Horse shit.....a couple of years ago in a nearby city I was passing a shopping mall and this spanking new Cadillac Escalade merged in front of me. The first thing I saw was the Christian fish on the right side of the rear then I noticed a large sticker just above the bumper on the left side. It was in white and gold and boldly stated, "This Family Is Blessed" Who the **** does somebody like that think they are? I can just see ol' Gawd in all his glory saying, "**** Those Billion Starving Humans On Earth... I'm Gonna Let The Smiths Have A New Escalade!"
What does the book say about wealthy people like that who think they've got it made?
Matthew 7
21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father"
Luke 18
22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven"
Matthew 19
24 "And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God"
Matthew 5
48 "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect"
Matthew 6
5 “When you pray, do not be like those who only pretend to be holy. They love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners. They want to be seen by others. What I’m about to tell you is true. They have received their complete reward.
6 “When you pray, go into your room. Close the door and pray to your Father, who can’t be seen. He will reward you. Your Father sees what is done secretly.
7 “When you pray, do not keep talking on and on the way ungodly people do. They think they will be heard because they talk a lot. 8 Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need even before you ask him.
Matthew 7
21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father"
Yes! The superficial acting job will not get you into heaven. Are you claiming that "you" know the will of His Father?
Luke 18
22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven"
Again, this was to a man that was going thru the motions, but loved his money more than the Lord. Even a person with poor comprehension skills could see that from this story.
Matthew 19
24 "And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God"
Once again, this is referring to those that value their money over the Lord. No where does the Savior lecture people that are using "their" money to do good works. In fact when the woman buys oil and puts it on Him, the disciples start lecturing her, He interupts and tells them what she did was right. The were saying she should have given to the poor, but her money was spent for the Lord (His house, and His servants should be "adorned" appropriately: from Ezra).
Matthew 5
48 "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect"
This is only achievable thru the "grace" of the Lord. We are sinful creatures, and do not have the "goodness" to do this on our own.
Matthew 6
5 “When you pray, do not be like those who only pretend to be holy. They love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners. They want to be seen by others. What I’m about to tell you is true. They have received their complete reward.
Again, it is what lies in the heart that concerns the Lord. This passage might be talking about liberals/democrats that publicly declare they "care" about the poor, but do little to change the policies that are increasing the number of poor, and the number of people that need "assistance". It is a fact that liberals/democrats are less generous with their "donations" than the conservatives.
6 “When you pray, go into your room. Close the door and pray to your Father, who can’t be seen. He will reward you. Your Father sees what is done secretly.
Open discussion is not prayer. Is this just another attempt to silence Christians?
7 “When you pray, do not keep talking on and on the way ungodly people do. They think they will be heard because they talk a lot.
Is this you, the "ungodly"?
8 Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need even before you ask him.
Again, the Lord is not interested in an entertaining show, He wants you to know Him in your heart, and follow Him from "love".