A Consumer Buys Jesus

On my way to the airport this morning, I drove past a car with a price tag I know is well over $100,000.  The driver was going just as fast as I was, riding on the same kind of seat, and cooled by the same kind of air conditioning, but the his car had a special nameplate that gives it a special desirability.  He not only purchased transportation. He bought an image when he got that car.  A lot of us do this.  We will spend more to get the things that somebody else says we must have. It’s called be a ‘consumer.’ 

The Church (not just Faith Discovery, but all churches) is suffering decline at the present time, largely because consumerism is woven into spirituality. Unconsciously, yet powerfully, people think:  “Give me a Jesus Who works for me, makes my life better right now, and promises me customer satisfaction.”  In an article “Jesus Is Not a Brand” published in Christianity Today, January 2009, Tyler Wigg-Stephenson responds to that idea. He writes, “This attitude inhibits the disciple’s growth into living God-centered, neighbor-focused life. Yes, the Christian life brings fulfillment beyond imagination, but such fulfillment is strangely elusive if it is your main priority as a Christian. Indeed it only comes when we seek God instead of ourselves. Those who come to the Church expecting to find brand satisfaction or seeking to save their lives will find neither. … How do we convince people who are dedicated to self-creation that life is really about the grace and power of God?”

Christianity cannot be all God wants it to be for us, if we are unwilling to radically love others and abandon our clamor to be served!  The true life of Christ is about death of Self and forsaking of all things related to image. It’s about finding meaning and purpose in serving others, which is serving Him.  The true paradox is that if buy just enough “Jesus” to make us feel as though life is working better for us, we will not experience the ‘abundant life’ that is the disciples birthright!  Only when Jesus owns us (not the other way ‘round) do we find the love, hope, and peace that is so highly prized. We cannot hold onto our selves and cling to Him at the same time.

Jesus said,  “You can’t worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you’ll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. … “If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds. “Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?

What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met." (Matthew 6:24-33, The Message)

Are you a consumer attempting to buy a little bit of Jesus, or are you a true disciple who has forsaken all to follow Him?

Here is the word from the Word. It’s challenging. Take a few moments to ponder the implications for your life.

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?" (Matthew 16:24-26, NLT)