Jesus McDonald

I finished Raines & Geiger's book Simple Church. It was a good book - even if it's not the best read. At the end they referred to Morgan Spurlock's movie Super-Size Me where Morgan is showing just how effective McDonalds is at impacting upcoming generations. He meets with schoolchildren and shows them pictures of famous people. Most of the children recognized George Washington. All recognized Ronald McDonald (who isn't even real). But none of them recognized a common depiction of Jesus Christ. NONE OF THEM!!!

The authors of Simple Church said this:

Yes, we know the depiction is probably inaccurate, but you get the point. Most children in America are growing up without any knowledge of Jesus. We are living in a post-Christian culture. For upcoming generations Christ is no longer the starting point. Children and teenagers no longer rebel against the standard. Today there is no standard.... McDonalds is influencing future generations. Churches are not.

Hmm. How do you respond to that? The authors suggest the church must either change or die. I couldn't agree more. And if churches need to change or die, doesn't that mean the people need to change or die?

I think it's time we put up or shut up. For instance, the other day I read a comment left on someone else's blog. The post was about being missional-minded, which is something I believe we need to be/do (and it was a good post, btw). But the commenter stated how her and a friend had "skipped" church that morning and spent the hour talking on the phone about that subject. She was all proud about "skipping church" and for some reason apparently thinks TALKING ON THE PHONE ACTUALLY HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE MISSION OF GOD. I think not. Now, I will admit, sometimes it might actually do some people good to skip church and go do something. BUT NOT TO TALK ON THE PHONE! I mean, is that the point of being missional... or being the church?!?

I think what the church needs is for people to quit being so self-centered and actually give a flying fhoot about what's happening around them. It's one thing to not like your church and to want to improve things, but it's another thing entirely to do nothing but bitch and complain about those who are actually trying to make a difference.

I could go on, but.... I think you get the idea. Does the church need to change? Absolutely. Is bashing or leaving going to bring it about? I don't think so (please note: I'm talking about leaving church altogether, not just going to a different one. Some churches should be left, but not THE church). I suppose some people would argue that it needs to die before it can change. But I don't believe you can say you love Jesus if you don't love his body. I don't know how many times I've heard people say they don't like church because the people are so unloving. Hmm... and if you don't like them, then what does that make you?

Lord, give me love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. And a Big Mac to go, please.