Is indulgence and decadence immoral?

[RZehr]

Considering all the needs around us?

[Valerie]

Not sure if immoral is best word but it does seem sinful to let our passions win over. That is one purpose of fasting. Certainly Jesus set our example of denying self Many scriptures speak against living in indulgence and decadence.

[Soloist]

I struggle with this…

Where is the line between eating hotdog buns for your food and having desert at every meal?
Just water for any fluids and having coffee for everything?

[barnhart]

Jesus left an example of both feasting and fasting. If we can't do both, something is probably amiss.

[Josh]

Decadence and carnality are sins in their own right. I see no need for extra food around me - everyone is VERY well fed. But decadence and overconsumption are still bad.

[Szdfan]

How are you defining indulgence and decadence? I suspect manybof us live rather modest lives. I'm not about to purchase a gold plated toilet.

[Soloist]

How are you defining indulgence and decadence? I suspect manybof us live rather modest lives?

And that is the biggest problem. Relativism.

[Szdfan]

How are you defining indulgence and decadence? I suspect manybof us live rather modest lives?

And that is the biggest problem. Relativism.

I'd frame it that wealth and poverty are contextual. Many of the poor in the US are wealthy compared to the poor in other countries, but in our context, they are still poor and still struggle.

[RZehr]

How are you defining indulgence and decadence? I suspect manybof us live rather modest lives?

And that is the biggest problem. Relativism.

Is it best to walk through live with our head turned to the right, looking at the people with golden lavatories?
Is best to walk through life with our head turned to the left, looking at the people with no lavatories?

How will these two different focuses and comparisons effect how we live?

[Sudsy]

Jesus left an example of both feasting and fasting. If we can't do both, something is probably amiss.

I would agree with this view. There is a time to feast and a time to fast.

Jesus was rebuked by His discples for allowing a woman to pour perfume on Him and His response was that she did a good thing. This perfume was worth more than a year's wages. So, is it immoral, for example, to have a beautiful church building and facilities as an expression of our love for God ?

And that is why Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit - to guide us in the way that we should go. I believe the scriptures tell us that every believer will be accountable as individuals for how we have followed the Spirit's guidance. Not how your church decided to go, nor as some other individual decides. But I don't see a problem with sharing how we believe He is guiding us as He may use us as a means to convict another.