Is it a sin to drive to drive a SUV?

January 16, 2008

I certainly hope not. Mike came home with a new Hummer last night. If we're sinning, we're sinning in STYLE.

you go girl!

January 16, 2008

P.S.

The Green Gospel is a lie. At it's center is mankind and the creation rather than the Creator.

AMEN!!

Marnie · January 16, 2008

I am of the opinion that driving an excessively large vehicle for the status is a sign of naivety, pride and selfishness. Knowing how we have become so dependent on foreign oil and by proxy are empowering the Muslim nations does not set well with me. Many SUVs are getting smaller and more practical, but the suburban sized vehicles are not very practical as a mode of transportation. Many people buy less efficient vehicles as their primary mode of transportation on the off chance they might need that much room or towing capacity. Every day I witness at least one of these over sized vehicles with a single occupant. Some so full of pride and so concerned with "style" to realize their vehicle cost more than some peoples houses. Not what one would call humility.

To answer your question, obviously it's not a sin to drive an SUV. However I would say that owning and driving the larger SUV's as ones primary mode of transportation, with disregard for it's purpose and capacity, is a prideful and selfish display. There is a small percentage of people who drive these monstrous vehicles for safety but the large majority drive them for the status. They might as well stroll through the local wal-mart fanning themselves with a stack of $50 bills. The people who parade around in style, not unlike the pharisee, will likely disagree with me but, then again, they are the important ones, right?

Okay, I'm sorry...but that's the most ridiculous thing I have read here at Worthy, and that's saying something. Do you realize that you have just insulted me, my husband and many others who PREFER to drive a larger vehicle and who happen to be able to AFFORD to pay for one? It has nothing to do with status or pride or a lack of humility. Lordamercy, O'Dannyboy, think before you air an opinion like that, would you??

MeCajunboy · January 16, 2008

Many evangelicals are now bringing a green message to the pulpit. Is this a personal choice or is it really a matter of righteousness? Is the day of packing up the Suburban and going to church become a hypocritical event?

Come on now Dave, please.....May I suggest another church? If you can see already that you pastor is harping on rediculous rhetoric as this? I would have thought you originally bought the SUV because you are conservative to begin with. I have one and that was my original purpose. NO, I think your pastor is splitting hairs. Much like the hundreds of thousands who threw their TV's to the roads many years ago and then found out they still have to deal with the "foul mouthed" public.

Cajunboy

Vickilynn · January 16, 2008

P.S.

The Green Gospel is a lie. At it's center is mankind and the creation rather than the Creator.

Shalom Dave,

EXACTLY. Amen.

Sins are very clear in the Bible. Driving an SUV is not a sin per se, it is a choice. It's no on else's business, it's a personal choice. JUST LIKE the number of children a family choose to have.

O'Dannyboy · January 16, 2008

I am of the opinion that driving an excessively large vehicle for the status is a sign of naivety, pride and selfishness. Knowing how we have become so dependent on foreign oil and by proxy are empowering the Muslim nations does not set well with me. Many SUVs are getting smaller and more practical, but the suburban sized vehicles are not very practical as a mode of transportation. Many people buy less efficient vehicles as their primary mode of transportation on the off chance they might need that much room or towing capacity. Every day I witness at least one of these over sized vehicles with a single occupant. Some so full of pride and so concerned with "style" to realize their vehicle cost more than some peoples houses. Not what one would call humility.

To answer your question, obviously it's not a sin to drive an SUV. However I would say that owning and driving the larger SUV's as ones primary mode of transportation, with disregard for it's purpose and capacity, is a prideful and selfish display. There is a small percentage of people who drive these monstrous vehicles for safety but the large majority drive them for the status. They might as well stroll through the local wal-mart fanning themselves with a stack of $50 bills. The people who parade around in style, not unlike the pharisee, will likely disagree with me but, then again, they are the important ones, right?

Okay, I'm sorry...but that's the most ridiculous thing I have read here at Worthy, and that's saying something. Do you realize that you have just insulted me, my husband and many others who PREFER to drive a larger vehicle and who happen to be able to AFFORD to pay for one? It has nothing to do with status or pride or a lack of humility. Lordamercy, O'Dannyboy, think before you air an opinion like that, would you??

I knew you would be the first to respond Marnie.

I certainly hope not. Mike came home with a new Hummer last night. If we're sinning, we're sinning in STYLE.

You said yourself, regarding the hummer, that at least you were sinning in style. You admit that STYLE is important to you and so do you deny you are being even slightly vain? When you drive around in STYLE (no mention of comfort) do you feel good about yourself, a.k.a PRIDE? Your being offended only reinforces my assertion about lack of humility. Your ability to afford a luxury does not make it any less of a luxury. If you feel that you deserve these things rather than feeling blessed then I would say you lack humility. As I said, these vehicles were designed to carry families. They are an expensive and inefficient mode of transportation for an individual. The same could be said of a Jaguar or a Mercedes. Do you disagree?

It was not my intention to offend anyone only to point out how people justify indulgences such as the large SUVs. Deny as they may, they all feel, since they can afford this or that, that somehow they are entitled or deserving. You would think they would be thankful and humble themselves like Sam Walton.

This is just how I feel folks. Don't take offense. It's one mans opinion. I wasn't pointing any fingers. I was however expecting some to lash out at me for speaking my mind. I only ask that those of you who might feel some measure of guilt try and refrain from trying to paint me as the bad guy. If you don't like what I have said then prove me wrong but please save your insults.

that's the most ridiculous thing I have read here at Worthy, and that's saying something

Besides, I have said far more ridiculous things before this and have read them too.

Ddavid from NC · January 16, 2008

Many evangelicals are now bringing a green message to the pulpit. Is this a personal choice or is it really a matter of righteousness? Is the day of packing up the Suburban and going to church become a hypocritical event?

Come on now Dave, please.....May I suggest another church? If you can see already that you pastor is harping on rediculous rhetoric as this? I would have thought you originally bought the SUV because you are conservative to begin with. I have one and that was my original purpose. NO, I think your pastor is splitting hairs. Much like the hundreds of thousands who threw their TV's to the roads many years ago and then found out they still have to deal with the "foul mouthed" public.

Cajunboy

I've not attended said church with the green message. But, I know they exist. CNN had a piece on several pastors with pulpit campaigns on the subject. The expose was entitiled "God's Warriors".

O'Dannyboy · January 16, 2008

I have seven children. I have to have a large vehicle to be able to take them anywhere.

No problems here. That is, after all, what they were made for. If you can only afford one vehicle, and have a family then a large SUV would be the obvious choice.

I would like to say that for me this is not a green issue, it's an economy issue. Oil prices have never been higher and the Oil producing nations (aka Muslim nations) have never been wealthier. The automobile industry is partly to blame for not even making an effort to increase fuel economy. The tree huggers have badgered Governments and manufacturers so that they focused on emissions rather than efficiency. 30 years have gone by and the average MPG has barely moved. In 1982 they were making cars that would get 50+ MPG on diesel and these days, thanks to emissions laws, there are none. 30 years and no noticeable improvement whatsoever. And GM is wondering why Toyota has surpassed them? Perhaps GM and Ford will continue to focus it's resources on larger and prettier vehicles and they will fall even farther behind the competition forcing them to close more plants in, where else?, the USA. We, the consumers, are also to blame for buying such obviously inefficient vehicles. So much so that they have spent all their time making them more luxurious and eye catching thereby making these vehicles "status symbols". No effort to make them more efficient, only to make them more appealing. In this instance, we have become our own worst enemy by NOT encouraging R&D in fuel efficiency. I'd be willing to bet this is an area that Toyota has the advantage and even the slightest improvements have effected their overall sales.

Vickilynn · January 16, 2008

I have seven children. I have to have a large vehicle to be able to take them anywhere.

No problems here. That is, after all, what they were made for. If you can only afford one vehicle, and have a family then a large SUV would be the obvious choice.

Shalom Danny,

Sorry to be the one to tell you this, but it's not YOUR choice to make for someone else. Can you not see how wrong that is?

You are telling people not to get offended at your message, but your message is one of sweeping generalities and putting yourself in a position to judge what someone ELSE should be driving.

The Bible does not give you that right Bro. Just make your own choices and leave the judgment to G-d.

In answer to the OP, NO, it's not a sin, it's a personal choice.

Marnie · January 16, 2008

You said yourself, regarding the hummer, that at least you were sinning in style. You admit that STYLE is important to you and so do you deny you are being even slightly vain? When you drive around in STYLE (no mention of comfort) do you feel good about yourself, a.k.a PRIDE? Your being offended only reinforces my assertion about lack of humility. Your ability to afford a luxury does not make it any less of a luxury. If you feel that you deserve these things rather than feeling blessed then I would say you lack humility. As I said, these vehicles were designed to carry families. They are an expensive and inefficient mode of transportation for an individual. The same could be said of a Jaguar or a Mercedes. Do you disagree?
It was not my intention to offend anyone only to point out how people justify indulgences such as the large SUVs. Deny as they may, they all feel, since they can afford this or that, that somehow they are entitled or deserving. You would think they would be thankful and humble themselves like Sam Walton.

This is just how I feel folks. Don't take offense. It's one mans opinion. I wasn't pointing any fingers. I was however expecting some to lash out at me for speaking my mind. I only ask that those of you who might feel some measure of guilt try and refrain from trying to paint me as the bad guy. If you don't like what I have said then prove me wrong but please save your insults.

Hmmmm....I'll try not to be sophisticated in my humor from now on. I was joking about the "style," as I thought the question was kind of...funny in the first place!

Mike is well over six feet and a small car is uncomfortable for him to drive. He drives 18.6 miles one way every day to his office, plus the visits he makes weekly to church members who are shut in and so on. My Dad has a ranch and frequently we are called upon to pick up supplies, deliver them, etc. The ranch is about 25 miles from the house on very rural roads. And, incidentally, my car is a Mini, they don't come any smaller than that, it's paid for, as was Mike's Jeep, which was 12 years old, had close to 280,000 miles on it.

However, the very fact that you appear to be able to "read" minds and deduce that we who PREFER and are able to AFFORD larger SUV's drive them because we "indulge" ourselves, lack humility, feed our vanity is, how shall I say...BULL. I would suggest that is the very behavior our Lord condemned in the Pharisees.