@Joseph Carl: I'd hope that most of us could agree that being rich is not wrong if the source of that prosperity has been for the good of society - ie, producing or selling a product or service that others want. if the source of that prosperity is not from an immoral or illegal source, it isn't wrong, imo.
But how do you equate that with Jesus saying that it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to go to heaven?
@Shirley Martin Or, to answer Clarence Darrow's question about Jonah instead having eaten the whale? Frank
@Emma Smith Which brings into view several imponderables: Selling the service of encouraging the folks at large, the fold, or patronage, to have religious belief is well and good, a service to be sure. However, it is often done under shadow of a bic hovering over them, that being a Czech word meaning extreme duress, the threat that failure to "believe", or, worse yet, to contribute monetarily, will ensure closed gates confronting those hoping to enter eternity. Secondly, is it immoral to convince other's minds that they must comply, under threat of loss of soul? Frank
@Frank Sanoica: Secondly, is it immoral to convince other's minds that they must comply, under threat of loss of soul? Haven't seen anything like that, except from "fire and brimstone" preachers from years back. Church is totally voluntary, at least for adults. Christian preachers preach from the Bible, considering it completely, every word, "the word of God." I don't see that as immoral.
@Shirley Martin: But how do you equate that with Jesus saying that it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to go to heaven? Anyone who is very religious, believes that every word in the Bible is the word of God, that every word written in red was spoken by the son of God, to make sure they are not kept out of heaven because of their wealth, should consider giving away most of their wealth. That Bible verse has always sounded to me, like something written and inspired by man and I would hate to see anyone give away all of their money, for any reason. They may need it.
It’s a matter of the heart. Jesus didn’t say that it was impossible, just harder for the following reason(s): Does a rich man worship his wealth more than He whom he is supposed to be following? We are told in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:2-17) not to have any other gods before God. That doesn’t necessarily apply to some idol sitting on a pedestal but includes all things that one might have that takes a higher priority than God. And let’s face the facts, wealth brings with it a lot of temptations that take us away from worshipping God exclusively.
Luke 18:25 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."
I believe that Luke 18:25 (also Matthew 19:24 and Mark 10:25) was intended as hyperbole, which was simply a way of making a point, much in the way that Jesus used parables. Later, a reference was used in the Talmud that refers to an elephant going through the eye of a needle. There is also a statement in the Talmud that “a needle’s eye is not too narrow for two friends, nor is the world wide enough for two enemies.” The Quran includes a similar reference: “Surely those who reject Our communications and turn away from them haughtily, the doors of heaven shall not be opened to them, nor shall they enter the garden until the camel pass through the eye of the needle." Taken in context with other statements that Jesus made on the subject, He was not saying that it was impossible for a rich person to enter into heaven, but was demonstrating how difficult it is for someone to love both God and money. An often misquoted passage is 1 Timothy 6:10, which is sometimes used to suggest that money is the root of all evil reads, in fact, “For the love of money is the root of all evil.” He may have also had in mind that a rich man cannot enter heaven because he will not be taking his money with him. It was used much in the same way as someone might say, "when pigs fly."
What I read was that there was at one time a very low gate that went into Jerusalem, and it was called the “eye of the needle” because of its small size. When a camel went through this gate, it could actually get through, but because the gate was so very low, the camel had to get down on its knees and crawl through the gate. So, if this is correct, then I think that what it is saying is that it IS possible for the rich man to get into heaven, but he has to humble himself to do it, and not expect to buy his way in with his riches, which is what it seems like some of the rich televangelists are trying to do with their money.