tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9716997.post5107980484373059385..comments2024-03-15T23:30:38.471+11:00Comments on Lindsay's Lobes: Perspectives on wealth from biblical texts.Lindsay Byrneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11030132436987752741noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9716997.post-82032508198451122602014-04-17T17:42:32.797+10:002014-04-17T17:42:32.797+10:00Hi Susan,
Good points. I think biblical reference...Hi Susan, <br />Good points. I think biblical references to wealth are prone to misinterpretations and an example is the passage you quote “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." Matthew 19:24. <br /><br />An erroneous version that has been around for centuries is “the eye of the needle” refers to the narrow gate, e.g. the needles or pillars which prevented a camel passing through unless one first dismounted and removed side baggage. <br /><br />This was based on the assumption that in Jerusalem after dark travellers had to use the narrow gate as the larger main gates were all shut, so that a camel could only pass through by crawling through unencumbered on its knees. <br />Hence it was used to denote a very wealthy person, just had to be careful with such a position, to water down the emphatic warning from Jesus.<br /> <br />Another suggestion is that the Greek word kilos ('camel') is a misprint and should be camels, meaning 'cable, rope'. It is easier to thread a needle with a rope rather than using a strand of cotton than for the rich man to enter the kingdom. <br /><br />But the reality is it was the Hebrew tradition to use unlikely or impossible comparisons to simply make a point perfectly clear: as in saying there’s a tree sticking out of one's eye whilst you’re keen to remove the speck in another's eye. <br /><br />Hence implying it is perfectly ok to live a lavish lifestyle centred on building up expensive toys, has no empathy whatsoever with the message Jesus was imparting. <br /><br />But you still hear some fundamentalist style sermons, linking materialism in terms of great wealth as a direct sign of GODs blessings. <br /><br />In the end some will interpret to justify a position that pleases followers rather than discover the essence and context of the passage. <br />best wishes <br />Lindsay Byrneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11030132436987752741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9716997.post-31847481658681964892014-04-17T11:56:40.544+10:002014-04-17T11:56:40.544+10:00In the US in the 90s a popular saying was: 'Wh...In the US in the 90s a popular saying was: 'Whoever dies with the most toys wins'. I'm reminded of Jesus saying in Mark: 'It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.' Rather than being a sign of God’s blessing, material wealth is treated as a sign that someone isn’t heeding God’s will. <br /><br />So far as I know this is the only example of anyone refusing to follow Jesus. The young man went away grieved, apparently upset that he couldn’t become a follower on easier terms that would allow him to keep all of his great wealth and possessions. This doesn’t seem to be a problem which afflicts Christians today. In contemporary society, there is no apparent difficulty in 'following' Jesus while still retaining all sorts of worldly goods. <br /><br />Thank you for this most interesting post, Lindsay.<br />susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16747450215034568033noreply@blogger.com