To be a bit uncomfortable with local minister's show of wealth

[anonymousethatroared]

Part of me thinks, yes he and his family have the right to dress how they like and they are a normal family.

BUT The local minister, his wife and kids are VERY fashion conscious. They always have the best clothes and fashion haircuts and the kids always have the latest accessories. This makes me uncomfortable as I always , somewhat misguidedly, thought minitry cae with a degree of humility and compassion for the poor.

I understand dressing well doesnt suggest they dont but aibu to feel uncomfortable with their materialistic looking lifestyle?

Ah, catwhiskers10, the first biblical quote on the subject... I'm guessing this was the reason the OP raised the question in the first place - a biblical viewpoint.

Thinking about it - Man cannot serve two masters.

Worshipping false idols - materialism

Adornments - jewellery

Parable of widow's mite.

I wouldn't be overly interested in how much church workers get paid, but I would be very interested in how they spend it. A vicar leads by example. He is a role model towards biblical principles and if I saw extravagance and materialism, I would feel the need to also question and perhaps change church.

happy - you've purged all tendancies to materialism and extravagance from your own life? I assume you'll be ditching Mnet soon - you could be doing much 'worthier' things with that time. Plus money spent on computers and the internet? Tsk Tsk

In the Catholic Church, priests are supposed to take a vow of poverty when they are ordained. Irrelevant here, I guess, but some Church types must see it as important not to be flashy.

Secular Catholic Priests ie those who are not Monks, do not take a vow of poverty.

Northernlurker - I'm not planning to go into ministry and live by biblical rules.

Actually by some people's standards yes I'm not into materialism and extravagance - no car, no holidays, etc, not interested in keeping up with Joneses either which maybe goes a long way to explain my views about biblical references regarding consumerism. Computer and internet mainly used for work, ie income and yes obviously used of an evening for leisure and homework for teenager.

I wasnt aware my existence was being questioned and compared to a family in ministry though, but if it had to be I would say we're on a lower wage and cut our cloth according to our pattern.

Rich people in Jesus's tended to be very selfish and awfully self righteous (bit like now only worse ) ..........it wasn't just the clothes on their back that passage was referring to - it was their attitude as well.

You don't have to live in rags with the poor to have (and show) compassion for them.

I stand corrected then re the priests. The one I knew spent quite a lot on cheap cider and Old Spice.