Im still a salty biznatch about a street preacher saying they didn’t have to sell everything they down because Jesus said to one disciple and in that context yeah Jesus said it to that disciple.
Turns out that Jesus did say that you have to give up everything luke 14:25-33
The Cost of Discipleship (Matthew 8:18–22; Luke 9:57–62; John 6:59–66)
Now large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and He turned and said to them, 26“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple. 27And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.
Which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it? 29Otherwise, if he lays the foundation and is unable to finish the work, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30saying, ‘This man could not finish what he started to build.’
Or what king on his way to war with another king will not first sit down and consider whether he can engage with ten thousand men the one coming against him with twenty thousand? And if he is unable, he will send a delegation while the other king is still far off, to ask for terms of peace.
In the same way, any one of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple.
But does anyone see a Christian legitimately follow this commandment from Jesus
Jesus was not just talking about money or clothes. He was talking about attachment. If your heart is tied to your house, your reputation, or even your family more than it is tied to Truth and Love, you cannot be a true disciple. To follow the “Cosmic Christ” means your spirit must be free. You can use things, but you must not be owned by them.
People follow this, but they are rare. You will not usually find them shouting on street corners or showing off their wealth in big churches. They are the people who live simply so that others may simply live. They are the ones who would give away their last resource to help a person or an animal in need without thinking twice. They see themselves as “managers” of their money, not “owners.”
The preacher you met used a common excuse. While Jesus did speak to individuals, he also spoke to “large crowds” (Luke 14:25) when he said these things. He wanted people to know that the path of high wisdom requires total commitment. You cannot climb a mountain while carrying a thousand heavy bags. The “New Wisdom” here is this: Giving up everything is not about being poor; it is about being free. A person with a billion dollars who is ready to lose it all for the sake of Love is more a “disciple” than a poor person who spends all day wishing they were rich. True disciples exist. They are the quiet lights in the world who live for the Whole, not for the “Self.”
Yes, I have met:
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monks and nuns who took vows of poverty
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missionaries who own nothing and are fully supported by their sponsor
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About 20 years ago when I was heavy into Christianity I donated everything I had and then some (well into debt…) thinking that I would somehow be rewarded by god.
Well, guess what, nothing.
Mentors and pastors said I needed to pray more and read the Bible more and seek guidance more. I peaked at attending church three times a week and bible studies 1-2 times a week.
Still nothing.
Long story short, fuck religion, I left and never looked back. I’m 1000% happier, less depressed, and continue to be reasonably generous.
what did the king say to the pope?
Must christians I know hoard money like that dragon from The Hobbit.
This is baby shit. If you want to actually learn about Christianity from a critical lens go read Samir Amin’s Eurocentrism and Domenico Losurdo’s Liberalism. Thank me later. They’re on Anna’s.
I had some great aunts, now deceased, who became nuns and didn’t really own anything themselves personally.
Hmmm. Yeah being a nun would do that. I know them more for celibacy than giving up worldly possession
The vow of celibacy is what people know, but they do take a vow of poverty too
poverty except for getting all their expenses bankrolled by the richest grifter around
I’ve met both monks and nuns.
So yes.
Good example.
But don’t many join these days because of some personal calamity where they’ve already lost much? The church takes them in, gives them purpose and a roof over their heads.
(I say “these days” as historically, under primogeniture, the second son of a wealthy lord would often be given to the church to give them purpose/keep them out of the way of the firstborn. Daughters were similarly steered into a nunnery to avoid the parents having to pay a substantial dowry)
Who hasn’t experienced some personal calamity? Seems like something that can be retroactively applied to anyone.
Dude went into the seminary to become a priest after his girlfriend dumped him? Personal calamity! He’s hiding from future dumpings by becoming a priest!
Well, I’m absolutely certain people have taken lifelong orders for less than your example, but I’m thinking more about situations where someone is left alone, homeless and without any other options. Government aid is often slow to arrive, especially if you’re a single man, and homeless charities are always overstretched. Even today, it’s not such a stretch to imagine someone turning to God in their hour of need.
(I’m athiest btw, I’m not arguing that it’s a good option, only that some people may see it as their only option and honestly, there are worse)
Yes, I met one on the pilgrimage to Santiago di Compostela. He owned a pair of boots, a backpack with his clothes, a phone, and nothing else. And boy was he happy!
Id think that would be owning too much for Jesus, but I guess they can use clothes and phone without owning it.
They probably just get happiness from experience and doing things
Jesus wasn’t telling the poor destitute to sell everything, he told the wealthy that it was their only way to salvation. A guy with a pair of shoes, a few sets of clothing and a phone is living as bare bones a life style as is possible in any modern society.
You are doing the Fox News bit of complaining that food stamp recipients have cell phones and refrigerators
As long as your basic needs are met, being happy is then just a skill issue.
Yes. Many. For a time, me.
Neat, I never see Christians going around preaching God and Jesus
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