My contention is that Jesus was a 1st century conman and cult leader who used anti-wealth, poverty-as-a-virtue parables to shake his listeners down for money and endear his lower-class followers.
Christians believe that Jesus was the Christ, the SON of GOD who was sent as a sacrifice for sin and is the only way into heaven.
Why is it then, that when Jesus has the opportunity to teach us about being saved he tells this story:
Luke 16:19-31
19 "Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. 20 "And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, 21 and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man's table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores. 22 "Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. 23 "In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 "And he cried out and said, `Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.' 25 "But Abraham said, `Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. 26 `And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.' 27 "And he said, `Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father's house-- 28 for I have five brothers--in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' 29 "But Abraham said, `They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.' 30 "But he said, `No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!' 31 "But he said to him, `If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.' "
Lazarus was saved WITHOUT Jesus.
The rich man goes to hell because he fails to give his money to the poor - not because he rejected Jesus.
If Jesus was the Messiah, Son of God and the only sacrifice for sins than this is seriously a missed opportunity to tell the world how they should be saved. Maybe salvation is only possible after his death (even though Lazarus appears to be just fine at Abraham's bosom) but that is a very short time coming and the SON of GOD would certainly know that his words would be going on forever. For some reason Jesus seems only concerned that the poor man is mistreated - not that the world should know that the Lamb of God will be the only sacrifice for sins.
If Jesus was a conman/cult leader than this passage makes perfect sense. The culprit isn't a bully, thief or killer - it's a rich man who refused to give his money to the poor. What a great shake-down parable if you want to get your coffers filled with some Roman coin!
Please answer the following:
How was Lazarus the Beggar saved?
Why did the Rich Man go to hell?
Why did Jesus not give the listeners the recipe for salvation?
Why was Jesus obssessed with rich men giving up their money?
Why is this passage only found in Luke?