The Big Three…

“American Culture fosters and sustains a functional Trinitarian god of consumerism, hedonism and nationalism. Made in this image and likeness of such a god, we are committed to lives of possessiveness, pleasure and domination.” – John Kavanaugh

We are facing some revolutionary times in the world right now. There is an atmosphere of assessment and introspection upon life and what is necessary. For those within the community of faith this is a pivotal time of being able to live in the faith and trust of one who knows the provisions and contentment of the Lord. As we interact with others we interact with the world and it’s pursuits of three of the most basic desires: security, pleasure and power. In the face of a troubled economy and the uncertainty of what the coming year will bring, there will be an internal wrestling match over the importance of these desires and how life changes to interact with them. There will be anxiety over them, sleepless nights, arguments with spouses, reactionary responses n the workplace; in the places where they are focused on most, life will come off the hinges and open a door to speaking directly to the heart of what really matters. And what really matters: Peace which transcends the menial, contentment which relegates anxiety, relationships which do not hunger for superiority… a change is coming to life as we know it, and if we are able to help others in their needs, we will see revolutionary change of the world which is spinning heads and hearts into confusion and disorientation.

God gives his hands and feet to the people of this planet in his community. As we step forward and interact with others, we must understand the immense responsibility we have in being “the light” to the dark and troubled places. We are not earmarked by the pursuit of power, we are not dominated by the ruling passions of pleasure, and we are not living frenetic lives of satiating security innate in ourselves. We must be centered in the transformation of ourselves by Christ, and the tuning of his purposes to ours. We must be a resource to help refocus those who are searching on the life-changing peace which comes as one takes on the attitudes and attributes of the Savior. We must strive to combat the general misunderstanding about God: That he is here to change our lives and improve the quality of our experience in this life. This would be likening him to the support of the pursuit of the big three, not a change to understand his purpose of wanting all mankind to be drawn to him, and his understanding of importance. From the delusions of the “prosperity gospel,” or the extrapolation of a corporate American pursuit pulled from the intention of Rick Warren’s: A Purpose Driven Life, the spiritual bootstrapping of Joel
Osteen’s: Become a Better You, to the misinterpretation by the Christian subculture of Bruce Wilkinson’s: The Prayer of Jabez; the “Christian” method of living seems to be turning into another way of seeking to live a better lifestyle. Living the abundant life has nothing to do with personal achievement or success outside of Christ. We are not capitalist Christians, trying to balance a life which pursues “things” or ideas on the same level as the Father. How high upon the pedestal of ability have we placed ourselves in light of God? It is a mistake to believe that God has so gifted you, that he needs your contribution for his cause to be fulfilled? Similarly, those whose ego has been elevated to a position where they believe themselves to be of more importance in light of God’s use of them, whether in prominence or in function, have lost the plot. Need we forget that Christ came to save the sinners? He did not come to build a five-star, personalized vacation resort for righteous people. He came with a surgical kit and unparalleled compassion to offer a lifeline at the gates of hell to his beloved sons and daughters. He is not providing for us the opportunity to achieve success to the honor and glory of a chief benefactor who gives us security in position, pleasure in its attainment, nor the power to exert influence because we have a weighty contribution. He did not desire for us to acquire eternal significance outside of the Lord of Hosts. The contrasting reality, which sheds the light of truth to us, is that he is here to change our hearts so that we can have an improved quality of experiencing himself. When we experience Christ in the manner which he has intended us to, we cannot help but know the abundant life of significance which has a lasting resonance in our lives.

Would we honestly believe that the God who sent his Son to die, and gives richly in his rewards, who desires you to be cradled in his love and acceptance, would be so shallow in his blessings that he would reward one’s pursuit of Christ with a BMW, or a million dollar home, or winning the lottery? Would he really give you the desires of a corrupt heart finding joy in exertion of power, or position? Is the gift of Christ the hedonism of satisfying the needs of the flesh, the ego, or the pocketbook? Of course in posing a ridiculous question, I am not disallowing for these circumstances, but I have a strong feeling that the God of the Ages would not revel adding to treasures stored where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal.

The truth is that we must be so revolutionary as to show the contentment and stability of relinquishing these pursuits. We must seek first the kingdom. We must strive to know Christ and his direction, that we may be the rock of his strength for those who surround us in our communities. We must delight in the joys of the Father. We must exude the security of an eternal nature with Him. Our power will be lessened, but his will increase. We will reflect to others the security of dependence on the Almighty, and how steadfast and satisfying he is.