I’m growing more and more uncomfortable and discontented with American Christianity. I’m starting to believe that we have done what Bonhoeffer warned us about – we have cheapened the gospel. “Cheap grace” was his term for it; but I think “cheapened gospel” is a more accurate description of what we’ve done.
A young rich man came to Jesus and asked him, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said, “You know the commandments: Do not murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, do not give false testimony, etc.”. Every commandment he mentioned had to do with one’s relationship to and treatment of others. He didn’t say anything about the commandments related to God and our treatment of him. Jesus also said, “You know the commandments” – the young man knew them and said he even kept them from his youth on. Jesus loved this guy, it says. Then, Jesus drops the bomb: “One thing you lack. Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Mark 10: 21). The young man went away sad because he was very wealthy.
If someone came up to you (or I) today and asked, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” – What would your (my) answer be? John 3:16? ”The Four Spiritual Laws”? Lead them through the “Romans Road”? What would you or I say? The real question is “What did Jesus say?”
Jesus brought up only the commandments within the Ten Commandments that had to do with the young man’s relationships with others and with his parents. The young man, apparently thinking he had passed the test, said, “Teacher, all these I have kept since I was a boy.” In other words, he was saying, “I’ve done right by others in all my relationships.” That’s saying a lot. And Jesus didn’t refute it.
Jesus brought up his relationship to the poor. Why? Because Jesus loved him and wanted him to see two things: 1) though he had amassed much wealth on earth, he was bankrupt in heaven; he had no treasure in heaven. And, 2) the wealth he had needed to be given to the poor. Why? Because it was theirs! What God gives us is not to be hoarded (although Proverbs says it’s wise to save up – not to hoard). It’s given to be given. Jesus was saying to the young man that wealth in heaven is obtained by giving freely to the poor and by taking care of them.
But here’s the biggie: Jesus told the young man to go and sell everything, give to the poor, and then come and follow. Jesus seemed to think that the item of first priority was selling all and giving to the poor. After that, then come and follow. Is Jesus saying that you can’t follow until you share what you have with the poor? Or is he speaking solely to the young man’s situation, that he personally needed to break the hold that wealth held over him by obeying this radical severing of dependence? I don’t know…but I’m leaning toward both.
Jesus never mentioned sin at all…or hell…or heaven…or any of the “standard” stuff. Does that stuff matter? Yes…I think. What I do see Jesus emphasizing is our relationship to and care for the poor and our love toward others, treating them as we would like to be treated ourselves. Can you see that Jesus’ gospel looks a lot different than what I’ve been taught? And sadly, our gospel is deficient and insufficient…
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