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Because Jesus ministry had no boundaries, Luke wrote that the church should also have no boundaries and should include the rich and the poor. One of Luke's greatest desires may have been for the church to include the rich and the poor. Bartholomew, Green and Thiselton (2005) assert that "Luke tells the story of Jesus to address this tension and to foster 'solidarity between rich, respected Christians and poor, despised Christians'" (246). Jesus also proclaimed a turnaround of the miserable outcome of those who were considered cast outs, the oppressed, and the unhealthy by asking the healthy and rich to share what they have with those who are victims of abuse, exploitation and heartbreaking circumstances. All throughout the book of Luke, the author asserts that the individuals who are respected and wealthy should be submissive to Jesus' message and the example He set for His disciples which includes economic justice, generosity, and unity between the rich and the poor.
Mega churches today, including Granger Community Church, are reaching out to both rich and poor individuals who may not have had the opportunity to hear the gospel of Christ. Some of these congregations may use popular music artist and performers to draw these individuals to hear the message of Jesus and how he died so that each person may possess eternal life. While Jesus lived on earth and preached throughout Israel, He associated with and preached to people in every social class, no matter their status. He did not discriminate against individuals because of their sins or social class. The senior pastor and staff as well as the congregation of Granger Community Church, even though a prime example of a mega church in the United States today, reach out to those in the community who need the salvation of Christ. The writer asserts that Jesus would not look down upon Granger Community Church for using popular music or reality television to drawn in individuals who typically would not venture into a traditional church. He would likely, instead, unless the church lost its love for him and began to love money encourage the church to continue its style of ministry.
The writer contends that Jesus would also likely affirm the ministry of St. Francis of Assisi. Both those who are rich and those who are poor would do well to remember what Jesus said regarding a Christian being rich:...
The following words in Luke 18:27, nevertheless offer hope for those who are rich as well as the poor: "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." This reassurance as well as the reminder in the quote starting the paper proves critical to religious thought and life today. No one, not matter their wealth or lack of money can serve God and money (Luke 16:10). Like St. Francis of Assisi and the Granger Community Church, each person and church has to choose whom or what to serve.
WORKS CITED
Bartholomew, Craig, G., Joel B. Green and Anthony C. Thiselton. Reading Luke: Interpretation, reflection, formation. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. 2005. Print.
Granger Community Church "Popular culture helps put people in the pews." South Bend
Tribune, October 2004. Print.
Greenan, Julie the Gospel of Luke and Wealth (Sermon on St. Francis and Christian Poverty)
5 October 2003, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi (edited slightly by Steven Brey).
Heuver, Gerald Dirk the teachings of Jesus concerning wealth. University of Chicago. Fleming H. Revell Company.1903. Print.
Hultgren, Arland J. The Parables of Jesus: A Commentary Grand Rapids MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans
Publishing, 2002. Print.
People fill the 650 seats in the Granger Community Church Granger, Indiana -- auditorium. Chatting among themselves, they wait for the clock to hit 5:30 P.M. On a Saturday. Instrumental music plays quietly. Advertisements for various ministries flash one after another on two video screens. At 5:30, the first of five weekend services will begin at, according to the Megachurch Research Center in Bolivar,1
"People don't know how much they matter to God." Beeson says his goal has always been to reach people who were not attending church. Even while growing up in Greenfield, Ind., he recalls, he was constantly inviting friends to his church youth group. "I have always been concerned that people don't know how much they matter to God," he says. "They don't know that they are precious and loved. And I think if they knew what a treasure they were, it would change their outlook, their family. They would have hope. Jesus does that." 2
WORKS CITED
Bartholomew, Craig, G., Joel B. Green and Anthony C. Thiselton. Reading Luke: Interpretation, reflection, formation. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. 2005. Print.
Granger Community Church "Popular culture helps put people in the pews." South Bend
Tribune, October 2004. Print.
Greenan, Julie the Gospel of Luke and Wealth (Sermon on St. Francis and Christian Poverty)
Much literary criticism assumes that the gospels are not necessarily historical or else it plays down theological or religious context. However, these assumptions are not inherent in the method; a well-crafted piece of historical writing also promotes certain ideological concerns in an artistic and aesthetically pleasing (Bloomberg)." Now that we have garnered a greater understanding of the climate of Israel at the time of Jesus Christ and the criticisms that
From a position of business ethics, the landowner suddenly shifts his focus to one of social norms and interpersonal relationships. He comments on the use of money as a tool by which to gain friends seems sinister, and contrary to the general canon of Jesus' teachings. Jesus might not be condoning sin and evil; but he does seem to suggest that money can be used to manipulate social relations
A parable: an earthly story with a heavenly meaning Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for parabol? (Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for parabol? ) Stacy reports that in the pseudepigraphical document known as the Book of Enoch that the following story, conspicuous parallel to the parable in Luke occurs, which may predate Jesus' account. Woe unto you who gain silver and gold by unjust means; you will then
Anti-Semitism has practically been embedded into Christian doctrine. As Harrington (2009) points out, “certain Gospel texts have fostered anti-Judaism,” and “one can say that the Gospels may have an anti-Jewish potential,” (p. 1). This is true in spite of the fact that many of the authors of the gospels might have self-identified as Jews, or who were at least writing from a Jewish consciousness and Jewish point of view, for
Luke/Acts The book of Luke is largely regarded as one of the synoptic gospels that provide a different account of the ministry of Jesus Christ. The author of the book not only provides a different account of the events and life of Jesus Christ but also adopted a biblical approach to his writing instead of a classical style. This book has attracted considerable attention among biblical scholars because of its different
" (John 15:26-27) John explicitly tells those who have come to walk in this way of knowing to pursue this knowledge in others. In his set of three epistles, which are held up with the apostle's other writings as central doctrines to the humanistic elements of Christianity, John delivers a summation of the relationship between man's regard of God and his treatment of his fellow which points to the morality underscoring