I was listening this morning on the radio to a fascinating discussion of ‘network states’ – the concept of rejection of traditional nation and government structures in favour of online, block-chain-based, digital communities seeking to build, virtually and physically, their own independent nation states and political philosophies that can exist across all boundaries and be recognised by the rest of the world. In theory, such network states can unify around shared (beneficial) values that distinguish the collective from the (corrupt) values of the existing world structures.
If you set aside the techno-social speak, we might as Christians relate to these networker ambitions. After all, we as Church are striving to unite across all boundaries in our shared commitment to Jesus Christ. Our seeking to be guided by his commandments to love God and love our neighbour as ourselves sets us apart from the worldly values around us and we aspire to be recognisable as disciples of Christ in living lives that are loving of one another.
The network states concept has run up against various problems so far. One is the difficulty of engaging with the outside world, particularly where that world experiences the network state as a threat. That challenge of living in the world but distinctive from the world, and hated by (at least some of) the world was familiar to the early Christians and still is so for the Church today. Sadly, more worrying problems in the network state implementation appear to have been slides into manipulative cultism, and the building of community based on more on digital finance networking rather than on any real human relationship. Sadly, Christian church communities today have also experienced abusive manipulations of charismatic leaders who started out with faithful intentions but have become seduced by their own power, most publicly in some of the mega-church environments.
And the concern about setting financial constructs over relationship? Perhaps this is what is going on in the challenging reading we have this Sunday from Mark’s Gospel about the rich man who came running up to Jesus and knelt before him, and asked him, Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? (v.17) Mark tells us that Jesus looked at the man and loved him; Jesus could see all that was precious about this man, and also what was limiting this individual from being able to step up and follow Jesus wholeheartedly. Jesus said to the man, You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me. (v.21) The man departed in shock and sorrow, and Jesus then told his disciples that it would be very hard for those who have wealth to enter the Kingdom of God.
I am not sure that this is an indictment of possession of money as such. Rather, it is recognition that we cling to what is dear to us, to what gives us security and identity. The rich man’s wealth gave him comfort, status and quite probably some power. There is a hint of this in his question, what must I do to inherit eternal life? … I am in control of my destiny. Perhaps because he had many possessions, his life was filled with planning and worrying about how to hang on to those possessions. Instead, he needed to lose everything that prevented him from discovering dependence on God, learning to be a receiver rather than a controller, and prevented him from discovering true relationship with God and with his fellow humanity. We can note that Jesus did not reject the man, nor do we know how the man’s story ended.
For us in our affluent part of the world, the challenge that entering the Kingdom of God will be nigh-on impossible for those who have wealth is a tough call. Are we to go and sell everything now? Or is this about looking at how we can be led by the Spirit to use whatever we have to build the kind of relationships with the world that demonstrate Christ’s love? And to look hard at what we might be hanging on to (whatever that might be: stuff, habits, assumptions …) that is getting in the way of deep relationship with God? What are we being called to change, to let Christ form us to become Kingdom-shaped? What is the one thing you, I, each one of us lack?
And let’s not forget that nothing is impossible for God.
Lucy G
Image – Christ and the Rich Young Ruler by Heinrich Hofmann,1889. Riverside Church, NY. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. {{PD-US}}