Of Camels and Needles
Another week, another passage that challenges even the most ardent biblical literalist. Is it even possible for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle? Given that most everyone reading this reflection is wealthy, in global terms, does this mean none of us will make it into the Kingdom of God?
To be sure this passage has generated its share of metaphorical renderings, even some historic renderings (based on bad history) about camels and the gates of Israel. (No it is not true that this is about Camels bowing their heads to go through the gates of Jerusalem)
However, have we stopped to consider that maybe… Jesus meant what he said?
That God looks at a world where we have rich and poor, vast wealth disparities, and an acceptance that poverty is not only inevitable but acceptable, and says “this is sinful”.
This is a particular challenge here in the United States where our economic system is not just capitalism, but increasingly unbridled capitalism where profit is the only measurement of success.
Now, as a moderate person politically, I don’t have any active distaste for capitalism. But historically capitalism in America has also been aligned with a strong moral compass. As such, the goal was not profit but rather the betterment of society.
In my lifetime, however, the goal went from uplifting the community to uplifting the individual. We are all in a fight to get to the top of the pile, and all that matters is “how much I have”.
Jesus, it seems clear to me, weeps at this. Particularly because the more you have, usually the less you give. Billionaires give fractional percentages of their wealth away, Millionaires much more percentage wise, but still less than the upper middle class, and much less than the percentage of what the lower class and destitute give.
Churches of course are not immune! How Churches allocate their time, talent and treasure, is a reflection of their values. When churches spend money on lawsuits, or airplanes, or lavish events, while locking their doors to those in need, it reflects badly on the church and on the body of Christ. I am very proud of Memorial for committing this psalter year to renovating our sanctuary so we could open it up more fully to the community, and also committing a huge percentage of our annual budget - 20% - to our justice and reparations initiative.
What does your personal budget say about you and your values? And in the face of this capitalist system we inhabit… how do we act as Christians and not as profit producers?