OWH Memorial Undead Topic

I almost asked the pastor but thought better of it since I didn't know if this was doctrine or superstition or style or what.

 

No, but I wonder if it is tied to that kind of message.

 

I don't know how people believe in that. I remember hearing it back in the 80's and it always seemed to go against everything Jesus ever said about money.

 

Religion (many kinds) ... are things that people will use and hide behind to justify/rationalize some truly egregious behavior.

 

It does. But a lot of people don’t know all that much about what Jesus said and that kind of stuff sounds attractive. Look at Osteen’s empire

 

Never heard that one before. Sounds prosperity gospely though.

 

Huh. Bummer, I fear that teaching can be hurtful.

 

I think if you follow the teachings you’ll have a pretty rich life.

The secret is not getting into the money trap game.

 

Rich in the sense of peace and good friends and happiness, yes, I agree.

Money, no.

 

That seems kind of crass for most of them, the big ones anyway.

 

I've never heard that. It's pretty unbiblical if you ask me. We aren't exactly rich, but I start looking around and feeling like I'm doing it wrong when reading Jesus' teachings.

 

Depends on how it was said. I can definitely see some of them saying it.

 

I don't pay that much attention anymore. When my mom was alive, I would find her watching JO and we would have conversations about it.

 

I, too, have had that conversation with my mom.

 

What if it was meant as some kind of "rich in the Spirit" or richer? Like, from a perspective that all believers are rich in the kingdom of heaven or something?

 

That’s not true, imo.

I think you can do both. You just value the first more than your money.

 

Sure you can do both, my understanding is that the teaching implies poverty is a moral judgement from God, which is harmful to people in poor circumstances.

 

It could be something like that. I've never heard anything like that at a wedding, but I barely paid attention to the vows at my own wedding. I probably would have repeated a vow to wash dishes every time it's needed without even realizing it.

 

There are probably some who adhere to that belief, but it seems less common today. The worst condemnation I've heard lately along those lines is that God blesses us with what we are willing to give up freely. You can take that as a judgement against someone or as instruction to help the needy and poor. When I was a kid, I definitely remember people tying accumulation of wealth to righteous living in a gossipy sort of way. I've not heard that in conversation in a long while, but it may be because church folks wouldn't say that sort of thing to me.

 

Don't misunderstand me, if you are a Christian doesn't mean you have to be poor. Far from it. But following the teachings of Christ, imho, will do nothing to affect your worldly welfare, one way or the other. His was always about the Kingdom of God, not the earth. As I remember it, but it has been 35 years.