my own Jesus Junk...

So, here's a couple things for you all who actually read this. (I think there's 2 of you if I'm lucky)

My buddy Marko does this thing called the "Jesus Junk of the Month" (great/most recent example here) and I think it's pretty funny stuff. Well, I got this "awesome" product email from a company that will remain anonymous since I'm bad mouthing them, but I'm sure you can google them if you're really that curious about it. Basically this is the "christian marketing machine's" version of a barbie or bratz doll I think. And I like that it's "new for christmas." 

So maybe this is more of a rant than I thought, but I have a lot of trouble reconciling that this kind of thing is what the world needs. I don't think that reducing the amazing work of Jesus to a t-shirt - or a t-shirt on a doll which is even worse - is what we should be doing with the story of Jesus. It seems very belittling of us to do so. Honestly, deep inside me it feels like we're being sold crap in the name of Jesus. It REALLY offends me. I actually emailed them back and said "thanks for selling trite crap in the name of the Savior!" It REALLY, REALLY offends me deeply.

I don't know why the "Christian subculture" feels a need to do this stuff. (Don't even get me started on why that subculture even exists. I'll get mad) But I think this kind of stuff is DIRECTLY correlated to why Christianity has lost it's impact. It's why people don't believe us anymore, or believe IN Jesus anymore. It's like everything we offer is a gimmick. And Jesus is ANYTHING but a gimmick. I wish someone would've stopped this machine before it ever got started.

See I think we need to learn to see Jesus in other places. Take this guy's video of Boston for example. If we could learn to see Jesus through people and places and not in tacky dolls & shirts, our lives would be infinitely deeper. Watch this video (if you're on facebook and it isn't here, read the original post please!) and look for glimpses of truth. Glimpses of love or hope or beauty. Jesus is "hiding in plain sight" in these moments. Not in crappy, overpriced dolls.

Boston. Through my eyes. from Nick Keating on Vimeo.

Live deeper.