Despite your useless insult, thanks for the clarification.

However, humans in their blindness to make a buck engage in some very empty, even evil, moves. As a Christian, I know two realities. I know I am a sinner in my natural heart capable of all the evil around me. In this vein, I don’t condemn the lost for their lost behavior. They are condemned already and thus have my compassion. I am also regenerated by the Spirit of God. This alters my perspective on everything. What many may see as frivolous fun are from this vantage point actions of disrespect toward God and His creation.

So do I relate to the lost in order to evangelize and keep quiet about some of their behavior? One can’t build an honest, trusting relationship with a lost person, if everything noticed and spoken about is the perceived wrong the person commits. Sarah is right to point to the ice cream in our freezers. Can we call the lost’s indulgence in food as any different than our own? Is there not a way to hold up God’s honor and speak of reverencing Him? If so, what is it?

Two possible helps to put this conundrum in order:
1. All things are lawful for the Christian, but not all things are profitable. (Of course, keep all scripture within the parameters of the whole of scripture–many actions are rooted in selfishness and are avoided by choice). There is little or nothing to be gained in the growth of godliness within one’s heart by seeking out such extreme human experiences. 2. Trust the Spirit in the moment to help you relate and speak the truth in love to your lost friend, when he wants to buy you a $200 burger. You may or may not feel led to eat as the means for reaching for that person. God has the wisdom to guide such decisions.

“So what’s wrong with me saying we are dirty little creatures who are whacked out over indulging ourselves?

Yes, I don’t disagree that whatever good we think we do is filthy rags compared to the true sacrifice of Christ. We see the same phenomenon with Breast Cancer Month, when all the things we want turn pink, and we can finally justify our indulgence, when we normally wouldn’t give to the same charity without reward. I see what you’re saying.

I don’t condemn anybody eating at Burger King when a cheaper more nutritious meal can be found at home, nor when someone decides to spend $11,000.00 on a gourmet meal while suspended with 20 other diners, 300 hundred feet above the local city by a construction crane. I agree, expense is a matter of income and relative to a number of factors. Spending money on indulgences is not what I saw.

Altruism tied to consumers’ desires for indulgence is the evidence to me that God correctly labels our righteousness filthy rags. Consider the guy who can afford that truffled, Wagu beef extravaganza, but won’t spend the money because he sees it as ridiculous. Yet, secretly his mouth waters for it. The description of the ingredients has him intrigued and salivating. Then he hears, “the proceeds go to charity” and he gives in. Did giving money to charity pull on his heart or give him the justification he needed to be doing something other than pampering himself? And I fully make these comments recognizing that I used a “we.” I am as filthy as the next one.

So what’s wrong with me saying we are dirty little creatures who are whacked out over indulging ourselves?

No matter how simple we live, we all have certain luxuries that we are willing to pay for. We all put money in our mouths, in our houses, or on our backs that we could give to someone less fortunate. (yes, even you) When I was on my honeymoon in Cancun, I learned that what I pay for a regular meal at Burger King is more than what our maids were making per week. Is that too extravagant? There will always be someone less fortunate, and we should give, but we can’t tell others what to do. And we can’t be responsible for every dictatorship that steals food and resources away from their citizens, in order to oppress them. Where do we draw the line?

I have another question. What are the people who are buying that burger dong for the economy there? They are causing those workers to keep their jobs, when the “regular” folks are cutting back on spending, due to high fuel and food costs. Many electricians/ plumbers/ landscapers here say that if it weren’t for the super rich building their second homes and retirement estates, they would be out of business.

So personally, I am thankful for the people who can afford million dollar homes, and $200 burgers, and they can keep paying us their money to provide services.

No, you’re not a left wing liberal pinko commie, but I’m definitely a right-wing evil-conservative capitalist Miss Piggy! (LOL)