Theological debates are my speciality
I'm sorry, but a Pastor wearing a Rolex? That so goes against nearly everything taught by Jesus. "Christians" have become very worldy in the past hundred years or so. Just so you know, I have very theological background in pretty hard-core Fundamentalism. The fact I have chosen the path of reason over mysticism does not negate the knowledge of scripture I aquired over the years. It does, however, allow me to look at the "Church" with open eyes. For a Christian to flaunt wealth goes directly against the teachings of Jesus, no matter what ANY Pastor says or does:
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The Parable of the Rich Fool
13Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."
14Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?"
15Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
16And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.
17He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'
18"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
19And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." '
20"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'
21"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
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Christians seem to take what they want from the Bible and not hear the rest. It is also the fault of alot of pastors for pandering to congregations, especially the Mega-Chruches, guilting them into donating, yet still comforting them that massive wealth is ok. When Paul spoke of the Church of Laodicea, it strikes a resembalance to the Church of today. I mainly left the Church over blatant hypocracy (Fundamentalist Baptist). Now.. the connection between Christians and guns and the Republican Party... That's another rant.