The Rich Man & Lazarus – Refuting a Refutation

I love my brother.  As in my blood brother who shares the same parents as I.  He is not even a year younger than me.  He has been and continues to be a tremendous rock of support and wisdom for me.

He and I are diametrically opposed when it comes to the identity and claims of Jesus Christ.  Thankfully we have not let that be an issue of alienation and dismissal.  We remain close, arguably closer friends as well as good brothers despite the massive theological divide.

The other day I had the pleasure of his company once more at my home.  Among other aspects of the conversation he asked if I ever used my blog to refute anything.  I didn’t have the time to do a search of this whole blog (there are over 1000 entries on here, after all), but to the best of my knowledge at the time, I had no recollection of using an entry to refute something.

He took the opportunity to invite me to consider some of his own writings on a blog he contributes occasionally to and his extensive YouTube channel (something I commend to you likewise through the links).  On there a substantial amount of his time is spent refuting things.

A recent article that he referred to looked to refute the parable given by Jesus of the Rich Man and Lazarus to be found in Luke 16:19-31.  Once more I encourage you to have a read of the article for yourself.

A key question that I believe my brother asks is – what is the sin of the Rich Man?  My dear brother suggests that to say that the sin is ignoring the plight of Lazarus cannot be deduced from the text.  I would suggest implicitly that my brother is wrong.

First, did Lazarus’ condition improve before he died?  No.  Second, what Abraham informs the Rich Man of is that when he was alive he was rich and Lazarus remained in his poor estate.  Now that’s not just a statement of information.  That is an indictment on the Rich Man’s neglect.

Indeed the rest of the discourse between the Rich Man and Abraham revolves around the Rich Man trying to get a message through to his brothers to avoid the same fate that he is suffering – namely torment because of neglect of the poor at the gate – the poor that is in an area where changes can be made.  Abraham again implies that there is enough in what Moses and the Prophets state to indicate that such neglect of the poor and needy is criminal.  The point that’s also made in the parable that connects to the life and mission of Christ is, that even if someone came back from the dead it’s not as though they would make much of a difference.  How right Abraham is.

The significance, of refuting my brother’s refutation, however dawned in a conversation I had with another brother – this time a brother in Christ.  Whilst we were walking and talking our conversation crossed over people’s indifference to the spiritual things of life. How that apparent indifference to the deep spiritual things is helped by material concerns and other distractions that help us to avoid and neglect the Lazarus-types among us.  So although we have a roof over our head, food to eat, washing facilities, clothes, etc. we are quick to highlight what we don’t have to suggest we’re poor and thus don’t have the means to address the needs of the Lazarus-types.

That level of neglect isn’t just apparent when it comes to the Lazarus-types.  There is plenty of quality, apparently reasonable excuses made for why we as members of the Body of Christ cannot be about the Business of Christ which includes helping the Lazarus-types and extends to being the merciful, peace-making, pure-in-heart Lights that proclaim the reality of Christ to a dark and dying world.  After all, we have the children to look after, there’s the education to consider, the hours we’re working is draining in itself, then when you add in the other concerns and pursuits I have, there just isn’t the time.

Yet this parable isn’t the only one Jesus talks about that addresses the consequences for neglecting those who lie at the very heart of God’s mission on earth.  After all, spiritually we are all like Lazarus – we are poverty stricken.  We have nothing to offer.  We are bereft and empty and actually as good as dead.  In that plight, the riches of God are made available to us and we are the truest portrayals of the rags to riches story.  From having no health and no hope.  God pours Himself into us and the life of Christ is seen by the power of the Spirit and we have eternity with Christ now.

So what do we do with that?  Do we look to see whose at the gate with compassion, or do we just keep moving on?  The cost of neglect, actually reveals the real character within and will have devastating consequences.

Oh and just in case reading all this was a bit of an effort, watch this video that neatly summarises a decent view of the parable, and may be slightly cheesy, but is effective in conveying the key points.

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

dmcd