Rather, you have further exampled abuse of Scripture. In the OT, they also stoned false prophets, and exterminated whole nations (or were sppsd to), and otherwise often engaged physical warfare, and constantly sacrificed animals, and were very, very often unclean until the evening. And before that even married near kin. Etc.
And if you want to use kings as exampled, Solomon had over700 wives. But pastor Moses can hardly be said to had an enjoyable life (Ps. 90).
But you may have noticed that the OT foretold of a new covenant which was distinctly "not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant," (. (Hebrews 8:7-9; Hebrews 8:7-9) and in which temple ordinances and liturgical seasons and dietary laws as well as physical wealth and warfare were typological shadows of NT realities of the new covenant instituted by the death of Christ.
Thus,
though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) (2 Corinthians 10:3-4)
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12)For as Jesus answered,
My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. (John 18:36)
And as for Paul characteristically physically enjoying life, and having no need as we would understand it, while there were times when he was full, yet his whole life as a believer was contrary to what you advocate, as was the NT leadership, who could attest of,
in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; (2 Corinthians 6:4-5)
Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? (2 Corinthians 11:23-29)Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you. For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. (1 Corinthians 4:8-13)
Quite a different Paul and leadership than you defend. For in contrary to the prosperity gospel christ, they followed the Lord Jesus, who said,
whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:32-33)
To follow Christ is to live a characteristically sacrificial life. Which does not mean you cannot enjoy basic blessings of a modern culture and special blessing God gives for obedience as you follow Him, but not as a life of indulgence but of sacrifice, forsaking hindrances to holiness and service, which I need to improve in.
Because you personally don’t enjoy hanging out with others who enjoy gaming obviously
Heard that before and I see the effect. Less and less kids in the densely populated city I am in (and work on bikes for free, on the sidewalk) come outside to play or be active, or for long, and quickly get bored, have little attention span (as in 3 or a few seconds), less organic community, while over 70% of the US population as a whole is overweight, with over 40% being obese.
Try basketball.
[[For in contrary to the prosperity gospel christ,]]
I never said anything about prosperity gospel and do not believe it is biblical at all- I do however acknowledge that God blesses whom he will for his own purposes- and it is not a sin to enjoy what God allows- There is a fien line between being rich for $$ sake, power sake, and beign rich and giving God the praise and enjoying what he has allowed- The legalist however can never allow themselves to enjoy any of it because works is their God. They are always browbeating themselves about being accountable for every penny because somewhere i n the world is a poor person- and they feel guilty if they can’t practice self denial with that in mind- God never intended for man to live a life of self denial, with their only pleasure being in feeling virtuous. They turn virtuosity into a religion- and are eager to tell everyone about their sacrifices-
Not for me brother=-
We are going to have to agree to disagree- I’m giving you the last word- I didn’t want this to derail the thread-