The amount of Bible verses with Jesus absolutely condemning the rich and the wealthy is overwhelming. And it’s not like “oh that’s open to interpretation”. He’s very clear in saying that rich people won’t go to heaven. He’s very clear in what to do with your money (help the poor and sinners).
His entire message is about “living as he lived”. It’s amazing how much Christians in America have been able to completely remove all of those aspects by just saying “well, Jesus did that so we don’t have to. He died living a selfless life. All we have to do is ‘believe the story’”.
It has to be the laziest, most American interpretation of a religion ever. It’s just fucking embarrassing to me though. Like, Im not Christian, but even I am embarrassed by most American Christians.
There are exceptions. But, most Americans use their Christianity as a shield for being shit people. Their religion isn’t even Christianity, it’s capitalism, and worship of wealth. The Christians that go to church every week are much more interested in hearing their pastor talk about how Trump is enacting gods plan. They know talking points for why Trump’s not a pedophile, why Musk is a genius, or why trans kids in sports are destroying the economy. They couldn’t tell you what Jesus said about where Christians should “store their riches”. They’d probably say “a bank or a safe”.
I’m a priest (Episcopal Church) and one of the things that I frequently remind my parishioners is that Christianity is intended to be a practice, not a belief. What’s happened is that the term “Christian” has been severed from any concrete form of practice (by utilizing the whole “faith, not works” thing and misconstruing it). When Jesus says “I am the way, the truth, and the life” He’s using active language (a way can only be walked, truth sought, life lived). But so many Christians have turned that saying into something about precepts.
It’s the biggest thing about Christianity, its supposed to be a philosophy that you live your life on, not a get of jail free card or to sell you indulgences. One of the best books I’ve ever read was “christ vs religion” by Witness Lee. God came in the flesh to give us a way of life.
The amount of Bible verses with Jesus absolutely condemning the rich and the wealthy is overwhelming. And it’s not like “oh that’s open to interpretation”. He’s very clear in saying that rich people won’t go to heaven. He’s very clear in what to do with your money (help the poor and sinners).
His entire message is about “living as he lived”. It’s amazing how much Christians in America have been able to completely remove all of those aspects by just saying “well, Jesus did that so we don’t have to. He died living a selfless life. All we have to do is ‘believe the story’”.
It has to be the laziest, most American interpretation of a religion ever. It’s just fucking embarrassing to me though. Like, Im not Christian, but even I am embarrassed by most American Christians.
There are exceptions. But, most Americans use their Christianity as a shield for being shit people. Their religion isn’t even Christianity, it’s capitalism, and worship of wealth. The Christians that go to church every week are much more interested in hearing their pastor talk about how Trump is enacting gods plan. They know talking points for why Trump’s not a pedophile, why Musk is a genius, or why trans kids in sports are destroying the economy. They couldn’t tell you what Jesus said about where Christians should “store their riches”. They’d probably say “a bank or a safe”.
I’m a priest (Episcopal Church) and one of the things that I frequently remind my parishioners is that Christianity is intended to be a practice, not a belief. What’s happened is that the term “Christian” has been severed from any concrete form of practice (by utilizing the whole “faith, not works” thing and misconstruing it). When Jesus says “I am the way, the truth, and the life” He’s using active language (a way can only be walked, truth sought, life lived). But so many Christians have turned that saying into something about precepts.
It’s the biggest thing about Christianity, its supposed to be a philosophy that you live your life on, not a get of jail free card or to sell you indulgences. One of the best books I’ve ever read was “christ vs religion” by Witness Lee. God came in the flesh to give us a way of life.