How Plastic is Your Jesus?

Life is filled with picture perfect people. Sometimes what appears to be perfect on outside is very different then what is on the inside. Living in the Christian Suburban neighborhood - the Christian Suburban workplace, the Christian Suburban Church - everything is so perfect.

What once was a relationship with God has become a "Lifestyle". Is this what God has for us? What have you surrounded yourself with instead of God? David Brooks writes: "the typical Disneyland American has been concerned with small and meaningless pleasures, pointless and easy self serving values. They have become too permissive and too open minded, too self indulgent and too timid. They are caught up in trivial images, relentless hurry, information gathering and superficial choices."

We call ourselves a Christian - but how can we be so hollow on the inside? Is it possible to show up on Sunday with a smile - attend a service, get into our trendy car with a Christian Fish sticker and get loss in the process?

Southern California - the land of the Mega Churches / Christian Lifestyle, Robert Schullers, Saddleback / Rick Warren, Calvary Chapels etc. Regardless of the Christian format - God is moving in Southern California - but the superficial facade is never more present - are people just attending church - or are they there to worship God? We experienced it - most are just attending church.

When we live in Christian Suburbia, we let our things define us. We place great value in things and we hope that they will fulfill our desire for meaning and significance. Our identities can also be formed by others - and sometimes in our lives a casual meaningless comment can lead to deceit and destruction.

This represents the PLASTIC JESUS - Take a reality check - is your relationship with Christ worth dying for?

Mark 1:9 - 11 (Message Bible)
We live in a world that is performance driven - and sometimes we are caught asking ourselves - " why does God love me ? " The Father's total love for Jesus wasn't based on performance - it was based on a relationship – that is the same for a child of God.

Our value is based on who we belong to - when we live in Christian Suburbia - we are trying to earn the Father's affections and become worthy - STOP IT. He already loves you - just because of who you are. What would happen if we choose a committed relationship with God ?
What would happen if in our commitment - God would release his Holy Spirit and divine
blessings upon us? I encourage you to stop and listen

Jeremiah 6:16 " Stand at the crossroads and look - ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is and walk in it and you will find rest for your soul."