Adam wrote:RZehr wrote:If I understand you correctly, you're saying your source of unease is because of the poverty of others on the earth? And if everyone on earth had a castle and Lamborghini and all the blessings you enjoy, then it would be a nonissue?
If everyone on earth had a castle, it would not longer be a castle but simply a house. If everyone on earth had a Lamborghini, it would no longer be a Lamborghini but simply a car. In other words, those two items would lose the prideful attachments associated with owing them because everyone would own them. But these are all theoretical scenarios that will never exist.
Yes.
Adam wrote:
The words Lamborghini, mansion, and castle all imply extravagant wealth. So, by virtue of the fact that you are choosing those words, you are really asking people, "Is it okay for Christians to spend their money on extravagant items that show how wealthy they are?" The discussion would be a lot different if you asked, "Is it okay for a Christian to buy a large house in order to provide a place for those who are down and out to sleep and find salvation in Christ?" OR "Is it okay for a Christian to buy a fast car to help transport the sick who live in remote locations more quickly to the hospital?"
True. I'm asking if you are okay with living far more luxuriously, and extravagantly than your neighbors. I'm not asking if it is okay to buy a large house in order to open it up to the homeless.
Adam wrote:
I have a very practical question: Is it okay that I, as a missionary, have built a simple, western style house that has solar power and a water tank, in the midst of a village were people live in thatch-roofed huts and have no running water or electricity, so that I can translate the Bible into their language or be a witness for Christ? Does the fact that my house is much nicer and more expensive than the local inhabitants (but probably not as big or nice as many of the houses of the people reading this), detract from my witness to the gospel? In their minds I have a mansion and drive a Lamborghini (although my house is less than 1,000 square feet and I drive a 1989 Toyota Hilux). If I we were to live in a thatched-roof hut, I don't think we would last long in this country, because we are not used to living that way and don't really have the skills to do it.
I didn't have foreign missionaries in mind when I wrote this. We Americans seems to by and large accept it as fact that our missionaries are only able to downgrade to a certain point. Maybe that it alright. Maybe it isn't best.
If the poor people around you know that you are sacrificing for them, does that matter?
Last week, we had a customer here from Bulgaria, maybe the wealthiest person I've ever met. His family owns ports, and farms 1,500,000 acres of prime corn/wheat/peas farmland. When this man orders the most expensive meal at lunch time ($30) I don't think he is being extravagant, because I (as the poor man looking on) know for him this is not fancy, it is like myself ordering a $0.30 item.
Maybe the poor people there may be a bit of the same understanding about yourself. I really don't know.
Adam wrote:
Many Christians in America and Canada are living in mansions and driving Lamborghinis already, even those who are living simply and modestly, they just don't realize it.
In global comparison, yes. While global comparison is helpful for some things such as gratefulness and generosity, I don't think it is applicable for this conversation. I'd like to keep this in the North American context, since that is where most of us are.