Commodifying the Gospel

I have had the chance, lately, to discuss with family and friends my frustration with how the Gospel is presented in many parts of the Western world. I am afraid that we have imposed a Western mindset upon the Gospel and, in doing so, have distorted the Good News of Jesus Christ to be nothing more than a self-serving farce - a fiction we tell ourselves to keep God at a distance and our own idolatry intact.

We in the Western Church have allowed the Gospel to become something that can be bartered and sold in the marketplace. I am not talking about the multitude of Bible translations sold in bookstores nor the profusion of Christian literature and music that looks and sounds exactly like their secular counterparts. I am talking about how the Gospel is used as a liscence for immorality and how the definition of the word "grace" has changed from "God giving you something you don't deserve" to "God doesn't give a damn what you do because Jesus has already died for you so everything is fair game." My friends and family in the Lutheran church call this "cheap grace."

Somehow we have come to believe that salvation is our just reward if we make the proper payments. I feel like the Gospel could be sold on an infomercial... "Salvation can be yours when you face the King on judgment day! All it takes is an hour a week for the rest of your life and Jesus will come to your defence. If you would like this in writing all it costs is three easy payments of $19.95 mailed to..."

Where is the sacrifice that Jesus talked about? What about "taking up your cross" to follow Jesus? That doesn't sound particularly fun or enjoyable. It certainly doesn't sound like you get to do whatever it is that you want. It sounds like you get to do the things that Jesus did. Things like loving your enemies, living a righteous life before God, proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom and bringing God's Kingdom to earth. Salvation always costs us everything, every day. This is the only way forward in God's Kingdom, to count everything you have, everything you have done, everything you are, as loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus. That we think an hour a week of worship is all that Christ requires of us is utter nonsense. That we think the God no longer has moral standards shows how far we have fallen. That we think we can turn God into a salvation ATM by our doctrines and dogmas shows that we are prideful and arrogant fools.

Let me be clear - I am not for religiosity. Doing more "stuff" isn't going to get God to like you or make you any more worthy of salvation (God alreadys delights in you and salvation wouldn't be a gift if you could earn it). But I am all for whole-hearted devotion to the God-man Jesus. I am all for radically reordering your life so that Jesus is primary focus. I am all for abandoning the old wine skin of Modern Western Christendom Christianity and finding out what the Holy Spirit has in store for the Church today. I am all for partnering with Jesus to bring His Kingdom into reality.

I think God is sending out a WAKE UP call to the Church. I pray that we all have ears to hear it.

Short Update

I realize updates have been scarce lately, for that I apologize. However, I do have some good news for you!

I will be officially licensed/ordained into the Vineyard Church this coming Sunday. As per Vineyard style, it will be pretty low-key, but I am excited nonetheless!

Also, I am now working full-time at IHOPE and pastoring part-time at the Vineyard. This is making for really REALLY long days, but I love it and God is giving me strength for this season.

I hope to update again soon, but I am tired of falling through on my promises to blog. Thank you all for your support. Have a great day!

Ben