Recently I saw a Cadillac car commercial that was a stimulous for alot of thought for me.
Cadillac's motto is "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit..." They portray owning a Cadillac as achieving the "American Dream". Here is the text from a recent commercial entitle "Comfortable"
Man Speaking while driving: “So let me get this straight…I have a comfortable house in the suburbs… comfortable job, with a comfortable office right on the glass…and what? I’m supposed to squeeze myself into an uncomfortable little car on my way back and forth to my comfortable life??!!…I think not!!”
To see the commercial click here: http://www.cadillac.com/cadillacjsp/footer/downloads.jsp
Can our faith and our relationship with God be influenced by our culture?
Comfort and Security (emotional, physical, economical etc) ...definitely values of the American Dream
Here's my question:
Are comfort and security values of Christ and His Dream (His Kingdom)?
I know that I want comfort, I want security...even living where I live, and doing what I do, it's still something that I desire....
Here's a few verses for thought:
Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Mark 10:21
Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Luke 18:25
"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." Luke 10:36-27
"Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life[c] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Mark 8:34-36
Jesus didn't live a comfortable life, in fact he warned us that we wouldn't either. If we read these verses literally as well as figuratively there are some strong questions to be answered
Does God care where we live?
Cadillac's motto is "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit..." They portray owning a Cadillac as achieving the "American Dream". Here is the text from a recent commercial entitle "Comfortable"
Man Speaking while driving: “So let me get this straight…I have a comfortable house in the suburbs… comfortable job, with a comfortable office right on the glass…and what? I’m supposed to squeeze myself into an uncomfortable little car on my way back and forth to my comfortable life??!!…I think not!!”
To see the commercial click here: http://www.cadillac.com/cadillacjsp/footer/downloads.jsp
Can our faith and our relationship with God be influenced by our culture?
Comfort and Security (emotional, physical, economical etc) ...definitely values of the American Dream
Here's my question:
Are comfort and security values of Christ and His Dream (His Kingdom)?
I know that I want comfort, I want security...even living where I live, and doing what I do, it's still something that I desire....
Here's a few verses for thought:
Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Mark 10:21
Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Luke 18:25
"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." Luke 10:36-27
"Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life[c] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Mark 8:34-36
Jesus didn't live a comfortable life, in fact he warned us that we wouldn't either. If we read these verses literally as well as figuratively there are some strong questions to be answered
Does God care where we live?
When Christians talk about good schools for their kids, safe neighborhoods for their families, and financial security...is that a result of their desire to be Christians (little Christ's) or is it the desire to be American Christians?
P.S. I know these are tough questions, please don't take offense. I don't have them figured out either?
2 comments:
I love you my husband. Yeah, I mean, this is a huge question. One which I think there is a diversity of thoughts toward, and the variety of thoughts is well justified. I think this is the kind of question that seeks more of a discussion than answers, you know? Some questions, we ask ourselves, because they are good to explore.
Anyway, back to what I think, I can see how people can approach this from a variety of ways. On the one hand, our family is our top priority and ministry, so isn't it good to consider what community is best for them? On the other hand, what are the criteria for what makes the right community for them? Tough questions.
I once knew a family who lived near us who knew that the community they chose was the right one for their kids. They later experienced a season in which they needed to spend time away from their community. So like you and I have said before, I think this topic is so beautifully fluid, and at the same time challenging and good!
A few random comments thrown together for good measure:
1. I'm glad I don't watch much tv anymore.
2. Absolutely our faith and relationship with God can be influenced by culture.
3. And I wonder how many of us (and I totally include myself in this) are like the "rich young ruler": we are afraid to help more (whether it be through giving or by paying higher taxes for welfare, etc.) because we are afraid it'll threaten our pursuit of happiness and stability, etc.
4. Forget "good schools." I'm homeschooling. :)
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