Is it true that its easier to push a camel through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter Heaven?

Question

We had a debate at work about this. There is a huge church right down the street from where I live called World Harvest. Its huge. They won't let you in unless you pay dues. They cancel events if they don't make enough money at the door (this is only what I've heard). The pastor, Rod Parsley, owns a house work 800,000 dollars which by the way in Columbus Ohio is a VERY nice house. He drives a Corvette. The church owns their own jet. Come on now, why can't we use all the money that was spent on these things and, oh, hell, I don't know, feed Africa?

Answer 1

Yeah, Jesus supposedly said that. In fact, a lot of the founders of different religions have said similar unpleasant things about being rich. It seems to be one of those "universal truths", sort of like the golden rule.

Its becoming increasingly obvious that people "being rich" will have negative ramifications for humans in this world, not just the next one. Wealth tends to cause people to practice over-consumption. If we get enough people on this planet wealthy enough to engage in over-consumption, this planet may well become a living hell.

Answer 2

The quote in your question is a Biblical quote.
The lesson from it is that money can take hold of a person and become an idol.
Money is not the root of all evil.
The "love of money" is the root of all evil according to the Bible.
There is no Biblical law against being wealthy. I'm a Christian, and I too drive a Corvette. It, my sedan, and my home are all paid for. It's not how much money you have, it is what you do with what God has blessed you with.

An in-depth study on tithing may open the eyes of many!
The late Christian retailer, J. C. Penney, began with one store and he gave 10% of his income to the church.
By the time he died, he had hundreds of stores, and kept only 10% for himself, tithing the other 90%.

Answer 3

Growing up I went to a church so poor they shut the heat off as soon as the service was over. The pastor traveled to 4 churches because he couldn't make enough money just preaching at one. Later in life I worked for a "Christian" based company where they prayed in the morning meeting for more money. They all attended the same mega church.

I'm betting Jesus was sitting in the back row of the first church.

Answer 4

A) Christ's statement about the rich man and the camel is an illustration of symbolism. The needle to which He referred was well-known in His time as it was the name of a narrow gate in the walls of Jerusalem. So narrow that a camel with the usual panniers of goods could not pass through it without the removal of said panniers. A rich man then to get into Heaven would, like the camel, have to be divested of everything excess to himself (like his love for wealth) before he could enter heaven.

B) A church which exists to enrich its founder and his successors is no church. It is a scam and a fraud. (See also Scientology. It did right well by Hubbard and continues to enrich its current leaders).

Answer 5

Boy, his website sure is slick, I'll tell you that! Man, I wouldn't go to that church, dues or no, it's too huge, cold and Parsley's wife wears WAY too much makeup (as a matter of fact, so does he!--eww!). I hope his efforts are earnest because I've known so many so-called Christian people go pillaging through this life thinking they can write God a check in the end.

Answer 6

because ambition is rewarded, not lazyness. he puts all his time into his work and for what he does he does a great job at it and inspires many people. He deserves to have nice things for himself. If there was a wounded person on the road would he scoup them up in his shiny corvette and take them to the hospital? I believe he'd do it. Beyond that, it's a personal level rather than wide spread. Churches having too much money is relative, does the jet help get certain people to certain places for quick evangelism? Or is it just an expense to be written off in april? Unfortunately in this day and age spreading the word of god could require a jet lol. At any rate, just my thought.

Answer 7

yeah. i wonder about that stuff sometimes too. might not be a good church for you. sometimes churches go a little too hollywood and get off the main points. hopefully that church has a massive small group program where people are held accountable. you can't really judge the pastor. you don't know what he's doing with any of the other money...he may very well be doing something with missions that you don't know about. does sound fishy though.

Answer 8

That church is wrong.
Most people are quick to say it's the "love of money" that's the root of all evil and they managed to find a doorway that's referred to as the eye of the needle now but I doubt if we know for certain it was called that in the time of Christ.

I remember reading about the Centurion coming to Jesus and asking what he needed to do to be saved and was told to sell all his stuff.

I think Jesus wouldn't be impressed by our justifications.

There's no good reason for one third of the world to be completely concerned with an obesity epidemic while another third is starving to death.

Just my opinion.


Blessed Be!

Answer 9

I think it is true, however I guess there could be a very small amount of exceptions.

Money is something you can get very caught up in, and material things. If you get caught up in that, you don't really realize the important things and end up spending more time concerned about those things or using them rather then spending that time with God. They lose sight of the ultimate most important thing, God. It was said by God himself, so that right there should be proof by itself.

Answer 10

it is true Jesus said that it was easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter heaven. if they put money before Jesus they are lost.