Was Jesus' detest for wealth relative or absolute? He obviously considered people like Herod to be living lavish and gluttonous lifestyles compared to the poor of his day, and almost explicitly confirmed that kind of lifestyle leads you straight to Hell. But modern middle class people have far more luxuries than ancient monarchs, do we get damned automatically for our access to air conditioning and international vacations?
>>18112304He detested wealth because he believed it to be superfluous, because as an apocalyptic preacher, he believed in 2 more weeks the world was going to end (or something). When he was crucified, he cried out to his god, because his schizophrenic delusions lead him to genuinely believe that Yahweh would intervene, and the rapture would begin.
>>18112310>and the rapture would beginThe passage cited as justification for this doctrine was written after Jesus already died, and the actual doctrine only developed well over a thousand years later
>>18112329>the actual doctrine only developed well over a thousand years laterNo it didn't. Jesus was an apocalyptic preacher that taught his followers that the world was going to end in their lifetimes. This fact has to be taken into consideration in determining his motives for every thing he ever did or preached. He taught his followers to eschew wealth because he believed it was superfluous to care about such a thing when they world was going to end anyway. Luke 21:>5 Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6 “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”>7 “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”>8 He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. 9 When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”>10 Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.>12 “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13 And so you will bear testimony to me. 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death.
>>18112340>17 Everyone will hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 Stand firm, and you will win life.>20 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. 22 For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. 23 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.>25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”>29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.>32 “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.>34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth.
>>18112344>36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”He totally wasn't an apocalyptic preacher. He totally wasn't telling his followers about the impending end of the world.
>>18112304>do we get damned automatically for our access to air conditioning and international vacations?Nobody is "damned" automatically because of their wealth. Jesus said that it is "easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle" than it is for a rich man to enter into God's kingdom. Which means that they are not automatically damned, but they most likely are. Nonetheless, to your point, I do believe that most ordinary people who enjoy a high quality of life will go to hell. Just take a look around you and ask yourself if people who are very materially wealthy are, generally speaking, interested in spiritual things and striving to understand God's nature. Lastly, the Bible simply and flatly says that the path to destruction is wide (Matthew 7:13) which flatly means that most people will end up going to hell regardless.
>>18112340>>18112344>>18112346I am talking about "the rapture", not the end of the world in general.
>>18112356The end of the world that Jesus promised his followers was immediately coming, which is highly relevant to understanding why he promoted certain ascetic ideals.
>>18112432Yes, but "the rapture" is a specific weird sectarian belief that emerged in the past few centuries and is far removed from anything Jesus would have imagined.
>>18112304>Jesus considered this and thatyou don't know
>>18112304It was less so about wealth and more so about the attachment that wealth bring. Joseph of Arimatea and Mary Magdalene were both wealthy people and Jesus was OK with them. Because they were not attached to it.Another thing is the feeling (mistaken in my opinion, of course) that wealthy people sometimes have that they have all that they need and that they don't need God.And you can see this in our current society, even. Richer countries end up becoming less religious. Your thinking of "wait, middle class people today have a higher consumption standard than the wealthy of that era, doesn't that mean..." does get something that happens
