re: John Oliver goes after televangelists and prosperity gospel (video link in OP)

quote:

---

quote:21Jesus answered, “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.” 22When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again 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.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer explains this story really well in his book The Cost Of Discipleship. The young rich man knows the commandments, but wants to go beyond them. He asks his question of Jesus out of a piety centered on himself, pretending he is ignorant of the answer. We are called to obedience of God and fellowship with Christ, Jesus answers the young man offering him the opportunity to follow Him. Jesus wants to make sure the young man doesn't see discipleship as the opportunity for an adventure that he could turn away from and head back to his money and old life. Jesus exposes that the mans possessions are literally the thing keeping him from following Jesus, but also that the mans original question about what he must do is based on his desire to feel good about himself rather than truly be obedient to God.

---