the gospel of consumerism
Over the last eight weeks our faith community has spent time studying the last week of Jesus’ life here on earth. We studied the book of Mark, and began with Jesus entry into Jerusalem that we refer to the Triumphal Entry. We concluded today with studying the Easter Story.
In my study one of the things that I began to see was Mark’s emphasis on Jesus calling those who followed him to participate with him in all things. When Jesus fed the 5,000 he gave the bread to his disciples to hand out the bread. When Jesus fed the 4,000 he gave the disciples the bread that he broke.
More than just his miracles Jesus also called his followers to participate with him in his death. Three distinct times Jesus predicts his death, and his disciples respond in a curious manner. They seem to be concerned about what is coming to them. Each time Jesus says things like, “Pick up your cross …” “ … whoever wants to be great must become the servant of all …” Mark continues this emphasis throughout his gospel.
What is curious is how little this message which Mark taught is present in churches today. So often, when we think about the events of Good Friday and Easter we do so with ourselves in the middle. We believe that Jesus did this all because of you and me. We say things like, “If you were the only person in the whole world Jesus would have died on the cross only for you.” We teach our kids to put their own names in John 3:16 changing it to, “For God so loved Ralph, that he gave his only Son …”
In the midst of messages like these pastors continually lament the consumerism that they see in their churches. Is it possible that the gospel message we preach is precisely the thing leading those in our churches to focus only on themselves? If Jesus humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross! all for me, than is it really a stretch to that think the local church, which is supposed to be the embodiment of Christ, is there for me too?
When we speak of the death of Jesus solely in terms of Jesus dying for my sins so that I can go to heaven and so I can live in bliss for eternity we do a disservice to the message of the cross. Jesus called his followers to go there with him. In his death he was victorious over the Powers. We say things like, “Jesus came to seek and save the lost.” Indeed, but he also came, “ … to proclaim good news to the poor … to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.”
When we begin speaking about Jesus’ demand for justice, his concern for the poor, his Anti-Empire rhetoric, his healing of the sick, his prophetic acts against the religious establishment, his inclusion of women in this ministry we begin to open the door to a gospel that may be about a little more than God sending his Son for me.
Rather than continually complain about people in our churches being so consumer minded, let’s chalk that up to the fact that we may be teaching them well. It’s time to reclaim the full message of the Gospel … the message that is good news for the poor, brings joy to the brokenhearted, brings healing to those who grieve, and justice to the oppressed. The message of the Gospel that calls those who follow Jesus to be last, to serve, and carry our cross and join with him in his death. Let’s speak about a Gospel that is not about me or you … but about the one who did go to the cross.
In my study one of the things that I began to see was Mark’s emphasis on Jesus calling those who followed him to participate with him in all things. When Jesus fed the 5,000 he gave the bread to his disciples to hand out the bread. When Jesus fed the 4,000 he gave the disciples the bread that he broke.
More than just his miracles Jesus also called his followers to participate with him in his death. Three distinct times Jesus predicts his death, and his disciples respond in a curious manner. They seem to be concerned about what is coming to them. Each time Jesus says things like, “Pick up your cross …” “ … whoever wants to be great must become the servant of all …” Mark continues this emphasis throughout his gospel.
What is curious is how little this message which Mark taught is present in churches today. So often, when we think about the events of Good Friday and Easter we do so with ourselves in the middle. We believe that Jesus did this all because of you and me. We say things like, “If you were the only person in the whole world Jesus would have died on the cross only for you.” We teach our kids to put their own names in John 3:16 changing it to, “For God so loved Ralph, that he gave his only Son …”
In the midst of messages like these pastors continually lament the consumerism that they see in their churches. Is it possible that the gospel message we preach is precisely the thing leading those in our churches to focus only on themselves? If Jesus humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross! all for me, than is it really a stretch to that think the local church, which is supposed to be the embodiment of Christ, is there for me too?
When we speak of the death of Jesus solely in terms of Jesus dying for my sins so that I can go to heaven and so I can live in bliss for eternity we do a disservice to the message of the cross. Jesus called his followers to go there with him. In his death he was victorious over the Powers. We say things like, “Jesus came to seek and save the lost.” Indeed, but he also came, “ … to proclaim good news to the poor … to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.”
When we begin speaking about Jesus’ demand for justice, his concern for the poor, his Anti-Empire rhetoric, his healing of the sick, his prophetic acts against the religious establishment, his inclusion of women in this ministry we begin to open the door to a gospel that may be about a little more than God sending his Son for me.
Rather than continually complain about people in our churches being so consumer minded, let’s chalk that up to the fact that we may be teaching them well. It’s time to reclaim the full message of the Gospel … the message that is good news for the poor, brings joy to the brokenhearted, brings healing to those who grieve, and justice to the oppressed. The message of the Gospel that calls those who follow Jesus to be last, to serve, and carry our cross and join with him in his death. Let’s speak about a Gospel that is not about me or you … but about the one who did go to the cross.