“When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” (Matthew 19:22)
That was the gospel writers’ descriptive comment was in the story of the “Rich Young Man (Matt 19:16-22, Mark 10:17-30, Luke 18:18-30). Jesus meets this rich young man who asked Him, what he must do to have eternal life? This unnamed man was a good guy, it seemed; honored his parents, peaceful, pure, truthful and the kind of guy you would like to move in next to you. But Jesus called this man to go “all in” or go home.
So, the man went away “sorrowful.” It seems he was torn. He obviously had some measure of faith. He believed in eternal life and went even one step further to ask the right person about eternal life: Jesus. But when Jesus told the man of the cost, the man came up short. The young man put himself out there, humbling himself before a controversial Rabbi, admitting the possibility that he was still lacking something, despite his good moral life. And yet, that wasn’t enough.
I wrestle with this passage, for a few reasons. Being the wannabe Jesus that I am, I share the good news with as many people as I can. In the context of American youth and young adult culture, usually there needs to be some level of trust built up first. Once the “relational bridge” can hold the weight of heavy topics, I share the gospel personally with them. (They will hear it every week from the platform, but that is a public call).
At the point of challenge, like this young man encountered with Jesus, there is a turning point: toward Jesus or not. If the gospel writers were to write out this moment with many of the teens and young adults I evangelize, the same words above would not be said. I don’t see them walk away “sorrowful.” The emotional commentary would read more like, “indifferent.” Often, I don’t even see them make a definitive “walk away.” It is more of a slow fade; a steady drift.
I’ll admit there are days when I look back on the 12 years of ministry and wonder, “Are the American teens and young adults I minister to even open to Jesus?” Sure, I can run programs, gather teens for a youth gathering, preach an interesting message, build real friendships with the lost, but those who turn to Jesus, willing to begin the journey of “selling all that they have” are fewer than I like to admit.
I’ll also admit that I get frustrated with this “drifting indifference.” I connect with them on a surface level, interact online through social media, get them to come to a fun event, build trust into the new friendship, get them to come weekly to youth group, feed them with the truth of the gospel in Biblical teaching, get them to come to a spiritually charged event like Breakout or Project Shine. Meanwhile, the call to deeper discipleship is given. Patiently, step by step, walk with them. This may take months or years. Then, the drifting comes. Then my frustration comes. But, I forget the cost that these teens have to pay to follow Jesus. I forget that enjoying youth group does not a disciple make. I forget that eating meals and laughing together does not a disciple make. I forget that friendship with Ryan does not a disciple make.
I want to chase them down, argue the merits again of following Jesus, create a more attractive event or adapt the youth gatherings so they feel more comfortable. But at some point, the wannabe Jesus people like me have to stand still and watch the ones you love walk away.
People aren’t formulas. They aren’t recipes. Sometimes, even with all of the right care and communication, people walk/drift away. They have to choose this faith; it can’t be forced or tricked upon them. Nor can the Christian just hit “autopilot” because of one decision to put their faith in Jesus. We must die daily to our sinful nature (1 Cor 15:31, Luke 9:23, Romans 8:36). So, we continue to surrender our lives to him daily. We continue to scatter seeds of the gospel, preaching with our words and works, “lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified (1 Corinthians 9:27b).”