ReJesus Part Two

So, now that we see God, the church, and the world differently, how does that vision impact the dynamics of our relationship with Christ?  

First, Hirsch and Frost examine the competing forces that vie for our imaginations.  Modern distractions of economic security and consumerism have drawn us away from truly following Christ.  We have co-opted God into this realm, using him as a means to getting "my best life now" or "financial freedom" or whatever.  Our minds need to be "reJesused", that is, brought back into knowing and following Jesus.  

To do that, we must become "little Jesuses", and to illustrate the point, the authors refer to the film "V for Vendetta".  The film takes place in a future-Britain, ruled by a totalitarian government who has captured the imaginations of its people using fear and consumerism.  

V's call for action succeeds, even though he dies in the process.  He has inspired the imaginations of others to follow him, and the government is reformed. 

In a similar way, we are called to become "little Jesuses", striving to become like Christ.  That is the focus and goal of discipleship.  It goes beyond going to a Bible study and memorizing some verses of Scripture. "We possess Christ's truth only by imitating him, not by speculating about him."

"The critical role of discipleship in the mission of the church once again highlights the role of the radical Jesus in the life of faith.  And this bond cannot merely involve a cerebral, objective, indirect understanding of Jesus and the Christian faith.  This substitution of thinking about Jesus for existential encounter with Jesus is a constant temptation for the follower.  This is partly because a living relationship with the Lord of the universe is a risky, disturbing, and demanding experience.  We never get the better of him, and it is a whole lot easier, and less costly, to think than to do."

And so, we are called to become more and more like Christ, and in doing so discover more and more what it means to be fully human.  We don't become like Christ by wearing sandals and learning carpentry.  We become Jesus in our context, in our culture.  And doing so requires more than just imitation through observation.  We must KNOW Christ, like we would know a loved one.  The gospels provide a compass for this journey.

Some thoughts and implications I gained . . .

1.  My role in communicating to others needs to help them discover the joys of imagination in Christ.  "We've heard too many sermons about how to be better citizens (or have better marriages, or better kids, or whatever).  Too much preaching is concerned with a fostering of a capitulation to the mores and values of a post-Christian empire rather than a call to allow our imaginations to be overtaken by Jesus and focused on treasures in heaven."

2.  I'm doing personal studies around the life and teachings of Christ, and letting them be the driving factor in my sermons and teachings.  I hope that it helps others to understand his mission (and, therefore, ours).

3.  I want to continually challenge our church to stand against the pricking of consumerism.  That begins with me to quit worrying about money for the church (it seems I can do this just fine for personal finances, but have a hard time for the organization).