Should Christians Drive Luxury SUVs? | Full Time Christianity

The other day I was window shopping for a replacement vehicle for my 14-year old car.

My trusty old Pontiac now has 166,000 miles on it.

It still runs (most of the time), but it?s showing its age.

For example, it overheats if caught in traffic (forcing me to jump off at the nearest exist just to keep the car moving).

I make it a game to make it to work without the car overheating.

Interstate 95 in Virginia usually puts up a good fight.

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The fact that I even have a car places me in elite status worldwide.

There are approximately 600 million vehicles in the world today. Of those about 240 million are found in the United States.

Considering there are 6.76 billion people in the world, roughly 9% of the world?s population have a vehicle.

That number is overstated when you consider how many people (especially Americans) own more than one vehicle.

Simply stated, over 90% of the world does not have access to their own automotive transportation.

(Source: wiki answers)

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There is no question Americans are blessed (or should I say cursed) with an obscene about of abundance.

We are the model for consumption.

And, for millions of Americans, the most visible symbol of our property on a daily basis is our vehicle.

We travel to work in it.

We take it to the mall.

We park it at the gym.

We maneuver it through the drive thru for coffee or dinner.

And our vehicles transport us to church.

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A biblical case could be made for Christians to not ?own? a vehicle at all if it involves financing or leasing it.

However, I?m here to ask today?

How much is too much?

For example, should Christians drive luxury SUVs?

(That question is triggered by the photo herein that I snapped in a dealership lot in Virginia).

I?m sure the irony of the license plate is not lost on you either.

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As an American who does not live directly in a city and have access to public transportation, my vehicle does serve a purpose almost every day.

For the record though, I?m not in the market for a Cadillac or anything comparable in terms of luxury and price tag.

I do find it tasteless to promote a love for Jesus on the back of a $70K Escalade.

(For additional thought, I wrote a blog post on whether Christians should identify themselves on their vehicles.. aka the Jesus Fish)

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I feel humbled and embarrassed to even have this conversation about vehicles.

I also recognize that less than 5% of the world?s population have their own computer and internet access.

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It?s unfortunate so many ?Christians? (myself included) regularly confuse the rewards of God?s Kingdom with the rewards of the World:

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

(Hebrews 11:6)

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What example do you feel Christians should be setting with their possessions?

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