One of the great temptations for Christians today is getting sucked into the alluring consumer Christian message. The preaching is attractive, inviting, and appeals to our selfish side. It puts us in the center of the universe and has Jesus revolving around us, trying to make us happy and fulfilled. It promises life, but it is a message of death because it is not based on the radical demands of Jesus for us to “deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him” (Luke 9:23). Yet great multitudes fall victim to consumer Christianity. In Ryan Dobson’s book, Be Intolerant, he writes some of Jesus’ radical demands in sarcasm and satire to make his point about the state of the watered down gospel today in America.
“Go into all the world, teaching men to live any way they want, urging each to find his or her own path to God. Let not any one of you make someone feel inferior or victimized because of their beliefs. Above all, be tolerant. Verily, verily, I say unto you that what you believe and how you live do not matter, so long as you are sincere.”
Leaving that place, Jesus led His disciples to Jerusalem where they broke bread at Club Upper Room. There He addressed them again, saying, “I am one of the ways, one of the truths, and just one possible life. If you are basically a good person, you’re okay in my book. And if you choose to come to the Father (or Mother, if you prefer) through Me, that’s cool. Now go forth to live according to whatever feels good to you.”
And there was much rejoicing.
May we always listen to the radical demands of Jesus and respond like Peter when the Lord asked him if he wanted to quit following Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life” (John 6:68).
Mike