The Productive Jesus.. or perhaps “anti-christ christianity”
January 18, 2007 at 1:22 pm (Life, my existence, Social)
I wonder if we don’t look to Christ because we don’t get what we expect.. And what do we expect? Productivity? Believing Jesus loves me doesn’t help me make more $.. doesn’t help me with my clients.. What do we pray for? What don’t we get? So we stop asking!
Jesus isn’t here to get you more $ or the American dream!! That’s using him.. (read james!)
Simply our highest priority, our most beloved value is our job and what it gives us. And at 40-45hrs/week, we’ll see the ppl at work more than our own wives and children for goodness sake! I’m not exactly blaming us individually, but pointing out that our american environment (capitalism!?) is forcing this on us, and it’s killing us.
So what do we do? It’s not like I can survive on a part time job?!” Actually, you can; I have. But that’s not the point either. It just means that we get to fight harder. That we must take the time to be reminded of our Father’s love for us.. but oh, I forgot, that’s not productive or efficient! Yes, Jesus doesn’t help my bottom line! AND THAT’S OK!! He’s not supposed to! Jesus came to save your soul! Change your values!
We’re filled with all the stuff we don’t need. We’re told all the stuff we don’t need. We spend our time on what we don’t need. And we become addicted. Why? Cuz addictions are false means to a true end. And the true end we deny is why Jesus came. The warnings in James & 1John, etc about self-deception are so very important. The reality of ‘the antichrist’ in 1Jn is rapidly becoming more important in my thinking.. and with boundaries set, I’m falling in love again..(with my Savior)
Jim said,
January 18, 2007 at 5:28 pm
In the early days of the Church, the believers were expected to share their possessions among themselves, basically help support one another in every way, both physical and spiritual. Granted, this was, to some degree, in response to persecution and cultural ostracism, but I think it also served the purpose of focusing believers on what was really important – Jesus and the Kingdom.
Kinda makes you wonder what things would look like if we were to do that again today, doesn’t it?
ThePhantom said,
January 21, 2007 at 7:46 pm
yes, however that was primarily in the Jerusalem Church. In Fact that was only recorded, (that i know) about the Jerusalem Church. The rest of early christianity did not do finances in that way. They were notoriously poor and too proud to accept support.
For me Christ and living for him is not seperated from job/family/school/etc. My number one goal is not work, but Him. (well it should be) Our priorities need to be Christ first, family second, job/ministry stuff third. (last one depends on person) With priorites in place and a knowledge that our every action and decision in life affects the Kingdom should change the way we live and view work/family/etc.