports the point you make (as I understand it) better than the sentence copied here.

This stuff is right at the nub of my complaints with American Christianity. I believe we are largely greedy. I think our greed is a huge problem and gets a pass without hardly any mention on a regular basis. However, I still agree with your post, as I understand it. I just see it as one point among many that can help clarify the larger issues.

I would note that you do not have to have money to be greedy! You might be in deep poverty and still be greedy. You might be rich and not greedy, though I figure that is truly a long shot exception that nearly all rich Christians are tempted to believe applies to them whether it does or not. As you pointed out, the fact that I can read this on a computer in my home is strong evidence that I am in the top 20% of wealthy people the world over, but I am tempted not to see myself that way or to see myself as not loving money.

I am troubled by the word ‘Stewardship’ in general. I am currently wrestling with that concept. So to point it up in this comment box, I need to say I make this observation tenatively. I am still chewing on it. But…

I am having a visceral reaction to it. I sense it is a word that greed can neatly hide behind. (Note: I said “can” here which is not to say that it does in all cases.) I have begun looking closer at the New Testament’s use of the word vs. that of many who toss it around when speaking of helping the poor. I have found a number of people who appeal to that word when citing texts about almsgiving in which the word (nor the concept to my mind) seems varified. But I do see these same people defending a position of cutting off the alms! What motivates that? Jesus? Someone else?

I have come to learn from N.T.Wright (give credit where credit is due) that the idols of modern life are Money, Sex (lust), and Power. These things vie for our attention and action all the time in this society. They affect me deeply, and I strive to live for Jesus! Those who do not live for Jesus seem to be in the throes of these passions. Let’s not kid ourselves, money plays with our heads and hearts! I really think you cannot deny that willy-nilly.

So the better question in that light is: What are you doing about it? How are you addressing the idolatrous temptations? This is a better question than: Are you in love with your money?

I am quite sure that there is no problem, in Jesus’s mind, if you want to sell everything, give it to poor, and seek first his rule. I am sure that he tells us to give freely to those who ask, and to be cheerful givers. Love involves sharing. The early church lived a communist life. These things are all well documented in the NT. They are poorly documented in the American church.

I would say that I have not denied stewardship a place here at all. And I know of some fine examples of very well-to-do Christians who give and share generously. I have even listened to some of them openly agonize about the pull their own wealth has in their hearts!

So, I am all in favor of shedding light in all corners of these issues. I will not rush headlong into backlash or condemnation of the rich. But, I will point them to a giving lifestyle, a sharing lifestyle. And I will critique the lack of that. And I will aim to keep myself humble in the debate, able to learn and grow myself.

Blessings… from Texas (a rich state btw)

Man cannot serve two masters, one he will love, the other he will hate.

Therefore you cannot serve both God and mammon (money).

Whether poor or rich, we can fall into the trap of making it about money (serving money), when life is supposed to be about Jesus and following Him!

I spent some time praying about this at one point in my walk, and the Lord posed this question to me:

“Who is richer, the one with lots of money, or the one who invests what he has been given into the Kingdom of God?”