Burger King's philosophy- Have it your way

Burger King's philosophy - have it your way!

People, including me, love to do things 'our way.'  Americans are consumers who like personalized service. All of this comes at a cost to cooperation, which leads to the destruction of our community structures - government, neighborhood, and Church. Individualism is not a bad thing when we are ordering a burger for lunch.

However, when we drag the assumption that "the world owes me happiness" into church, it is especially destructive. Selfless service is a fundamental expression of our discipleship!  Jesus, our Model, "came to serve, not be served-and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage."  (Matt. 20:28)

Consumer Christians who are focused on 'me, myself, and I' say things like: 

"The church has nothing to offer me."
"My needs are not addressed by the church so I'll form my own fellowship."
"I don't need the church to serve Christ."

  Brian McLaren observed that he believes that many Christians have bought into a 'gospel of self-enhancement. They have turned the Bible's declaration that "God loves the world," into "God loves ME!" (lecture delivered at Moravian Seminary in Bethlehem, PA) Jesus did not come to give us the ability to become self-actualized - more healthy, more wealthy, and more happy than our neighbors. He came to restore us, individually, to the image of God; calls us into the Church, and from a place in the Church, requires that we find ways with other disciples to lovingly serve the wide world around us. 

The whisper of the Spirit, deep within us, is insistent that we exist for some reason greater than piling up lots of stuff to play with or carving out a place of comfort where we can live out our days in self-indulgence. Jesus says that if we embrace self-sacrifice, only then do we truly find life! His word challenge us - "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life. And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose or forfeit your own soul in the process?" (Luke 9:23-25, NLT)

Here's a word from the Word. As you read pray that the Holy Spirit will let you appreciate the joy that can be found in humble service to God, expressed in serving others.

Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself.
He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges.

Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death-and the worst kind of death at that: a crucifixion.Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth-even those long ago dead and buried-will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father. - Philippians 2:5-11 (The Message)

Do something for someone today for which you expect NO THANKS. It doesn't have to be grand. Maybe it's listening to somebody's story, or washing your kid's clothes, or picking up trash in the parking lot. Pray for the most miserable person you know, asking God's blessing for them. No complaining, no angling for recognition. Be a servant for Jesus' sake and let God bless you.