Consumed By Jesus

Consumerism permeates our culture. Persons spend a majority of their time not focused on being, but buying -- more and more and more!

Consumerism teaches most persuasively through TV commercials. In fact, Neil Postman contends, TV commercials have become the new parables, advancing their own "...concept of sin...a [and way toward] redemption..."  For example, Postman notes, there's "...the Parable of the Person With Rotten Breath; the Parable of the Stupid Investor; the Parable of the Lost Traveler's checks; the Parable of the Man Who Runs Through Airports" -- or my all time favorite --  the Parable of the Potato Chip Piggy Who Can't Eat Just One!

But truth is not found in an ability "to eat just one," in woofing life down; truth is found in sacrifice and servanthood through Jesus!

But how do you convey that in a world "consumed with consuming," dominated with a 24/7 message of "more by any means"?

For Christ-followers there's but one approach:  telegraph boldly the remedy for hungry!  You see, a culture "consumed by consuming" is actually famished, yearning for "that which satisfies."  Ironically, satisfaction is readily available through the core entree of biblical faith:  the revelation of God, in Jesus.  Paul says it best in Colossians 1: in Jesus "...all things hold together...For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him..."  (Colossians 1: 17; 19)

And so go figure:  if Jesus is fullness, Jesus satisfies!  And if Jesus satisfies, we're to affirm Jesus satisfies, teaching with boldness the preeminence of Christ, until all persons attain, in the word of Ephesians 4 "...the whole measure of the fullness of Christ..."  (Ephesians 4:13, NIV).

In Washington DC is a marvelous new restaurant called Range, co-owned by members of our congregation.  Frankly Range is well named, for diners literally range, sampling from nine different kitchens, spanning the bandwidth of culinary delight, all in an attempt to satisfy hunger.  It occurred to me recently, Range is emblematic of our culture.  For overall, we're opting to satisfy hunger by ranging from one "kitchen of meaning" to another.  This is especially prevalent in spirituality, as increasingly in the word of Tom Ehrlich, "...people...[are]...finding their own pathways to God, their own languages for accessing God...and their own forms of faith community..."

And so friends, "we're not in Kansas anymore"; we've entered a new era, what Diana Butler Bass calls, "Christianity after religion."  But must this era also be "Christianity after Jesus"?  I pray not, for along with appropriate 'ranging," healthy a la carte, must also be a staple diet, a core entree from which we all feast, from which hunger is ultimately satisfied.

Jesus is the staple diet; Jesus is the core entree.  Jesus says it best in John 6:  "I am the Bread of Life.  The person who aligns with me, hungers no more...ever."  (John 6:35, MSG)

Align with Jesus!  Look to a definitive God who selects you, not an a la carte God that you select.  A God who "....by his own action, has given us everything...necessary for living the truly good life" 2 Peter 1 notes, "...in allowing us to know...[Jesus]...who empowers us] to escape the inevitable disintegration...[of]...the world..."  (2 Peter 1:3-4, Phillips)

That is what we convey:  that life is radically transformed in Jesus, as we're consumed by Him, and not the "stuff," the dogma and circumstances of this world!