Jesus and King of the Hill

A couple of months ago I watched an episode of King of the Hill, and I walked away amazed at the truth of the Christian American Culture that I found within that single episode. It came from season 3 (if I remember correctly) of the long running series, and for the life of me, I can't find any video evidence on the Internet of the episode, but I did find an article on it which I will link below.

However, this particular episode was about Bobby finding Jesus through a tatted up, hip preacher. He [the preacher] walked around and used all these cool Jesus phrases like "Jesus Rocks" and "Satan Sucks." He allowed the kids to which he was ministering to skate around and do all that stuff. Hank (Bobby's father) was not too pleased with this new found faith that Bobby had, and despite all of his attempts, he failed at talking any sense into Bobby. Hank is the simple kind. In the latter part of the episode, Bobby and his new pastor are performing in a Christian rock concert, and there was a showdown of sorts between the tatted up pastor and Hank Hill which went back and forth and ended with Hank telling him, "Can't you see that you're not making Christianity better, you're just making Rock-n-Roll worse".

After this exchange, Hank pulled a reluctant Bobby away from the concert and took him home. Hank then took a box full of old fads and different phases in Bobby's life off of a shelf in his garage and started showing some of the items in it. Bobby began to laugh at the silliness of some of his past fads. He then pointed out to Bobby that when he participated in these various phases of his life, He would have never thought that, at this time, he would be sitting there demeaning that activity of his past. The show ended with Hank telling Bobby, "Son, I just don't want Jesus to become another fad".

In today's culture, that is a resonating phrase and episode. This is a culture, especially in the south, where being a follower of Christ has been morphed into the "hip" thing. Look, there's nothing wrong with a person like this pastor that is trying to reach the unchurched. But it is a common theme among so many within this generation that they have an identity of being a Christian, but they have no substance and relationship with Christ! This is why we see some of the leaders of the youth group go off to college and lose everything they were once about.

In the long run, this faith is about Christ. I truly believe that until we get this engraved into our young peoples mind that we will continue to see a worsening trend of students leaving the faith because it's no longer the "hip" thing. One passage that I feel should be preached to young people (every week, if necessary) is Colossians 1:15-23.

He [Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For By him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorites--all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Once we realize that Christ is God himself who lowered himself to have a relationship with us, we will the continue in the faith, and he will never be put on a shelf.

Link to article:http://www.challies.com/archives/articles/church-issues/making-christia.php

The Man... The Myth... The Legend

John Piper. No, he'd probably die if he heard someone call him that, but I must say that I am so encouraged/challenged by everything that ever comes out of this guys mouth. The guy that coined the phrase "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." That is the crux of everything within our spiritual walk. Take satisfaction in the Lord, and in turn, give Him glory. When you lose a loved one. God is enough. When you lose a job. God is enough. When the worst possible scenario occurs. God is enough. That is what John Piper teaches daily. When we take our satisfaction in the Lord and only Him, through all our tears and pain, He will receive all of the Glory!

Another Piper thought to think about and mull over:
Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever.