Christianity Has Been Found Difficult And Not Tried | Alex O’Connor
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POV You run into Alex at a house party
😂😂
That's a party i would love to go to
I bumped into him here at the national gallery a few weeks ago, very cool guy.
😂😂😂 nah, if this is the vibe I'd rather not aim to meet my new role model. 😅 House parties are for partiiiiieeess. He's a musician tho, so he's probably down to earth actually 😂
@@jafethuertalucky! He's not taller than 6'5 right?
Alex deeply respects Christianity as an atheist
Alex, just like any good intellectually honest people, knows more about Christianity and lives morally than most Christians
@@tejave0ojnc good point. By what moral standard would that be?
@@NicolaasAckermann I'm just speaking from my own personal experience/intellectual journey so I'm not making truth claim here. Just expressing an opinion. I just see more honest, helpful, humble, less egotistic people who happen to be non-Christians than Christians. Your experience might differ.
Also, what Christian nations did, namely, colonizing, murdering, enslaving, etc. people who are less powerful than they tells me that Christians do not have a good sense of morality or they certainly do not have superior moral sense than others.
@tejave0ojnc yes experience usually plays a big role in people's beliefs. Do you believe those Christian nations were actually Christian given that their deeds didn't align with the Bible's "love thy neighbor" ... or were they maybe hypocrites?
@@NicolaasAckermann Many crimes against humanity were committed in the process of proselytization in colonies. It seems a cope out to say these people/nation were not true Christians. Even if your premise is true, then you need to account for why is it that Christianity attracts and/or produces so many hyp0crite$ than other religions?
One reason I respect O'Connor so much as a Christian is because he actually understands Christianity. So, when he criticizes the faith, I take what he says very seriously.
mate respectfully he doesn’t understand shit. he thinks all the miracles of christ are bollocks and only ever read the bible as a so called “intellectual”..
@@kyngk0ng1 month ago I thought what Russ thought. Not that he understood it but that he respected it. Now I don’t. I hope he gets better
@@TheSignofJonah777its because alex is cynical not skeptical, he just be pointing stuff he doesnt like about the bible but cant prove its false
@ he did seem pretty genuine for a while hopefully he becomes more genuine. Or else he’ll be like this to the grave
@@TheSignofJonah777 going to become another richard dawkins lol
Yeah, growing up, i was raised Christian.
When i got older, finally realized what loving like Jesus did actually meant and was overwhelmed.
It’s true “i have no enemies” but even one step further to love those who even betray you.
How often do we betray God whilst He still loves us? Shouldn’t we be like Him?
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Brings a different kind of peace within you. After all, people are not the real enemies, we are all victims to the real enemy, Satan.
I would love to hear a dialogue between him and John Lennox
Me too!
Yeah. Me too.
John Lennon?
You assume dialogue with Lennox on the subject is possible. It's not. What he passes off for dialogue is dogma mixed with apologetics.
@adcrane Yeah but it would be nice to watch him address him. Give him something to think about.
There is much truth in this. It’s why someone like Jordan Peterson has struggled to identify as a Christian. It’s why someone like Alex who claims to be a non-resistant non-believer still remains skeptical. The weight of actually being a Christian rather than just using ration and logic to understand it is difficult. As I’ve heard many people say in a sort of tongue-in-cheek sort of way: “Christianity is simple, but not easy.”
Alex understands Christianity better than any Christian I've seen does
Then you seriously lack exposure to Christianity
@@John.Christopher, and Christians
@@John.Christopher True
I think y’all don’t realize how many people in America consider themselves Christian’s because they go to church once a week but have never even read half the Bible let alone any of the early church fathers writings. Only Catholics I have met even could have philosophical arguments because most Christian’s don’t fully fledge out the philosophy. Shit most people don’t even realize how much Plato and the Greeks have influenced their views that had nothing to do with Jesus but the time period and location.
Yeah agreed, if a lot more Christians understood and put the dedication to knowing what they believe like Alex is
Love Alex’s honesty. It’s only A matter of time. Some ultimate truths are only Revealed as we journey along the Emmaus road of life whilst talk and listening to THE one we didn’t Recognise.
Keep wrestling, Alex and thinking
contemplating
deliberating
pondering
ratiocinating and
reasoning with Who and what Jesus. Said and experience the ultimate light bulb moment . Big respect to you x
It's funny that I as a Christian am learning about Christianity from an atheist.
God speaks through His creation. I implore you to read the Word some more though. Let 2025 be your year of growth from drinking milk to spiritual hard food
Alex knows the Bible but he doesn't understand it. Evident by his belief that rich people can't go to heaven, as one example.
If you want to know what Christianity is, just read the Bible.
It's not for the faint of heart, that's for sure. Which is why people are leaving it. The world is changing, and people who wish to be Christians find it more and more difficult to live in the world and still be Christian. Without a personal witness of Jesus Christ, and the constant presence of the Holy Spirit in one's life, there is no way to survive spiritually in this world.
Jesus wasn't against wealth. There are several scriptures that explain how to walk the path whilst also having stuff. that particular example, he was wanting to follow Jesus literally at that moment. in order to do that he would've had to leave his old life behind completely.
Matthew 19:24 ‘It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God’
@@MidwestPyro55 From my understanding, Jesus was speaking about how impossible it is for people to "buy" their way into the Kingdom with their wealth. That's why shortly after he said it is impossible with man to be saved, but with God all things are possible
@@calebgodard4554 Maybe. But it’s hard to imagine that the Jesus portrayed in the Gospels would look fondly on people with millions and billions sitting in bank/investment accounts while so many people live without basic necessities.
He did say 'Woe to the rich, for you have already received your reward." Luke 6:24 - He point blank is not onboard for any other idea or worldview than His.
Abraham was likely the richest person in the world during his life. The point of that camel through a needle verse is that culturally they believed that the rich were blessed by God and so if they couldn’t get in on merit then noone could.
Misunderstanding of the "rich young ruler" story. Jesus saw that the man's riches and status were his idol(s). Jesus told the man to get rid of his idol before he could follow him. A parallel passage would be Matthew 8:21-22 where a man asks to bury his father before following and Jesus says "no". Jesus will always tell us to sacrifice our idols. In the end, you probably won't miss them when you see what you've gained. O'Connor is quite thoughtful but he seems to rely on human effort to try to meet the requirements of God - this is ultimately futile.
Happy someone caught that
His father is his idol? Maybe youre interpreting it also in a different way.
@@jazzffer my understanding is that his father was not even near death, but in saying ‘let me go and bury my father first,’ he was essentially telling Jesus like let me go enjoy my life first then i’ll follow you later (which has always been a problem with people in following Christ, particularly among youth)
Is not that Jesus isn’t fond of the rich, is where that man’s heart was postured. That man’s goal was to do all he could, to work for the approval of Jesus when simply, the love and approval of Jesus was a gift.
Alex with Bishop Barron is worth a watch, Alex is getting it at his level of intellect in that conversation, good for him.
The reason Christ told this rich man to sell his possessions is the reason he didn’t sell them, the man valued his things over Christ and salvation
True. And to this day, there are men and women who give it all up for the Lord Jesus Christ. Nuns and men in different religious orders. That's one of the evangelical counsels, the vow of poverty. There are two others, the vow of chastity and the vow of obedience to one's superiors.
Jesus never said “sell ALL of your possessions”, he said “Sell your possessions”. It’s not like people aren’t allowed to own anything or have wealth. The point is to relinquish what really matters to you most on this earth, and follow Christ above that.
What is the difference of adding or subtracting "all" there? This sounds like a really contrived way of reading that passage for Christians living in modern day capitalist societies who shriek at any questioning of our relationship to property, even by their lord and savior. In other words, a way of evading the very exacting demands of Jesus, as being discussing here by O'Connor
@ Christians are also encouraged to give and be generous, how are we to do that with no money or possessions? Shall we literally give away every penny, beg on the streets, and give that away as well? Obviously it’s ok to own things and have money, as long as money is not your master, which is the point of the rich young ruler story. As Jesus said, you cannot serve 2 masters.
And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. - Luke 9:23 NASB
The rich young ruler was indicted for self righteousness and pride... not riches. Read it again... the whole issue was that he believed he had done everything and satisfied all of the law and prophets. Jesus, knowing that wealth was the self-appointed indicator of the ruler's goodness, tells him to sell it all and give to the poor to demonstrate that he had surely not fulfilled every obligation of the law and prophets. David was rich... Solomon even more so. Abraham, Joseph, Jacob, many of the first century believers funded Paul's ministry, many of Jesus's disciples (not the 12) seemed to have money. Heck, the Roman soldiers gambled for Jesus's garments... because they were seamless (expensive).
Praying for Alex🙏
Alex knows the Truth. I pray one day he accepts that truth and follows Jesus.
As a former Christian, well spoken sir
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 KJV
Love a good easy yoke. You dont want it too cooked.
It’s not that Jesus isn’t fond of being rich, rather He was giving the young man a test to have him see that he hadn’t attained the state of mind that he said he had, which he didn’t
I see a significant issue in the Christians that he keeps speaking to who repeatedly tell him to just “try“ Christianity. We’re talking about the creator of the universe who spoke the worlds into existence. We owe him our loyalty as our Lord. He’s not a Costco sample that you take for a test run.
Sure he is. Try it.
Jesus never said that rich people must give up their possessions 😂 Alex is an interesting man he never fails to amaze me how he can butcher such simple verses
Yeah he says not to worship idols
@Jayden-zq6fj then don't worship idols. If Jesus finds a man who has money issues and tells the man to give it up, must I also do that now? I'm not the man with money issues putting money above my faith
Context doesn’t matter to those who’ve been sent a grand delusion such that they believe the lies because they love their wickedness…
2 Thessalonians 2,3-12 NIV
“Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness a is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
Don't you remember that when I was with you l used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. & And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie.”
Matthew 22,14 “For many are called but few are chosen.”
One thing I wanna say about the rich man. It wasn’t that he was rich and that’s why Jesus told Him to sell everything it was that He wanted to show to be generous. Someone could be making a lot of money and have things like a nice lake house but they use that to minister to people and grow relations there and not just for themselves only
Being generous isn't necessary to be a good person though. Nor is it given that a generous person will be a good man.
@@dkblaze9072 well God didn’t command us to be a good person because compared to His standard nobody can reach that. I do agree with both of your statements but one of the things God commanded us to do was to give to the needy.
He did say 'Woe to the rich, for you have already received your reward." Luke 6:24 - He point blank is not onboard for any other idea or worldview than His.
Thats can’t be right. He couldve been generous without having to sell ALL of his possessions. The point of jesus asking the man to sell was because man cannot serve two masters, which is something jesus has said before. It was a test to see if who the man was truly loyal towards.
Jesus was not a “loyal family man.” He was an itinerant preacher. There’s nothing wrong with that. But human society also requires loyal family men who work very hard to protect and support their children and family.
Of necessity, that requires building resources. This is enormously difficult and challenging. This is not evil.
Sanjosemike (no longer in CA)
The rich man was trying to justify himself. Jesus saw what was really in his heart. It wasn't about the wealth.
My Dad worked two jobs for 30 years to provide for his 3 children. There was dental care and food in the fridge.
I had a friend whose father joined a cult and left his wife alone to support their 3 children. 90% of the time their fridge was empty. He was a “nice guy” but totally useless to his family. I’m sure he did his “part” to spread the Gospel.
Sanjosemike (no longer in CA)
Then he wasn't rich in the first place. God isn't saying you should be unreasonable in sharing your wealth. If you don’t have don’t give. Don’t revel in your wealth sit there and just say look at all I've got here instead of giving away your possessions that you don't even use regularly or even at all to those who are in need. Don't quote logical fallacies
@@MickGodson You're confused. I didn't say this man was "rich." He left his family in debt and alone, ignoring his personal responsibilities. I don't know what you are talking about. This is not a "logical fallacy."
Fathers of families have family responsibilities. This is not a "logical fallacy."
Sanjosemike (no longer in CA)
@@sanjosemike3137 The man who left was right. Be like him.
An atheist that can’t stop talking about Jesus…😊
There are very few true Christians left. Many just toss money at the church in place of doing any activity or changes of themselves. Lip service is huge though, especially, "Do as I say, not as I do." They all ignore, "judge not lest ye be judged," real quick. And you can never call them out. They way to egotistical for any of THAT. 😢
That’s a pretty broad brush. Jesus came to call sinners and it’s the sick who need a doctor.
If I had a dollar for every time "judge not lest ye be judged" was ripped out of context...
Jesus was not saying that judging is never permissible. He Himself judged the Pharisees and called them a brood of vipers. Jesus was essentially saying, "Don’t be a hypocrite, lest you be judged for the same thing you are accusing others of doing."
Really makes one think about the vast amount of people self described as “Christian”-the ones who hate gays and that sort of thing-and just how astronomically different they are from the original Christians, especially Jesus. You know, the ones who would abandon everything, be tortured and killed before they apostatized.
" The last true Christian died on the cross "
Stop trying to generalize being a judmental azzhat. You cant judge. PERIOD@@mentalwarfare2038
“The eternal life crew” 😅
Matthew 13:18-23 18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. 20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty
Guys, stop coping, please. Alex DID make a good point saying that Jesus isn't fond of being rich (of course the wording could have been better, but it was a casual conversation). Scripture points to this idea.
"it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God".
Literally in scripture, crystal clear.
yea that’s what the words are but what do they mean? earthly riches don’t inhibit you from knowing our savior jesus christ, it’s the attitude and the lack of humbleness that oftentimes come hand in hand with affluence. alex might know that the words in the bible are but he doesn’t understand them
That nuetonic has cosmic skeptic going off!! 🗣️
Don't stop praying 🙏🙏🙏❤💫🤗
You get astronomically more than you sacrifice. That’s the real secret.
Good on you for counting the cost, Mr. O'Connor.
Becoming a Christian only requires faith and repentance. But as you are being conformed to Christs image through sanctification, that is not an easy process, nor does the Bible promise us that it will be easy.
It requires good deeds, mpron.
To sell all your possessions has a much more profound meaning to it, what is most valuable to you?
Bro deserves a million subs
Jesus loves u and wants a relationship with u!
Christ wasn't trying to bash the rich young ruler because he liked his money too much. He was trying to show the ruler and everyone else he was a sinner that hadn't kept the 10 commandments. You shall have no other gods before. The ruler idolized his money over God. In other words, to be a Christian, you must love God before everything else.
He had much money. That was his sin. Give up your money.
1 Tim 6:17
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy
I struggle with these teachings of Jesus all the time. I'm glad at least one athiest has gone to seminary and struggled with Jesus Teachings. I bet this is the biggest things Alex struggles with considering his love for gnostic teachings. Jesus is not teaching all his followers to be poor, but Alex sees that most rich people are not true believers as they walk around with their shoulder held high above everyone else.
I think he means don't put the riches before God. Remember your priorities
I never tried to be a Christian, God saved me and radically changed my life. Trying to me sounds like the lukewarm that’s talked about in our Bibles. Every day is a dying of your old self not because you want to but because He asks you to through what he sends your way. And every day is a building block for who He wants you to become. I believe He calls us when it’s His timing in our lives and everything we have done or gone through was to put us on His path. He calls us to be His I don’t believe in my opinion we have a choice in it.
Alex misses the point. The rich man cared more about his riches and losing them. Jesus isn’t opposed to wealth or having material things. He just doesn’t want them having your heart.
Alex doesn't appear to understand the story of the rich man very well. He assumes it's being rich that Jesus has a problem with, but actually, the story reveals that the rich man loved his wealth MORE than God (thus he returned home and was sad, not joyfully gave away his riches to follow Christ). But anything can be something we cling to more than we love God, and the point is that God should come first in our lives. So his main point, that Christianity is incredibly difficult, is still true. But that's also the entire purpose of Christ - it is *impossible* to do all that you should as a Christian and therefore, we need Christ.
When Jesus told that to the rich guy is because the rich guy had money as his master and Jesus set him free by telling him give it away.
I’ve watched hours of Alex and in this short clip he again demonstrates he doesn’t understand the heartbeat of Christianity. I hesitate to call it intellectual dishonesty - but he just doesn’t know that he doesn’t know.
God doesn’t hate riches. If that were the case he wouldn’t have made Solomon rich. What God hates is our pride and how we can worship our riches over God. So Jesus was saying to this rich man to sell everything because Jesus knew his wealth had become his God. You can be rich and have a great relationship with God knowing God has blessed you but the second you rely on your wealth more than God then there is your problem.
There are almost no atheists that are truly in search of truth. People that can't bring themselves to believe in God usually become agnostic at most. It makes me think that Alex is not really an atheist, because to truly say that you don't believe in God requires a final certainty of your belief. To keep an open mind requires uncertainty to some degree, and therefore would fall into agnostic. No matter, Alex is really a thoughtful and introspective person.
His atheism may mean only that it's much less rather much more likely there's a God. Agnosticism has an "it could go either way" connotation to it. Hard to say for sure his underlying thinking, whether it's a hard no God or likely not a God.
I think the thing about the rich man is obviously he lied because we are all sinners and no one has kept the Ten Commandments 1 John 1:9-10
New International Version
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us
Maybe if he was honest and humbled himself
Jesus represents grace (grace is not you doing it as you are not capable but someone doing it for you in their grace)
So you are dependent on their grace
Likewise while Jesus represents grace that rich young person came with the heart of the law (law is you doing it not someone doing it for you)
Hence, he approached Jesus with the law and whenever they approach Jesus with the law Jesus replied them with the law
So, he gave that man a command he could not follow so that he will realize his position of needing grace (that he isn't capable of following the law so he could receive grace only then)
The message of the story was never about how you are required to be perfect in following the law but it's about you needing to receive Grace i.e. Jesus❤
Will you receive His Grace?
I’m sorry. Jesus left his family to be an itinerant preacher. That is not the “model” of loyal service to family and children. Rejecting resources is just another way to avoid personal responsibility. We can listen and love Jesus. But his model is not correct for all of society. It is also possible to argue that being an itinerant preacher is selfish if you have people and children who depend on you.
“Grace” is a meaningless word if your children are starving. I have known men like this.
Sanjosemike (no longer in CA)
Well said. That is exactly what that passage was about. The man needed to be driven to recognise his state of deficiency so that He could fall on our Lord's mercy.
What makes Alex different from all other atheists that he actually understands the material and the subject matter thoroughly. Although I don’t agree with his views, I respect that. He’s not an idiot when it comes to theology and scripture like Dawkins.
All other atheists? Bruh. It is unproductive to put people in the "doesn't really understand" box because one doesn't like contending with others not respecting Christianity. People see the same contents and come to different conclusions, doesn't mean that they don't grasp the subject. You can just simply disagree.
Furthermore, you don't need to understand something thoroughly to levy criticism. I don't believe in God partially because I find the bible to be horrid and immoral in some of it's messages, and because I find both the bible and God concept to be contradictory in many ways. I don't need to read the entire bible for that conclusion to be reasonable, although having done so would of course be better.
Dawkins is much smarter than you and any in your family will be.
@@a.t.6322 Dismissing someone's views by claiming they're stupid just points to immaturity.
"all other atheists". This patronizing, deameaning view just shows you can't be taken seriously. How about you accept atheist have actual reasons for not believing in God, even if you don't agree. Countering objections to Christianity with "they're ignorant and stupid" doesn't make their point invalid, it just shows you have no good counter.
A lot of people here, like Alex, didn't understand the story of the wealthy young man. Jesus isn't against wealth. He's against those who value wealth more than they value God and the young man is an example of that. Wealth was his idol, not God. And he wasn't going to part with idol to put Jesus there either
He's against wealth. You're mpronic.
The rich man was attached to his wealth and possessions, that’s why Jesus asked Him to make that sacrifice.
It’s not difficult at all actually. I’m a sinner and I’m trapped in sinful nature until AFTER the rapture and second coming when I will no longer be like this. I will come back as a saint with Jesus to rule over the nations for 1,000 years. We struggle with sin and we try not to sin. Following the ten commandments is pretty easy though. It’s easy not to steal, murder or grape anyone…
The bible says itself. There's a simplification on the claim of this dude.
It's not about having riches it's about riches having you. Jesus got to the heart of the the young rulers issue. Who or what will you worship?
Why would being rich be demonised or seen as a negative. Islam sees wealth as blessing by god. Whom you can enjoy in which is halal and encouraged to help the poor
it is harder for a rich man but not impossible. that rich man for Chrust can reach people who cannot be reached by poor people, where Christ commands followers to minister to all
Most poor people make their "decision" to be poor between the ages of 18-25. They have children out of wedlock. They drink and party. People who make the decision NOT to be poor plan and work very hard during those years. Get a skill. Get a trade. Show up every day to work. It's not an accident.
Most people make their decision to be poor by the time they are 25. It is a MATTER of personal responsibility. Jesus made his mind to become an itinerant preacher. Thank God he had no family!
Sanjosemike (no longer in CA)
Jesus is a big fan of His children being rich. He just doesn’t want possessions and cares of this world to have His children.
He is a decent person.
Does Alex oconnner lift
My favorite thing about Alex is that he takes Christianity seriously. So much so, that when he has a guest like Richard Dawkins on, he makes Dawkins look like an idiot.
You make yourself look like a mpron.
Alex, you might think you know Christianity, but your statement couldn’t be further from the truth. As Bishop Barron puts it, the God that you are describing is like the Greek Gods, which when they came in contact with humans, humans had to give way to make room for the Gods. But our God, is not competing with us, instead when we let Him into our lives we become more radiant, and everything becomes so much easier. An example of this is when God presented himself to Moses in a burning bush. The bush was not destroyed by Him, but instead it became more luminous, more radiant.
There is nothing inherently wrong with being wealthy. Salomon had more money than he knew what to do with. The problem is when wealth becomes your god, which was the case with the young man who walked away sad after talking with Jesus. He was willing to give everything up, except his money. For some of us it's pride, for others alcohol, sex, etc. If we want to follow Jesus the way He commanded, we have to be willing to give up ANYTHING if He asks us to, even our own life.
Notice how he said “Jesus isn’t” I’m totally reaching here, but it sounds like he internalized the idea that Jesus is God and eternal, therefore IS. I say this because many speak of Jesus in past tense.
Sounds suspiciously like "Real communism has never been tried before".
Most normal conversation he has with his roommate on his way out the door
If you love your family you will try to provide for them. When you build wealth for them you are not being cruel and selfish. In most cases building resources requires struggle, perseverance and hard work.
This is not evil. Jesus left his family and became an itinerant preacher. He was NOT a loyal family man. It was fine for him to do that. But human society also NEEDS loyal family men.
Sanjosemike (no longer in CA)
There is a huge difference between supporting your family and hoarding wealth. No family needs 20 million for example. After a certain point it just becomes greed. Especially since so many people are suffering because of lack of resources.
@@GG-vq6ro While I don’t disagree with you, most extremely wealthy families tend to spend an enormous amount of money by just “existing.”
Example: Without billionaires, there is no yacht building or highly expensive craftsmanship. People who supply those with luxury have a right to earn a living too.
I was born poor in Detroit. I worked every low class job you can imagine. Most poor people are poor because of the bad decisions they make between the ages of 16-28. If you don’t make those decisions, you will not be poor.
I can actually play all 5 Beethoven Piano Concertos. I can afford a new Steinway 9’ Grand. If I purchase one, I will help wonderful craftsman earn a living.
Sanjosemike (no longer in CA)
@sanjosemike3137 I'm sorry but saying "my yacht or grand piano will give somebody employment " is a ridiculous argument. What is the cost of a yacht? Millions and millions. While that could go to help actual poor people you justify it by saying that it provides work for some bloke. You guys truly are so out of touch with reality I don't think there is even a point to argue because rich people will believe anything to justify their greed and decadence.
@@GG-vq6ro No. I am not out of touch with reality. When I was growing up in Detroit, while still a teenager, I worked trying to sell magazine subscriptions door to door. One of my friend’s father joined a religious cult and left his 3 children on the streets with no food.
Almost all of my friends were way poorer than I was. Believe me, I knew what poverty was.
Sanjosemike (no longer in CA)
@sanjosemike3137 ok I believe you brother but them why and how do you justify one person owning a million dollar yacht while others have absolutely nothing? How can that person still supposedly go to heaven?
That's why you must be born again! (John chapter 3) God gives us a new heart with new desires!
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Is not the money it’s the love of money. It’s not wrong to be rich
The Book of Mormon gives clarity to this teaching: "But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.
And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good-to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted." It also teaches that when we keep the commandment we will prosper. There are many good people in this world who are prospering because they are good. What matters is what you put first. Would you give up everything for God if He asked you to?
Alex at the afters holding court still sniffed up.
Jesus didn't have an issue with people being wealthy. The issue arises when wealth becomes your focus instead of God.
Where does it say that? I don't believe the New Testament implies that at all. "Sell all you own" is hard to interpret any other way than get rid of your wealth.
It is true. Everyone getting a paycheck is in a bit of a contradiction. Perhaps it would be challenging for them to do otherwise. Average wage worldwide = western people are RICH.
Now let people add philosophy to twist words to their liking. And use their life to prove it. Another form of pride.
Why is “Christians” admiring and applauding a hell bound atheist? Sure, he’s respectful, sure he clearly states the truth about following Christ which demands a hefty price… but he clearly misrepresents the Lords position on wealth here, and everyone is good with that? Jesus isn’t “not fond” of being rich, He was challenging the man who did “everything right” but yet was unwilling to part with “everything he had” (in a physical sense) in order to obtain the ONLY thing (in a spiritual sense) that grants eternal life… faith in Jesus Christ.
Stop capitulating for the sake of seeming nice. Call these fools out for their own souls sake! Smh.
Bryan Johnson is modern day Jesus. Sorry Brian the eternal life crew sounds great but I’m not going to bed at 10 PM
Amen
Rich people: convert and share you wealth. That's a fruit of the holy spirit. You don't need to accumulate. If you still acumulate, you are not converted. Simple. Not rocket science.
Origen says you can not understand before faith. You need faith to gain true knowledge. It's hard for you guys but it doesn't mean it's hard for Joe Poor.
As brilliant as he is, Alex misses the core of Christianity and of Creation itself: "...that where I am, you may be also..." It's not about rules. It's about being loved so completely that you would do anything to preserve that love for all eternity...
Context matters. Read that whole story. It's not about Jesus being against wealth per se. The man was trying to get into heaven by his own strength. It was all about what he did. So Jesus asked Him to do the last thing He needed to do to achieve it. But he couldn't do it.
The whole teaching of that was, that with men, there is always something that holds us back from achieving perfection in our own strength. But with God, all things are possible.
Not necessarily. His wealth was his Isaac. God asked him to sacrifice it and he wasn't willing. That was his cross to bear.
@@pela907 Definitely a part of it. Matthew 19:23-26 explains what was the issue and why we need God. This is why Christianity isn't about a religion where you have to perfectly follow the rules to get into heaven. We trust in Jesus who is perfect, followed the 10 commandments perfectly and fulfilled the law, and was the perfect sacrifice for all our shortcomings and sin. God made a way for us.
Context doesn’t matter to those who’ve been sent a grand delusion such that they believe the lies because they love their wickedness…
2 Thessalonians 2,3-12 NIV
“Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness a is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
Don't you remember that when I was with you l used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. & And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie.”
Matthew 22,14 “For many are called but few are chosen.”
He is reading Chesterton,then it's simply a matter of time for him for a U turn.
It isn't that Jesus isn't fond of being rich, as he even says that those who commit to following Him will have great riches in heaven. The problem with the rich man is that he wouldn't give up what he had to follow Jesus. The man even called him good master, which insinuates he at least knew Jesus was important if he didn't as much know that He is God. The rich man cried. Why? Because he was convicted that he ought to sell his possessions for the sake of Jesus' offering, but didn't want to. Jesus said a rich man cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. It implies that a rich man can't take his riches to heaven. Prosperity is good. It's good to prosper. We ought to prosper. But as the proverb says, the LOVE of money is the root of evil, not money itself. God made Jacob to prosper, and several of his sons. It's good to prosper so that children can grow up in a environment where they're nurtured.
The story of the rich person is widely misunderstood by Alex here. His reading is the most shallow reading of the Bible
Is Alex taller than I was expecting? Or is Chris shorter than I was expecting?
God called Abraham and patterned him for us to follow as Christians. Abraham was very rich.
Jesus's very name means "salvation". Those whose money is tied to time
(those who don't have financial freedom) cannot serve God without being distracted,
by the ever-present demand for the bare necessities.
The most difficult part of being a Christian is closing off one's mind from reality and living with the constant cognitive dissonance.
Refusing to compromise on truth isn’t “close-mindedness” :)
@@zacharynelson5731 Tell that to Copernicus.
@@TheParadoxDestroyer
That you just accused literally billions of people, across dozens and dozens of cultures, from every populated continent, from the past 2000 years of having cognitive dissonance....that is arrogance to an absolutely ludicrous extreme.
Good luck with that.
@JohnSmith-yc6uv Exactly. Hitler pulled off something similar with the German people.
The New Testament is a part of reality.
His explanation of the rich man a d his interaction with Jesus was wrong. His heart, what he worshipped, what he trusted, was his wealth. Money isnt root of all evil, the worship of money is.
A major issue I have with religion, is the pick and choose you're own context. You can warp and change a stories context to fit situations, to make yourself sound clever or wise
Christianity will often say that it is the truth. But why so many variations of "the truth"? Why does it claim to have the stories that came from religions much older than it? Why did it gain new stories and traditions taken from other new religions as though their tradition was their own (adopted pagan traditions then condemned the pagans for doing it for the original gods it was intended to celebrate.)
I am an athiest who has learned to meet religion in the middle and only really condemn its worse traits not just the silly or annoying ones.)
What traditions and stories of pagan gods has Christianity taken?
@user-gx1dm9ls2d want an easy one. Christmas. Instead of convincing the pagans to drop the celebration, they adapted it into their religion.
You could look these things up... there are stories in the Bible that pre-date the Bible, because they are altered versions of older religions or pagan religions.
So you throw all truth claims out because some embodiments are worse than others? Just throw the baby out with the bathwater? That seems hardly curious.
@@John.Christopher What "truth"? What are you talking about? A claim isnt actually true, just because someone said it was.
The religious will say the bible was written by god, and also the evidence of god... but man actually wrote it down and spread it around. Thats not evidence of it being true. Thats just a claim. So what truth are you talking about?
Follow commandments as Jesus did but paulians totally ignore Jesus effort and preaching
Actually, you don't have to get rid of being rich. Being poor does not guarantee heaven and being rich does not guarantee hell. The Bible says the love of all money is the root of all evil. Not money itself. If you put money first, there's an issue. I know plenty of wealthy people who put Jesus Christ first. The more they give away, the more God just keeps blessing them. Better know your doctrine.
Exactly!
Is Alex is not atheist anymore???
still an atheist
He was Catholic
A lot of rich people in these comments trying to justify being rich😂
A lot of poor people using religion to excuse their lack of success, as though it was a deliberate choice to avoid the folly of billionaires, instead of admitting just how unremarkable you are.
@@hemmoau a very disturbing reply
Christianity nor Jesus is/was against wealth. You've got to put the pieces of the puzzle together to understand why he said what he said to the young ruler. What did Jesus say he came to do? To set the captives free. The rich young ruler was captive to his riches. Hence, he made money/possessions his God. Jesus recognized his predicament, and in an effort to free the rich young slave, he told him to sell his god. Turn your back to it and walk after me! Choose a new and real God to serve so that you can be free and truly rich. That was the whole point. Look at the Apostle Paul. His problem was his own knowledge. He thought he knew the scriptures and knew God. He was so intellectual that he could teach his teachers. Yet, Jesus had led him to forget all that he knew so that he could know Christ. Paul built his confidence in his knowledge of the scriptures. Jesus had him tear his house of wisdom down. He humbled him. Blinded him so that he would need someone to guide him. When he asked to be healed, Jesus said, no! My grace is sufficient for you. How did Paul respond? He praised God even more and learned to appreciate his infirmities. Paul was free even though he was weak and afraid to speak because he feared his own knowledge would hinder the cause of Christ. Jesus came to set the captives free. If money isn't your master then you're already free from it no matter how much you have. The problem with money, however, is that it becomes a trap to most people.
Buddhism frees you from money on a deeper level
@@sitirokimbo How so?
The didache who are like one of the earliest christians lived a truely sacrificial life. People just interpret it how they please now and everyone of the thousands of denominations think the others do it wrong. Waiting for the "well actually your not interpratating it the way i believe so your wrong".
Do not go down this path please. Religion I'm talkin