Christians shouldn't own Lexuses

[Bigphilly82]

Jesus says in Matthew 6 that we shouldn't build up treasure for ourselves on earth. Everyday 30,000 children die from poverty related causes. If a Christian buys a 40,000 dollar Lexus instead of a 20,000 dollar car, that is 20,000 extra dollars spent on the luxury of car, when the money could be better used to save the lives of our dying brothers and sisters in other parts of the world. Here are 2 simple scriptural proofs for the truth of my claim:

1.
Jesus said, "when you did it not for the least of my brothers, you did it not for me"
If Jesus were starving to death would a Christian sell their 40,000 dollar Lexus and choose a simpler car instead in order to buy Jesus some food so he could survie? If yes, then why don't we do it for others who are starving to death?

2.
The bible says the love of money is the root of all evil. The bible also says that if we don't love others than we don't love Christ. If as Christians we believe these two statements in the Bible, how can we keep spending money to buy ourselves luxuries(if we don't love the money), and not spend the money to save those who are dying from poverty(who we supposedly love)?

I conclude that most Christians don't want to think about or follow what Jesus and the Bible teaches about wealth. It is a hard teaching to follow and the world tells us that we should make as much money for ourselves as possible. This wordly wisdom is foolishness in the eyes of God, true happiness and contentment are to be found in Him alone, and we should be good stewards of the wealth God has given us, using it to save others before we use it on luxuries for ourselves.

[McCulloch]

Well what do human beings actually 'need'? Food, water, shelter, clothing, yes. Transport? OK. Your own car? I suppose it depends on the state of public transport in your area and your level of mobility. A luxury car? I would say no.

I agree with you. Jesus disagrees. He says to not worry even about what you should eat or wear and to sell all that you have to give to the poor.

I suppose that Catholics would argue that the expense of the Popemobile is an allowable one, because it is essential that the leader of their faith be protected from those wishing to do him harm.

Again, I agree and Jesus disagrees. Jesus says not to resist those who would cause you harm.

[olavisjo]

Well what do human beings actually 'need'? Food, water, shelter, clothing, yes. Transport? OK. Your own car? I suppose it depends on the state of public transport in your area and your level of mobility. A luxury car? I would say no.

I agree with you. Jesus disagrees. He says to not worry even about what you should eat or wear and to sell all that you have to give to the poor.

29"I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.

Jesus said we would get a hundred times back what we gave him, but here is the rub, we would also get persecutions.

I suppose that Catholics would argue that the expense of the Popemobile is an allowable one, because it is essential that the leader of their faith be protected from those wishing to do him harm.

Again, I agree and Jesus disagrees. Jesus says not to resist those who would cause you harm.

True enough, but fortunately God has provided us with a good police force, whose job it is to make sure that those who want to cause harm are kept locked up.

[McCulloch]

He [Jesus] says to not worry even about what you should eat or wear and to sell all that you have to give to the poor.

"I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.

Jesus said we would get a hundred times back what we gave him, but here is the rub, we would also get persecutions.

Still, Jesus does not allow his followers to seek such things.

Did Jesus lie or is it that any poor or disadvantaged Christians are either not True Christians™ or are still waiting for their booty?

True enough, but fortunately God has provided us with a good police force, whose job it is to make sure that those who want to cause harm are kept locked up.

No, there is no evidence that God provides any such thing. Human societies, tired of waiting for God to directly intervene, have provided police forces.

[olavisjo]

Still, Jesus does not allow his followers to seek such things.

Did Jesus lie or is it that any poor or disadvantaged Christians are either not True Christians™ or are still waiting for their booty?

It is not that Jesus does not allow his followers to seek such things, it is just that when you do follow him you don't care all that much for those things.
God still provides us with all that we need. I am in about the bottom 10% as far as US workers go, and yet God did provide me with a Lexus. Two years ago I had no car, and I did not have the need for one. Then one of my friends got a promotion that came with a new company car, he travels a lot in his work and his company insists that he have a reliable car. An 8 year old Lexus was not reliable enough for the company even though it is in mint condition. Rather than selling the car which he liked, he let me use it, and I still have it. I can't sell it because it is not mine, but I use it as if it was mine.
I don't have to worry about tomorrow because I know that no matter what happens God will be there to provide for my needs.

[Fallibleone]

I think you'll find that it was your friend who provided you with the Lexus.

[olavisjo]

I think you'll find that it was your friend who provided you with the Lexus.

I think that it was God who provided me with such a friend, who is worth far more to me than that silly car.

[McCulloch]

Still, Jesus does not allow his followers to seek such things.

Did Jesus lie or is it that any poor or disadvantaged Christians are either not True Christians™ or are still waiting for their booty?

It is not that Jesus does not allow his followers to seek such things, it is just that when you do follow him you don't care all that much for those things.
God still provides us with all that we need. I am in about the bottom 10% as far as US workers go, and yet God did provide me with a Lexus. Two years ago I had no car, and I did not have the need for one. Then one of my friends got a promotion that came with a new company car, he travels a lot in his work and his company insists that he have a reliable car. An 8 year old Lexus was not reliable enough for the company even though it is in mint condition. Rather than selling the car which he liked, he let me use it, and I still have it. I can't sell it because it is not mine, but I use it as if it was mine.
I don't have to worry about tomorrow because I know that no matter what happens God will be there to provide for my needs.

I did notice that you did not address the question.

Your access to a Lexus is somewhat atypical. What about the majority of Christians who drive? Most of them, I would be willing to wager, purchase or lease their vehicles and have some choice as to the make and model.

[olavisjo]

Still, Jesus does not allow his followers to seek such things.

Did Jesus lie or is it that any poor or disadvantaged Christians are either not True Christians™ or are still waiting for their booty?
I did notice that you did not address the question.

There are many reasons that Christians are not receiving certain blessings, like holding a grudge against someone else will keep God from answering your prayers, and some Christians are not ready to receive certain things because they are not yet mature enough.
The principles of Christianity are not as legalistic as you would make them, the rules are not written in stone, if you do something there is no fixed response from God.

Your access to a Lexus is somewhat atypical. What about the majority of Christians who drive? Most of them, I would be willing to wager, purchase or lease their vehicles and have some choice as to the make and model.

If your conscience allows you to drive a Rolls Royce, it is okay, it is not a sin per se.

[McCulloch]

If your conscience allows you to drive a Rolls Royce, it is okay, it is not a sin per se.

So individual conscience is the rule of what is right or wrong rather than Jesus' own words?

[olavisjo]

If your conscience allows you to drive a Rolls Royce, it is okay, it is not a sin per se.

So individual conscience is the rule of what is right or wrong rather than Jesus' own words?

Which words are you referring to? Let me see it in context.