Generally speaking Christians hold up Jesus as their example of how we should live, and that his message is the only thing that matters. For many, this is a genuine, heartfelt belief. They would believe they live their lives accordingly. Certainly most would say they strive towards it.
How then do some Christians here see helping their fellow man fitting in this picture? What I mean to say is that Jesus preached compassion and empathy, and if I understand Him correctly, really we all should be doing everything humanly possible that we can to help others in need/distress/suffering injustice.
So do you really, and if not, why not?
Don't get me wrong - this is not piety speaking and I truly believe that one in a glass house should not cast stones. But what I am struggling with is that around the world poverty, injustice, malnutrition, is killig people by the millions annually. According to the U.N., some 18,000 children die every day because of hunger and malnutrition and 850 million people go to bed every night with empty stomachs.
Now I know government, wars etc play a big part in this, but how can anybody say they are trying to bring God's Kingdom into the world, when they live in a nice house, drive a nice car, have all the simple luxuries we all take for granted, go on holidays, etc, whilst so many people are going without and suffering such pain and misery? Is it not hypocritical? I mean Jesus gave his LIFE for what he believed, we're not even prepared to sell our flash car or go without a microwave oven!
Like I said, I am one of those that has a house, reasonable car, plenty of simple luxuries. I do sponsor a couple of World Vision kids and contribute to other worthwhile charities such as Save the Children, but that amounts to sweet nothing against my life really.
Shouldn't I sell my $40,000 car and buy a $5,000 one and donate the rest to save starving people? How can I live in my nice house whilst some people live in mud huts and live off dirt?
Jesus didn't own property or store up material possessions, but lived a life as a travelling teacher. If helping bring in the Kingdom of God meant paying off a mortgage, sending kids to a private school, owning a nice car, then Jesus seems to have set the wrong example.
How do we justify our lives in the face of the starving and dying millions around the world?
Your thoughts?