Do rich people go to heaven?

Question

Jesus said something like: it is harder for a rich man to go to heaven than it is for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle.

If this is true why is it that all of the christian right (including GW Bush) are rich and don't believe in charity. By this logic the entire conservative christian right will not go to heaven.

Answer 1

When that statement is left in context, it means that .. not the wealth, but the means of attaining that wealth will keep you out of heaven. It's the greed that some people use to attain that wealth that will keep them out of heaven, and not the actual wealth.

Answer 2

I'm sure that some will go to heaven and some will not. There seems to be this unfair assumption on the part of many that being rich somehow equates being evil, but that is not necessarily true. I have known people who would be considered rich by some who are very generous to others. Every year, I get sponsors for a charity, Team Parkinson, when I run the Los Angeles Marathon. Who do you think give the largest donations to this cause? Those that have money, of course! Some of these same people employed my kids as a babysitter paying them up to $8.00 an hr. instead of the minimum wage they'd make at other jobs and others have paid me to teach their children to play the violin. I am glad that some people are rich as they keep the rest of employed so we can eat!
To say that all of the christian right are rich is to make an ignorant statement and to say that they don't believe in charity is just plan not true. I once belonged to a Southern Baptist Church which was definately on the "right." The church wasn't in a rich area, and most people in the church were from the lower to middle classes. People gave to others as they could no matter what their incomes.
I don't know why people just assume that those who think differently than themselves are automatically mean or bad. I don't agree with athiests or liberals for instance, but I don't think that as a group they are bad people, we just have a difference of opinion. If you set your differences aside, and get to know people, you will find that you have some things in common.

Answer 3

What about poor people that spend all of their money and then some of our money on tricked out rides and worthless crap like that? You can't take everything so literally ... Most rich people donate many millions of dollars to charities. A rich man that selfishly hogs his money will surely not be granted access to heaven, but a philanthropic one surely will.

And by the way, why ask the question if you have the answer. I am a member of the conservative Christian right, and I along with my entire family am in the middle class. You should seriously think before asking stupid questions and then giving even stupider answers ...

Answer 4

Yes, rich people WILL go to Heaven - IF - their priorities are right. If they worship the "god" of $$$ more than Jesus Christ, then they will not make it to Heaven. IF they have $$$ in its proper place (as a "tool" to maintain a lifestyle, help others, etc.) and they are filled with the Holy Ghost, they WILL go to Heaven. Remember what Jesus said, that it is "hard" - He did NOT say it was impossible. Also you need to check your facts... President Bush make only $400,000 per year, yet he gives a huge amount to the tune of "tens of thousands" to charities. It is listed on his tax returns which is "public information" that you can check out. Also, "all the christian right" are NOT rich. I would venture to say that there are more liberal democratic hollywood-type people that are rich than those on the christian right. Have a Blessed Day!!!

Answer 5

Jesus used this metaphor to teach the tendency of rich people to be more tempted to put their faith in money than in God. God's grace is the real ticket that admits one to Heaven. Pity the rich because they may not realize that they are lacking in what's most important in eternity.

Are you sure that ALL of the Christian "right" are rich? Isn't this an over-generalization? Have you been duped into thinking that all liberals or non-Christians are poor and all conservatives and Christians are rich? Isn't this a rather local perspective? What about all of the monetarily impoverished Christians around the world (and in the USA)? I guess it's easier when one overgeneralizes like this, so one doesn't have to put the necessary thought into seeing things as they really are.

How sure are you that all Christians and conservatives do not donate their time, energy, and money to charitable causes? Please!

Answer 6

Hey, I'm a Christian. The verse in which you are refering to needs to be taken into cotext. The eye of the needle is believed to refer to a gate in Jerusalem I believe...somewhere in Israel, where peolpe had to duck down and humble themselves to get through or to refer to the eye of a sewing needle. So either way, it is hard. What Jesus means by it being harder for the rich man, is, at least what I believe, when you are rich you have more, that means more that you have to give to God and one can easily get greedy. He's not saying that rich people don't go to Heaven, what He's saying, is that there's more of a chalenge than if you were pore. You have to go to the foundations though, you you accept Jesus as your Saviour and that He died for you and become a Christian, than you go to Heaven.

I hope that this helps!!

Answer 7

Jesus said that because in that day the rich tended to be corrupt and loved money more than anything else. God calls Christians to love and serve him above all else and put their faith in him...not themselves to go to heaven. GW Bush does believe in charity...why do you think he's the president..he gives his time and life to help make yours still safe. Billy Graham has money, is a conservative, and donates millions to help starving, sick and needy! I could go on forever but it's a waste of time to try to beat this into your little head... So Liberal....don't turn Christianity around....if your going to use it get it right, do your studying, and context reading...then come up with a feasible argument.

Answer 8

Question - Are you absolutelly sure that the so called christian right do not give? That would be saying that based on charitable giving then those people would be better off than others. I would actually reframe your question and look at each person on a case by case basis. Do not place all of us in the same boat.

Also do not place judgement against those who you think that do not give. It is not your place to be judge, jury, and executioner. You must give as told and do not worry about others. Let God judge those who do evil or good.

Now onto giving, we are told to give 10% of our earnings and everything after that is a gift. If we conservative christian right never give then I would have to say there is a definite issue with that persons heart.

So, in closing reframe your question. Do not worry about the giving of others and have an understanding that all of God's people are blessed in different ways. Just look at the parable of the talents in the New Testament and that will give you and insight into what God wants you to understand.

Answer 9

Absolutely, if they trust in God. The financial situation, race, gender, anything about the person doesn't matter if they have a heart for God. The reason why Jesus said that it is harder for a rich man to enter heaven is because money many times prevents people from seeing their need for God, and makes them feel powerful. It is sad that even "Christians" have fallen to the very thing the Bible warns them against.

Answer 10

Jesus was referring to the rich who don't feel any need to believe and rely on God. The "eye of the needle" refers to a smaller door inside a large gate. It is not impossible for a camel to fit through one, but difficult. Money does not matter in the end but how you perform as a person. If you are calling yourself Christian and not charitable and loving and forgiving, then you are not Christian. I can call myself black all day but it doesnt change the fact that I am white.

Answer 11

From what I understand, a rich man cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven.The gentleman the other day that gave his fortune away, or at least the most of it, from what I know his generosity will enable him to enter the kingdom, when his time comes. It is the mind set and heart set of the very rich that keeps them from a rich life with thw Lord Jesus Christ, not the actual money. Have you ever heard, "money is the root of All evil" The need to have it to take care of ourselves and our families, that is okay it is not in excess. I personally would give what little I have if the Lord ask me to. I barely and most months go in the red to take care of my family. But I do know that I am rich in the Lord. God Bless. I hope this helps, have a blessed day.