Moody Thinking

As Western Christians, we are prone to the quick fix in society. We want the solution to our problems right away and if we try something to fix it and it doesn’t work, we move on to the new thing. 

Walk through your local Christian bookstore (or big box retailer, or pharmacy, or grocery store, etc.) and look at all of the books you will find on fasting, prayer, study, contemplation, giving, etc. Retailers are not fools. These books receive so much shelf space because they sell the best in the category. 

Feeling down? You must try the new spiritual encouragement book. Feeling fat? Try the Christian eating plan and exercise routine. Feeling far from God? Try this devotional or that devotional, etc.

The major problem with these approaches is that we attempt to remedy the cure rather than fix the problem. The problem is that we do not place Christ first in our lives and follow him. Why not? It’s uncomfortable. When we see God face to face, he reveals exactly those things that have kept us from him and provides us with his strength to follow him more. 

It is much more comfortable to address the spiritual needs we see and try harder. And then we try even harder. And then we try so hard that we become burnt out and mad at everyone around us, which shows that we are really unfulfilled in ourselves because we have depended on ourselves rather than God. 

The apostle Paul had an issue. Scripture is not clear as to what his issue was, but he had one and he pleaded with God to take it away. God used this opportunity to show Paul what the spiritual life is all about: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9). God was teaching Paul about experiencing him. Our lives are at their full potential in God’s will when we understand that it is only by God’s power that we can do anything.

The more we focus on Christ, the less we focus on ourselves.  This is true spirituality and it is so anti-American Christian that it makes us feel very uncomfortable. Then again, American Christianity rarely reflects true, Jesus-following Christianity. Our self-actualization society would rather us depend on ourselves than Christ. 

Don’t stress yourself out on the latest Christian fads. Follow Christ by his power. 

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for their’s is the kingdom of God.” Amen. 

(I am reading a great book about true Christianity by Jerram Barrs and Ranald Macauley called Being Human. Check it out).

Your Very Own Jesus

Notice the irony here: A Jesus action figure that is fully poseable. This Jesus is not one that requires anything of you, but rather molds to anything you want him to be. 

Catch it? 

Welcome to Consumer Christianity at its finest. For some time, I’ve struggled with our culture’s view of Jesus and how to present it in words. Now, my point is made brilliantly on the discount rack at your local megastore. 

I believe that our view of Jesus is far from the Biblical view. We have attempted to make him into whatever we want. Jesus is the banner of our political movements and the decorations in our homes. We throw Jesus into whatever we do in order to “sanctify” it. If we do something we know is wrong, it’s okay because Jesus loves us and he understands. 

You can go to any number of churches this weekand hear a sermon like: “12 Ways Jesus Helps Your Family” instead of “Jesus, God and Man.” We place Jesus in the rear of our lives, only calling on him in times of need and asking him for blessings.

Have we ever considered that a god that is submissive to our every whim is no god at all? What kind of god exists only for your fulfillment? Not the God. Not Jesus. To get a sense of this truth, read John Piper. His works on the supremacy of Christ are exceptional. If you would rather have a Jesus that only promises you blessings, read Joel Osteen. 

We are very adept at molding scripture to fit our needs. We love John 3:16, but we miss John 3:30 “He must become greater, I must become less.” 

We read the last part of John 16:33 “Take Heart, I have overcome the world,” but miss the first part: “In this world, you will have trouble.”

Jesus has become degraded to a consumer commodity. Use him for your family functions, your campaign promises, or your own conscience sake, but by all means don’t seek to find the real Jesus. Is it really reasonable to assume that a person that was tortured to death exists to only give you blessings and a happy life? No, he followed the will of his Father up that hill and bore our sins that we may have eternal life. He is the creator, the provider, the judge, and the savior. 

Let’s worship Jesus for who he is, not who we want him to be. 

For more thoughts on this subject (more eloquently stated than mine), check out The Internet Monk. http://www.internetmonk.com.