Sometimes when I am reading Scripture, I come across things that would seem to contradict Calvinist teaching. So here is another question for my Calvinist friends that I am not sure how they might answer:
What does Jesus mean when he says, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven”? (Matthew 19:23)
And then “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God”? (Matthew 19:24)
If a person is either one of the elect … or not … then in what way is it “hard” for any individual to enter the kingdom of heaven? Why would wealth make it harder? Perhaps nearly impossible?
Of course, also problematic would be Jesus’s interaction with the rich young man that precedes this dire observation about the rich and the kingdom of heaven.
First, Jesus tells him, “If you want to enter life, keep the commandments” (19:17) in reply to his question, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” (19:16) Why doesn’t Christ just say, “Listen, if you are one of the chosen, you will have eternal life”?
Jesus lists several commandments the man should follow and notably does not quibble when the man replies that he has kept them all. Then Jesus tells him only one thing is lacking: “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (19:21)
When the rich young man walks away “sad, because he had great wealth”, how does one read this as anything but a free will choice that the man makes? He chooses his wealth and comfort over following Jesus.
Although I really am curious about how Calvinists read this passage, I don’t want that focus to distract from the truly uncomfortable questions the story actually raises! Especially for those of us who are living in the rich West….
Would WE walk away if Jesus asked us to sell everything and give to the poor?
IS HE asking us to do this?
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