The Rich Young Ruler Today

The Rich Young Ruler Today
by, Charles W. Christian

Eugene Peterson, in his book called Practice Resurrection, notes that theological conceptions of ministry that he grew up learning in 75 years in church life and 50 years of ordained ministry have been replaced in many parts of the American church.  The theological concepts drummed into him in his small church in Montana and in the church he planted in and pastored for nearly 30 years in Maryland have been replaced by business models and marketing techniques.  The concept of “growing up in Christ,” which Peterson notes is a strong theme throughout the New Testament and especially in the letters of Paul, has been replaced with placating the masses in order to simply increase weekly attendance and giving.  Our emphasis in the Evangelical denominations (like the denomination I serve in) has placed a strong emphasis upon birth (becoming a “new Christian” or “new Nazarene,” etc.) and very little emphasis upon the biblical phrase “growing up in Christ,” or “becoming” a Christian, as Paul emphasizes. 

This emphasis has not only led to strong disconnections between churchgoers and their history and theology, but it has also led to frustration on all levels of ministries.  Denominational leaders complain on the loss of denominational loyalty, while rewarding local churches in their denominations that de-emphasize theological depth at the expense of getting people in the seats to count on their reports.  Local pastors leap furiously from one new trend and program to another without any compass, because numerical growth at any cost is substituted for an authentic discipleship that, in the famous words of twentieth century pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, is actually costly (one of Bonhoeffer’s most famous book, written shortly before his death at the hands of the Nazis, is called The Cost of Discipleship).   By buying into a “marketing” approach to growth instead of costly discipleship model, many churches in America have a skewed view of what it means to sacrifice.  Our values have become aligned with those of the very world that Jesus died to transform.

This brings us to the story of the rich young ruler, an encounter discussed in the Gospels between Jesus and a young man who has come to Jesus seeking answers regarding eternal life. 

In the story, recounted in Luke 18 (it also appears in Matthew and Mark’s Gospel), a religious leader who seems to have some wealth and influence, asks Jesus, “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”  Of course, any teacher/preacher would be thrilled to have someone, especially someone of this young man’s influence, to become a “seeker”, one who is seeking a relationship with God.  Jesus, though, in Luke 18:19, refuses to give into flattery (He says, “Why do you call me ‘good’?  Only God is truly good?”).  This is Jesus’s way both of asking the young man what his views of Jesus are and of reminding the young man that Jesus’s answer will not be one based upon flattery or simple ear-ticking! 

As the story moves forward, the young man assures Jesus that he knows and has kept the commandments, yet still seems dissatisfied.  So, Jesus says, “there is one thing you lack.”  He then looks at the young man and tells him that he must sell all he has, give the money to the poor, come and follow Jesus, and then he will have the life he really seeks.

Jesus’s answer immediately shocked both the young man and Jesus’s own disciples!  It shocked the young man, whose face suddenly became downcast, likely because it seemed to cross lines that he did not see a need to cross (“for he had much wealth,” the text tells us).  He was seeking a theological/religious answer, not a “business” answer.  One look at both Jesus and him would make it quite obvious which of the two had better “business sense.”  Yet this poor itinerant preacher (Jesus) has the audacity to give business advice to the young wealthy business man!  The disciples are shocked, too (“How can anyone be saved, then?” they ask). 

Perhaps they were thinking, “Jesus, if you are going to keep challenging these rich people and running them off, we will never have the resources we need to get this ministry off the ground!”  Why did Jesus have to be so strict?  Why could he have not settled for 10% and calling it good?  Why couldn’t Jesus appoint this rich young man as His chief administrator, treasurer, advisory board member, or even new construction committee chairperson?  This would seem like a great “fit” for such an obviously talented and ambitious young businessman who is actually seeking out the Church!  It’s not like they had to go looking for him, after all.  He (the rich man) was seeking out Jesus.  Should not the poor budding congregation of only 13 (Jesus plus the 12) be allowed to get a boost in attendance in giving by gratefully accepting this talented, influential, and wealthy ally?

Jesus cared to much for the young man to mislead him.  He cared too much about the young man to simply allow him to fit another event on his calendar or to pick up another charity.  The young man wanted – and needed – a new life: a new way to live, which would by necessity include a whole new way of looking at his possessions.  This really does not fit in to any good marketing plans of today or apparently of yesterday!  However, it is the true message of the Gospel: come and exchange what you have – the bad and the good – for what Jesus has, which is better in the long run.  Then you will really live: have the “eternal life,” which begins not at death, but the moment we say “yes” to Jesus Christ. 

Maybe, then, instead of putting the rich rulers young or old into positions of influence in the church simply because they are in such positions outside the church, we should first give them the opportunity to allow Jesus to present them with a life in which Jesus is truly their priority. By this we do not necessarily mean that all those who are wealthy or powerful in the world’s eyes have no place in the Kingdom of God.  Jesus Himself does not say this.  However, Jesus is clearly stating that His concerns have less to do with worldly power, cunning, or marketing than with setting one’s priorities upon the things of God and then allowing every other priority to fall into line after that.  Re-learning this will likely produce churches that may have to rely less on appeasement and marketing strategies than upon Jesus.  But, it’s His church anyway, so why not try it His way?