Pope issues mission statement for papacy

alternatively, can a bad person be prosperous?.....obviously yes.....thus prosperity is not evidence of a good life or of a bad life......it is merely evidence of prosperity.....
 
PostmodernProphet said:
alternatively, can a bad person be prosperous?.....obviously yes.....thus prosperity is not evidence of a good life or of a bad life......it is merely evidence of prosperity.....
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Wrong. It boils down to how you live in prosperity, not that you are prosperous alone. Stop thinking so temporally. You're too carnal minded, PmP.
 
uh, no.....the gospel is about what choices you make regarding your eternal soul, not about what how to invest your money......
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Wrong. The gospel is about what choices we make in THIS life and how they determine our destination in the next life. Wisdom is key to our success, and using our finances wisely is right in line with gospel thinking.
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My philosophy lies somewhere in between. I believe the gospel, defined as the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and our acceptance/obedience to it is all about salvation. Beyond that, what we do with our wealth I lump in with Christian living, which, IMO, we all are going to fall short of living up to God's standard. I really believe that no matter how much we give away or how much we try to "be good," we are always going to have to rely on the blood of Christ for redemption.

Some more about what I think is Christian living has to do with our attitude about money and what we earn and what we have. We have got to learn that being rich isn't sinful no more than being poor. I don't get how so many will begrudge someone what they have worked or risked for or how come can look down on the poor and conclude that they are poor simply because they are lazy. A rich Christian who has worked and earned has this to do:

1 Timothy 6:17-19 - Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

And the poor are not without responsibility...see Mk. 12

Bottom line...whatever I do, wherever I wind up, rich, poor or somewhere in between I should learn to be content. I see this as another Christian duty or part of Christian living.

Philippians 4:11 - Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:

1 Timothy 6:8 - And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

Hebrews 13:5 - Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

This doesn't mean that I shouldn't try to improve my situation or that I am to be lazy. Believe me, Christian living is far from being lazy. It does mean that at the end of the day when I've done all that I can ... I can be content with my status.

I don't believe that Christians are somehow going to be magically prosperous...this is a doctrine peddled by snake oil salesmen. I've seen far too many really good, Christian people live from hand to mouth at times. Bad things happen to good people and some real scuzzbuckets get rich and have it easy. Doesn't seem fair but that's life. Wealth has nothing to do with Christian living...we've never been promised riches. Necessities of life, however, yes, they're promised...conditionally (Matthew 6:25-34).

I try to avoid getting involved in these conversations (it is a 'political' website after all ;)) but had a minute and decided to respond to the discussion. Anyway, this will be all that I say here on this matter. Just wanted to add my 2 cents ... or plug nickel, if you will.
 
christiefan915 said:
Best Pope ever! A little something for everyone, nobody's going to walk away 100% happy, but what an improvement over the past.

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis denounced the global financial system that excludes the poor as he issued the mission statement for his papacy on Tuesday, saying he wants the Catholic Church to get its hands dirty as it seeks to bring solace and mercy to society's outcasts.

In a 224-page document, Francis pulled together the priorities he has laid out over eight months of homilies, speeches and interviews, pushing to shift the church away from a focus on doctrine to one of joyful welcome in a bid to draw in believers in a world marked by secularization and vast income inequalities...

...In the text, Francis denounced trickle-down economic theories as unproven and naive, saying they are based on a survival of the fittest mentality "where the powerful feed upon the powerless" with no regard for ethics, the environment or even God. "Money must serve, not rule!" he said in calling for political leaders to reform the system. "The Pope loves everyone, rich and poor alike, but he is obliged in the name of Christ to remind all that the rich must help, respect and promote the poor."

In a direct challenge to the focus of the past two popes, he also decried the church's "obsession" with rules and doctrine and said in some cases, the church's old customs can be cast aside if they no longer serve to communicate the faith.

In the church's "hierarchy of truths," mercy is paramount, proportion is necessary, and what counts is inviting the faithful in, he said.
At the same time, Francis restated the church's opposition to abortion, making clear that the doctrine is non-negotiable and is at the core of the church's insistence on the dignity of every human being...

..."I prefer a church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security," he wrote. "I do not want a church concerned with being at the center and then ends up by being caught up in a web of obsessions and procedures."

(Continued)

http://news.yahoo.com/pope-issues-mission-statement-papacy-110148215.html
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The Bible embraces people with flaws more than the people that are perfect in society. This hasn't changed. What has changed is "what is perfect" in society. Money, gold, rubies, mansions, are all awesome, but don't make you a good person.

We will all be buried in the same size coffin. Learn how to be humble.
 
Anti-Party said:
The Bible embraces people with flaws more than the people that are perfect in society. This hasn't changed. What has changed is "what is perfect" in society. Money, gold, rubies, mansions, are all awesome, but don't make you a good person.

We will all be buried in the same size coffin. Learn how to be humble.
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The Bible embraces people (rich or poor) who fear God and keep His commandments.
 
Granule said:
Sorry, you cut my response short because I was kicking your trash in this debate. Try again.
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there's no further go go, you've shown yourself wrong.....

It boils down to how you live in prosperity
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It boils down to how you live in poverty......
It boils down to how you live in a big city.....
It boils down to how you live in on a farm....
It boils down to how you live in California.....
It boils down to how you live in Ohio.....
in short, it boils down to how you live.....

whether or not you are prosperous tells us nothing at all about whether you are leading a good life.....
 
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