A: Social Developments in Religious Thought - Attitudes Towards Wealth

What is a key quote from Diogenes, 4th c. BCE?

"...the love of money is the mother city of all evils."

What is a key quote from the Didache, 1st c. CE?

"You should fast on Wednesdays and Fridays."

What is a key quote from Oral Roberts? (An American Charismatic Christian Televangalist).

"God wants you well. God wants you prosperous."

Key arguments/debates?

Wealth is sometimes a sign that one has been blessed by God i.e. promises to the Patriarchs and to Israel.
Yet, God never promised prosperity to all individual Israelites or Christians if they were faithful.
In fact, suffering pervades accounts of God's followers (i.e. Job, Jesus).
The ascetic ideal assumes that the world will have a negative influence on the Christian - but could this view actually detract from a healthy enjoyment of the world that God has made?
Jesus did practice asceticism, (living a simple life with no luxuries in the name of religion) though nothing like John the Baptist.

Key questions?

What are the Biblical promises made to those who are faithful in following God? How can the word 'blessing' be interpreted?
Is the world 'good' or 'bad'?
Is there a single Christian ideal when it comes to giving or spiritual disciplines?

What does Mark 10:17-25 contain?

A man runs up to Jesus and asks him what he can do to inherit eternal life, he also refers to Jesus as 'good' teacher.
Jesus questions why he calls him 'good', and he says that no one is good except God alone. Jesus tells him to follow the commandments.
The man replies that he has done this his whole life.
Jesus tells him to give everything he owns to the poor, and he will then have treasure in Heaven.
The man felt sad.
Jesus said to his disciples, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."

Why is Mark 10:17-25 important for shaping Christian attitudes towards wealth?

Jesus calls his followers to sell all they have and then follow him. This demonstrates how much more important the building of the 'Kingdom of God' was for Jesus compared to building one's own personal, material security.

What does Matthew 6:25-34 contain?

Jesus preaches that you should not worry about material things in your life, such as eating, drinking or clothing. He says the birds don't worry about these things but God still feeds them.
Jesus urges that we are more valuable than they and worrying is more or less pointless.
Jesus says that pagans focus on these things, but we should seek God's kingdom and his righteousness first, then the material things will be given as well.
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Why is Matthew 6:25-34 important in shaping Christian attitudes towards wealth?

Jesus tells his followers to put the Kingdom of God first and then basic material needs will be given as well.
This shows that Christian priorities are to be different from secular ones.

What does Luke 12:33-34 contain?

"Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Why is Luke 12:33-34 important in shaping Christian attitudes towards wealth?

Jesus teaches that selling one's possessions in order to give to the poor produces 'an unfailing treasure in heaven'. He appears to be making complete material divestment criterion of the Christian life, yet he did not require this of everyone (i.e. Zacchaeus in Luke 19:8-9).

What does 1 Timothy 6:10 contain?

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

Why is 1 Timothy 6:10 important in shaping Christian attitudes towards wealth?

It says that the 'love of money is the root of all kinds of evil'. This is not saying that money itself is evil, but that greed is.
This saying was popular in the ancient world; it was also said by the Cynic Diogenes of Sinope.

What does the term 'stewardship' mean?

Also known as 'administration' or 'management', it refers to the Christian concept that all humans have the task of managing God's world well.
Principles that underlie stewardship include the world having been given to humans by God (Psalm 8) the goodness of the material world (Genesis 1:31) and the God-given responsibillity to give to the poor and oppressed (Proverbs 14:31).
Many Christians tithe (give 10 percent away) as part of their stewardship.

What does Psalm 8 contain?

A song to God, detailing the fact that humans are "rulers over the works of your hands; and put everything under their feet." pointing to the fact that Christians are 'stewards' of the earth.

How is the concept of stewardship applied?

In the Bible to nations as well as individuals; private ownership and business relationships are assumed (Leviticus 19:35).

How does asceticism link in with this?

It means 'discipline' and is the idea that one will needs to forego certain pleasures in order to achieve a certain aim such as physical, moral or intellectual goal.
Many Chrisitans have insisted that there is no way that one can attain the goals for Christian living set by Christ unless one is disciplined in foregoing pleasures; Christians have often therefore advocated fasting, prayer, a simple lifestyle and even celibacy as ascetic practices.

What are some examples of asceticism?

Monasteries, fasting at Lent, pilgrimage and even the extreme practice of self-flagellation.

What is the Prosperity Gosepl?

The twentieth century teaching arising out of some charismatic churches that God does not want Christians to live ascetic lives, but to prosper financially (James 4:3).
After all, God loves beautiful and costly things,

What is the concept of 'World-Faith'?

One is to make a verbal declaration that they have health and or wealth (even though this may not presently be the case); this faith unleashes God's blessings.

How are the Prospeirty Gospel and the 'World-faith' concept linked?

They are both tied to the asking of financial pledges by preachers of the prosperity Gospel.
Believers are urged to give money they do not have as a part of showing that they have faith in God and will therefore gain material prosperity.