There is the dilemma I guess. Money in of itself is not evil. The LOVE of money is evil. Do I love money? I think it is hard not to be tempted by the comfort it can bring for sure. I wrestle with this. I am going to India in six weeks and I will be hit in the face and greatly humbled by those that can live lives of complete contentment and even joy with far less than I have. So in a way you are right. It is an area that I probably have some issues with, especially growing up in a rich area in the United States that is surrounded by every luxury we could ever want.
You almost sound smug beforehand, as if you're being a better person by deciding to go somewhere where people are poor, and already portraying yourself as 'being humbled' before you even went.
As a critically thinking Christian (a rear breed indeed), I can assure you that the vast majority of Christians do see themselves as "better". But, I also think most of them are fools who take the wrong things literally while ignoring the crucial truths that can be found in religious texts of all creeds.
@BitChick, while you're in India PLEASE do more listening than talking, especially about religion.
I am sure I am going with a pre-conceived idea of what will happen and sure, I might be totally smug too. I might be a greedy, selfish, self indulgent person that cannot even see her own hypocrisy and I need a good kick in the pants and hopefully this little trip, or other things in my life, will help me see the areas I am blind to. That is my prayer anyways.
We are going to be doing various things in India, not just "talking." We are putting in some water wells, visiting orphans and some other humanitarian outreaches. I am actually going to be singing too, at least one song in their language, for a women's conference we are having with 500 women or so attending. I was asked to talk. It is humbling to do so really, so I have to admit that I will be doing some "talking." It will be translated into Telugu. It seems weird to go as a westerner to speak to Dalit women in India, but they are not used to American women even going there and in a way they are happy we are even coming. (we are funding the entire event too. Some of these women have never even been on a retreat at all so this is a huge even for them! Regardless of what I say, or if it even irrelevant, the retreat itself will mean so much to them I hope!)