Wealth

[Unconqured]

Can a true christian be rich(in money)?

[re_turner_jr]

Are we talking rich by modern standards or relative to the society you live in?

My answer would be yes either way but my argument would change depending on the definition of 'rich'

[IntoTheLight]

Originally Posted by Unconqured

Can a true christian be rich(in money)?

Exactly what is a "true Christian"?

-ITL-

[Unconqured]

Originally Posted by re_turner_jr

Are we talking rich by modern standards or relative to the society you live in?

My answer would be yes either way but my argument would change depending on the definition of 'rich'

I guess that would be one of the dilemmas because a middle class can be rich to a lower class, and a high class can be rich to a middle class. To me it would seem that any type of money that is above necessity is "rich" and can take you away from god. So if ones heart is pure in the money they make and grounded in the lord, i imagine wealth wouldn't be wagered by a material possession.

---------- Post added 11-29-2009 at 09:36 AM ----------

Originally Posted by IntoTheLight

Exactly what is a "true Christian"?

-ITL-

Only ones own heart can determine that, i put the word "true" because there are many people that claim many things. I just wanted to stress the importance of the person lead by god.

[re_turner_jr]

Originally Posted by Unconqured

I guess that would be one of the dilemmas because a middle class can be rich to a lower class, and a high class can be rich to a middle class. To me it would seem that any type of money that is above necessity is "rich" and can take you away from god. So if ones heart is pure in the money they make and grounded in the lord, i imagine wealth wouldn't be wagered by a material possession.

That's not the best of clarifications but I try and answer.

You said, "any type of money that is above necessity is rich"... let's modify this a little. Because no one needs money lets replace that with goods. Goods is what money represents anyway (back in the 'bartering only' days there were 'rich' people, they were those who possessed a great many things/goods/tradable items.)

Now, assuming orthodox Christianity and authority of Bible, my argument would go, Job would be considered a 'true' Christian by most standards. Job was rich. Therefore, a 'true' Christian can be rich.
But since the argument will come up that Job lived pre-Christ and thus could not be a Christian, then lets take a new testament e.g.
It could be easily be argued that Lidia and/or Philemon were rich and both were 'true' Christians. Therefore, the same as the above therefore.