There are many that have faith in Jesus. There are many that believe in Jesus across the globe – many tongues, many nations, and many cultures. There are people that believe in Jesus beyond political systems, ethnicity, cultures, and financial status. What are they believing Him for?
Western thought is intensely intertwined and mingled with consumption, gains, dividends, and bottom lines. It is difficult and probably impossible to process western thought without the modes and mechanisms of capitalism. This, too, can be seen in the context of Faith. Can the Christian pursue Christ for the soul purpose of wanting Him? Can the Christian believer want Christ without Him being their “genie in the bottle” or spiritual “slot machine”?
In an episode of believers looking for Jesus, and eventually finding Him, He tells them that their intentions were flawed. He shares with them that they are only following Him because He filled their stomachs for free (1).
Isn’t this the point of Christianity? Isn’t the role of Jesus to get the Christian the stuff and things that they want? Isn’t Jesus an excellent marketing tool that capitalistic cronies can attach to their tax deductible altruistic efforts?
People have a tendency to forget who Jesus is and they start to see Him as someone they can control. They start to see Him as something they can make do what they want. The problem with this is that there are moments where the Lord gave people what they wanted but it came with a price (2).
Do you serve the Lord for who He is? Or, do you serve Him for what He can do? Are you only following Him for material gain? Or, do you want something that last beyond this material world?
1. John 6:26 MSG
2. Psalm 106:13-27 MSG
The Bell Reader 