Comments on: The Secret of Being A Christian Revealed- Part II http://www.increasingfaithblog.com/christian-faith/the-secret-of-being-a-christian-revealed-part-ii Looking at Faith from a Fresh Perspective Wed, 09 Feb 2011 13:36:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: kurt http://www.increasingfaithblog.com/christian-faith/the-secret-of-being-a-christian-revealed-part-ii/comment-page-1#comment-110 kurt Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:36:59 +0000 http://www.increasingfaithblog.com/?p=42#comment-110 Sorry if I was unclear. I was trying to illustrate a difference between giving to building and giving to those in need. One is a biblical mandate, the other is important, but less so. In response to your question as to where to draw the line, I do not think there is one Biblically. God does not have a line. However, there I do believe our country and a good portion of the world have a very distorted view of being needy. In the bible there are three things, food, shelter, and clothing, that we should provide if we have them. Wii's, restaurants and the like are wants. So if we someone in need of food, shelter, or clothing we should meet that need. (trust me, I am preaching to myself as well) All that being said, I do not believe we are to subsidize laziness. This makes giving harder because we need to be informed. We need to know the situation and actually be a light and not a checkbook. I hope that clarifies where I am coming from. Thanks for reading and commenting. Sorry if I was unclear. I was trying to illustrate a difference between giving to building and giving to those in need. One is a biblical mandate, the other is important, but less so.

In response to your question as to where to draw the line, I do not think there is one Biblically. God does not have a line. However, there I do believe our country and a good portion of the world have a very distorted view of being needy. In the bible there are three things, food, shelter, and clothing, that we should provide if we have them. Wii’s, restaurants and the like are wants. So if we someone in need of food, shelter, or clothing we should meet that need. (trust me, I am preaching to myself as well)

All that being said, I do not believe we are to subsidize laziness. This makes giving harder because we need to be informed. We need to know the situation and actually be a light and not a checkbook.

I hope that clarifies where I am coming from. Thanks for reading and commenting.

]]> By: Becky Weiman http://www.increasingfaithblog.com/christian-faith/the-secret-of-being-a-christian-revealed-part-ii/comment-page-1#comment-109 Becky Weiman Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:56:57 +0000 http://www.increasingfaithblog.com/?p=42#comment-109 I don't think our church has made it a priority over things that are more important. We've thought long and hard and prayed even harder about the whole process. We really feel like God is leading us in that direction for a number of reasons. As for meeting the needs of other people, I could make the same argument about giving until one's own family is in jeaparody. I feel like we have so much, but constantly fight the convenience of things or the happiness/satisfaction (whatever you'd call it) of my children. I feel like I haven't done a very good job of teaching them how to give, yet we are constantly giving things to other people (Salvation Army, ect.). I look at our basement and am overwhelmed by the number of toys they have (most of them given to us), yet it's so hard for me to get rid of any because they do play with them all. I guess it's my laziness for not wanting to listen to the fallout if I get rid of something (with or without their "permission") and they decide they want it later. I feel like there are more issues to consider than just - I have this and you need it so I'll give it to you. So where is that line? I don’t think our church has made it a priority over things that are more important. We’ve thought long and hard and prayed even harder about the whole process. We really feel like God is leading us in that direction for a number of reasons.
As for meeting the needs of other people, I could make the same argument about giving until one’s own family is in jeaparody. I feel like we have so much, but constantly fight the convenience of things or the happiness/satisfaction (whatever you’d call it) of my children. I feel like I haven’t done a very good job of teaching them how to give, yet we are constantly giving things to other people (Salvation Army, ect.). I look at our basement and am overwhelmed by the number of toys they have (most of them given to us), yet it’s so hard for me to get rid of any because they do play with them all. I guess it’s my laziness for not wanting to listen to the fallout if I get rid of something (with or without their “permission”) and they decide they want it later.
I feel like there are more issues to consider than just – I have this and you need it so I’ll give it to you. So where is that line?

]]> By: kurt http://www.increasingfaithblog.com/christian-faith/the-secret-of-being-a-christian-revealed-part-ii/comment-page-1#comment-107 kurt Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:29:29 +0000 http://www.increasingfaithblog.com/?p=42#comment-107 Pastor Andy- Thanks Becky- Personally, I do not see sacrificial giving as part of building a building, I see it as part of meeting needs. The American church is so caught up in building and comfort that they have lost sight of what is truly important. That is not to say buildings never need built. Pastor Andy- Thanks

Becky- Personally, I do not see sacrificial giving as part of building a building, I see it as part of meeting needs. The American church is so caught up in building and comfort that they have lost sight of what is truly important. That is not to say buildings never need built.

]]> By: Becky Weiman http://www.increasingfaithblog.com/christian-faith/the-secret-of-being-a-christian-revealed-part-ii/comment-page-1#comment-105 Becky Weiman Wed, 26 Nov 2008 02:33:45 +0000 http://www.increasingfaithblog.com/?p=42#comment-105 My pastor gave a sermon highlighting the very same things a while ago. It's hard for me to find the balance. I would help people (financially) at the risk of my own family's financial stability - isn't that what we're called to do? Right now our church is raising money for a building by "sacrificial giving". But there's sacrifice and then there's foolishness. Where do you draw the line? My pastor gave a sermon highlighting the very same things a while ago. It’s hard for me to find the balance. I would help people (financially) at the risk of my own family’s financial stability – isn’t that what we’re called to do? Right now our church is raising money for a building by “sacrificial giving”. But there’s sacrifice and then there’s foolishness. Where do you draw the line?

]]> By: Andy Saunders http://www.increasingfaithblog.com/christian-faith/the-secret-of-being-a-christian-revealed-part-ii/comment-page-1#comment-103 Andy Saunders Tue, 25 Nov 2008 22:47:53 +0000 http://www.increasingfaithblog.com/?p=42#comment-103 Well Said Kurt! Well Said Kurt!

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