I only see it in those who come to church only for more status, I see it in those who go to church, yet they judge other people's acts, I see it in my friends and family and I can only pray that I am not guilty of the same thing; the thought of which scares me to death.  I know we can not see the content of others' souls, but I observe with my eyes and ears, and it makes me so sad when I hear about certain family members coming home for weekends not to visit with family, but to go off getting intoxicated and indulging in other pleasures of this life.  They know how I feel, where I stand, and how it hurts me, but perhaps I am way to subtle. 
  It is also absurd to think that people can live pain free.  It is often through emotional hurt and other forms that we live and grow and flourish as Christians.  People should know that Christianity is not a feel good religion.  People should know that they are meant to adapt their own lives to Christianity, they should NOT create their own religion so that it conforms to their lives, which unfortunately I see going on a lot in the people I care about and love.

Yeah, when it comes to materialism, we've had it so good for so long in this land, it's so easy for Christians to be tempted to forget for too long a time that this world is not our permanent home. I wonder how well we'd take it if we were to suddenly lose these modern-day conveniences.

I don't.  We must be careful about taking the prophets out of context and applying parts to 'our present day country' as if we somehow are a 'chosen nation' in the same manner as Israel.  Amos was writing as a warning to people who rejected God although they promised never to stray from God who delivered them out of the hand of bondage in Egypt.  Consequently, they needed a savior.

They are not we.  Amos gives witness to the coming Messiah.  He does not write about the United States of America.

@too_pretty_to_die@xanga - It doesn't sound like this passage is talking about being persecuted at all, but actually talks about how good the Israelites had it: they lived in luxury and cared only about their comfort.  The goal of Christianity isn't to seek out harm to oneself, but a goal is not to fear it.  When we live in fear about our comfort or well being we will find innumerable reasons not to give all we have to help other people.  We should be incredibly thankful for how good we have it, as you said, but we shouldn't fear losing it.

@WLCALUM@xanga - It's not the material wealth that is the problem, though.  There were many wealthy people in the Bible who were still godly (Abraham, Joseph, Daniel etc).  I think how we would handle losing everything would depend on our individual relationships with God.  We may fare better than we realize.  It is much harder to give away all we have voluntarily, than it is to merely adjust once it has been taken from us.

@HLPU@xanga - It's true that the US is not a chosen nation (and it bugs me, too, when people speak as though it is), but we (as followers of Christ, adopted by God the Father and grafted into the family) are a chosen people.  Also, we are all still in need of a Savior. 
We should be careful not to reinterpret the prophets to make them say something they didn't say, but we can always apply the Word to life in general.  Even life today.  After all, if it wasn't right for them to live for themselves back then, it's probably still not right to do today.