5-4-06
Jesus’ opinion of what money does to a person is clearly shown in His
interaction with the rich young ruler. He stated that it is as difficult for the
rich to enter the Kingdom of God as for a camel to go through the eye of a
needle. That is pretty difficult – so difficult that the disciples cried out,
“Who can be saved then?” Jesus said it would be impossible unless God
were to intervene. Jesus’ statement destroys the point of suggesting any
point-softening possibilities like a gate named ‘Eye of the Needle’ or any
such hypothesis. Wealth could be a blessing, but as it turns out it works
as a curse. Why would anyone want to take any risks with something so
dangerous?
What about entities beyond the individual? Is wealth likewise a curse to a
church? Churches and other religious institutions should seriously
consider this question when their stated missions involve some sort of
furtherance of the cause of Christ! God uses means indeed, but would the
means include something Jesus sees as so incredibly dangerous for the
individual? Does the presence of extra heads work to mitigate the awful
end predicted for everyone tainted by wealth without miraculous
intervention? Churches do not enter the Kingdom as such, but Jesus
reveals Himself as the judge of churches – walking among the candlesticks
that represent the Revelation churches.
So, the question is can churches or para church organizations do kingdom
work if they are rich? It is not the use of money that is at question, rather
the issue is being rich. An organization that uses all or most of the money
that comes through its coffers might avoid being rich. Maybe. An
organization that tries to protect its future interests by accumulation of
funds might have a harder time avoiding the state of richness.
This discussion sounds almost silly because we have all accepted some
form of the prevailing cultural ideas about money. But Jesus statements
sound the same if anyone takes them without running them through a
cultural transformation more compatible with today’s thinking. Money is
just as dangerous for the church as for the individual. The church may not
go to hell as such, but the problem is more about the churches potential as
a tool for rescue. When money is relied on or when money is seen as
necessary then the individual has crossed the line. The church crosses
the same line in the same place.
When the individual relies completely on Christ the individual is saved.
When the church relies completely on Christ then individuals are saved.
Otherwise other things happen.
Dale
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