Comments on: Theological Reflections on Home Ownership, 2: Some Biblical Views

by: Lazlo

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 09:03:33 +0000

Even in LA —the least affordable housing market in the US —the middle class owns houses. Home ownership is not as exclusive a club as you think, Tom.

by: Tyler Watson

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 06:43:06 +0000

Tom, my intention in this series is to ask how can Christians think theologically about home ownership. I’m not sure what the alternative you would suggest would be, and I wish you would be more clear in your comment. Are you thinking that home ownership is antithetical to Christianity altogether? Maybe you think the Bible has nothing to say to the millions of people in the US or around the world who are fortunate enough to own their homes?

The fact that housing prices have risen in recent years so that owning a home has become out of reach for so many in the US is a concern to me and something I will address in this series, but please don’t accuse me of spending too much time amongst a certain class of people.

by: Tom Pratt

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 21:23:29 +0000

Some good stuff.

But maybe too much time in seminary and among the wealthy and priveleged :^)

Hard to witness to Jesus when middle class and poor people have no clue what you’re talking about.

by: Tyler Watson

Tue, 27 Feb 2007 13:21:40 +0000

Thanks for the compliments guys.

James, I planned to address some of those questions in the upcoming posts. I like your formulations and will interact with them. Keep them coming and feel free to offer your own thoughts.

Bill, I apologize. I never thought my writing would drive someone to drinking.

by: James

Tue, 27 Feb 2007 12:48:35 +0000

Thanks for all the hard work here. The Bible certainly has a lot to say about “home”, I think this is the first attempt I have come across to put all that data (or at least a lot of it) together. I have thought about this a lot the past couple of years, as well, as we are partial home owners. Here are a few of my lingering questions that might give you something to think about in your future posts about this subject:

What is the difference between a home and a house? Does the Biblical story advocate owning a house, or being rooted in a place we consider home, or both?

How much house do I need? In a world where so many have so little, what does it mean that the average house size in America has grown so much over the past few decades?

What are the benefits of ownership for a community? In the last three years, I have lived in both a neighborhood where most people rented, and a neighborhood where most owned. It definately makes a difference.

by: Bill Ekhardt

Mon, 26 Feb 2007 20:26:30 +0000

This is excellent. I look forward to more. I’d like to drink some wine and let this ruminate in me for a while.