it's a verrrry tight squeeze

when that rich young ruler in luke 18 came to jesus, he came with a specific question..."what must i do to attain eternal life?". a fairly good question, if you're going to ask a famous teacher and miracle worker one question, well you're probably not going ask about the price of pickled herring.

following the conversation:
jesus: "keep the commandments".
ryr: "yeah yeah, all the time. but is there anything else i'm missing?".
jesus: "sell all your possessions, give the cash to the poor and come follow me"
ryr: "yikes! can't handle that. sorry..."

so, the guy got the answer to his question about eternal life. but he apparently couldn't manage it - too much to lose and all. hence the camel - eye of a needle thing...impossibly daft.

so. if you want to tell someone "sorry, it's just not possible.", well one good way would be:

anonymous: "hi jason, can you babysit my colicky triplets all next week?"
jason: "sure! here's a nice needle. just squish that ole camel there through the eye, and i'll be right over!!!"

my point? how much of this analogy is poetic hyperbole, and how much is truth? as ted koppel put it: "the truth is not a polite tap on the shoulder but a howling reproach".

so, then, back to that rich young ruler. he might have stayed rich, but he didn't stay young. he died. but where did he go?

and more importantly, how do i read this passage for today's evangelical/charismatic globalized church, where wealth and properity are very much in vogue again and mammon has been rebaptized?

oh yes, Pastor Bling, of course....God gives us wealth to use for His kingdom. as we become better stewards, he will give us more. God wants to bless us, yes yes. Yes, He's good, all the time. So you said. Indeed, we CAN be powerful agents for change if we take the money. Yes, plundering the Egyptians, mmmm. All very good arguments...I can hear the forked tongue whisper in my ear even now.

and then BOOM! Jesus shouts (cuz he didn't preach these sermons to thousands in a whisper):
BLESSED ARE THE POOR!!! and later
WOE TO YOU WHO ARE RICH!!!

never one for subtleties, that Jesus.

so please, all those who are risking eternity by desperately clinging to a few dollars or pounds, give generously to my ministry and save your souls!