“most salesman would be great preachers if only they would give their lives to Jesus. cause all you’re really doing as a preacher is selling Jesus…plus, as a preacher you work for a better boss and the retirement is out of this world.”
this was part of an actual conversation that i overheard today. oh the joys of bible college. i will say that i am very proud of myself for not blurtin out what exactly was running through my head as i heard this…and believe me i was pretty close, and it was very harsh!
it just strikes me that Jesus is seen as something to possess, and “selling” Jesus is what preachers are all about. is that really the best analogy of jesus? maybe our infatuation with christian junk and materialism as christians has radically altered our perception of Jesus as something to be owned…maybe even as someone to be owned. is it possible that we have a slave mentality towards Jesus? he is our slave, there to serve us, our needs, to be there at our beckon-call?
i’ve been here (LCS) for a week and a half and i’ve heard several professors bash brian mclaren and his “theology” (although never explaining what points of it, or where there disagreements lay) and criticize people for swallowing it whole. there are several things that i disagree on with mclaren, but none of them would be deemed as essential (salvific) truths that must be upheld; however this “consumer theology”, this idea that jesus is our slave, our possession that is being espoused by students is upheld through silence. [however, it may be that the professors don't know what students are saying and are in the dark, therefore unable to respond to these theological heresies.]
and one more conversation:
“as christians we stay away from tobacco because it’s addictive and it affects the holy temple of our bodies…caffeine is the same way.” who the hell is this kid and why on earth does he have a following of 5 other students listening and swallowing everything he is saying? ah the future looks bright!
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