May I drive an SUV and eat a hamburger ?

The Christian is a member of a global community. We need to be aware of the possibility that our consumers decisions may be harmful to others. And I cannot imagine that any serious Christian will have the attitude that "I will do what I please, regardless of how others are affected".

The statement by Mr. Obama seems to me to be a statement that Americans (like anybody) should be looking beyond their own borders to examine the implications of their actions for the world.

Actions have consequence - we are not free to do as we please.

 

Amen, Brother Barak -- Preach it! :thumbs:

Yes, Barak Obama understands the problem. I'm not going to fault him for telling the truth in this matter.

But I haven't seen a Democratic platform that has a solution to that problem.
Nor have I seen a Republicn platform that has a solution to that problem.

Believe me, the world is mad at the USofA and Barak knows what the problem is. Now, do the other VIABLE candidates admit this is a problem also?

 

I guess I'm too old for politics.
I am still fighting the fight of 1976.
1976 was the year I went to work on a prime target for thermonuclear war.
1976 was the year the USofA elected Jimmy Carter, the Baptist Sunday School Teacher & peanut farmer.
1976 was the year it was obvious to me that the USofA was going down the tubes: morally, power(physcial power - oil & all)-wise.

Then in 1980 it was reduction of US-debt and I didn't vote for Reagan (didn't think an actor could do what needed to be done). He spent more money than the Democrats.

Ed's short view of presidential politics:

1. The Republicans are sending the USofA to Hell in a Handbasket.
2. The Democrats are sending the USofA to Perdition in a Motorized Shopping Cart
3. Third Parties, might as well stay home.

Heaven Is Looking Sweeter every day! :godisgood:

 

And nothing substantial.

 

INFLATION - the High Cost of Covetousness

 

Christians in every nation should be seeking for their governments to obey the kingship of Jesus Christ. "You" may not need permission from other nations as to how you run your affairs. But you do need permission from the true King.

And if (repeat if) the eating of burgers and the driving of SUVs reaches around the world and causes damage to the environment and deforestation of an already damaged planet, then it is very much the business of the church to rebuke the governments of the world and call them to obedience to Jesus Christ.

 

On the matter of prosperity: If (and I repeat if) the prosperity of nation X has been attained on the backs of people from nation Y - however out of sight that connection may be to the people from nations X - then the church is duty bound to speak out against this.

At times, there are statements in this and other threads that seem to suggest that "we" have a right to pursue our prosperity. Well that's true as long as we look at the big picture and ensure that our prosperity is not achieved through hurting others.

 

True. Try telling that to the Christians in China, who imprison them for their faith and then execute them to harvest their body organs.

Try telling that to the Christians in muslim countries, where they are tortured, beaten, raped, and murdered.

Or North Korea, or Viet Nam, or those in Kenya, etc., etc., etc.

The US is not the only villian in this scenario. What are the Christians in Canada doing about driving SUVs and eating hambergers?

 

Canadians are probably as guilty as Americans in this respect.

 

I think many people here are taking the wrong perspective on these issues. Oil is a scarce natural resource. Countries have and will go to war to preserve their access to oil (Japan in WW2 and the US in Iraq). Using inefficient transportation or electricity producing methods make us more dependent on the Middle East, Venezuela, etc. and more likely to have to go to war again to protect the flow of oil. During WW2 citizens were asked to recycle many things and to reduce their use of gas for the war effort. We're in a war now. A different kind of war. Patriotic citizens will use oil efficiently to make the country less dependent on foreign oil and thereby reduce the potential for additional Oil wars.

Eating a healthy diet is everyone's individual choice. You can make fun of those who do and exercise regularly and perhaps you will die at age 68. Or you can choose to adopt a healthy lifestyle and live 10 years longer. Does everyone know that the life expectancy of Americans went down in 2002 for the first time ever?

 

If I have twisted the scriptures and misapplied them, then you will be able to explain specifically how I have erred. I am more than happy to consider counterarguments re my interpretation.

There are lots of accusations of "twisting the scriptures" interestingly accompanied by no explanation as to what the correct interpretation is.

And my comments are precisely addressing the topic - the reader will know this of course. If you do not like what I post, post some actual arguments against. But there is no doubt - my posts are directly on topic.

 

With regards to the OP question/title:

May I drive an SUV and eat a hamburger ?



Yes, you may drive an SUV and eat a hamburger; but you will have to pay and arm and a leg (mixed metaphor :type: ) through the nose for the right to do it. And do recall that you ate more in that hamburger than the typical Christian family of Dafar eats all day.

 

The only thng that is scarce rght now is drilling abd refining.

 

That was supposed to say "not out of fear".

 

Amen, Brother Andre -- Preach it!

(Say, if you are an 'Andrew' and my Middle Name is 'Andrew' doesn't that make us members of the Brotherhood of Andrews? I live between two rivers named 'Canadian' (South of the 'North Canadian' and North of the 'South Canadian') and you live in a Canadian Province.)

Join together singing:


It's a small world after all,
It's a small world after all,
It's a small world after all,
It's a small, small world!


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