But even if we grant that it is a parable, it is a parable that tells us that IF you live in this world like the rich man does, you end up like him.
I have a billionair relative. Strong Christian and it is very apparent in the way he treats people. His wealth is not sinful according to any scripture I read. Even the camel and eye of the needle story does not apply when you see the disciple’s response to it and Jesus’ response to them.
Only liberals think wealth is, by definition, sinful.
You are correct.
1 Timothy 6:10
“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
Do you see the subtle change that so many have made in their minds to this original text, which makes such a great difference in meaning ?
There are other verses as well that people use to advocate for being poor as the “preferred state” of a Christian, but of course they also don’t do correct exegesis in advocating this.
Philippians 4:12 “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”
RE: That’s not a practical way to interpret that scripture for one simple reason: Every rich person is different.
The emphasis of the teaching is not on the man’s wealth, it is on the fact that the rich man DID NOT CARE about helping Lazarus.