McJESUS
Wow. I don’t know who created (or manipulated) this picture of Jesus. And I don’t know why. But I think it makes a very good point.
The Christian faith often gets presented like it’s a Happy Meal with a toy inside.
I wish I had an answer (or answers). Eh, maybe I’m glad I don’t have an answer. Because if I did, I’d probably be tempted to try and package it and then sell it to you. And there’s enough “answers” being sold.
On the positive side, you are able to buy a Happy Meal with a side of sliced green apples rather than French fries. And I think you can get milk rather than soda, too.
Does the church give people the option of sliced green apples? 
If so, what do you think that is?
And for fun, what would be the “toy surprise”?
Reminds me of the scene in “Super Size Me” where Morgan is showing pictures to the kids, and they recognize Ronald McDonald but not Jesus.
possibly my favorite post here. yes, the modern american church does seem to market itself a lot like fast food: cheap, easy, and conveniently located on the way to wherever you were already going. with nutritional info that no one ever reads hidden somewhere you’ll never find it, because truthfully, who among us wants to know what’s really in there? easier to keep on lovin’ it if we have no idea what it really is… yup, just like following Christ, so much easier to swallow of you don’t count the cost.
p.s. those green apple slices at McD’s are nasty – taste like plastic.
I think for a lot of churches, the toy in the box is the shallow promise of a “get out of hell free” card. So many churches make it seem like getting into heaven is saying a simple prayer, going to church, and doing your best. They completely forget that we’re called to repent of our sins. While repenting can begin at a prayer of salvation, how many people are essentially lied to, told that they don’t need to even want to change to follow Christ?
As far as the milk & apple wedges go, I’d relate that to watering down the scripture to the point that the meaning and poignancy is diluted beyond worth. A few years back we moved, and went around looking for a new church home. We wound up going to this one church for about a month. On the surface it looked incredible. They had professional-grade worship, amazing graphics and lighting on stage. The technology in the church was out of this world, with a “Video Cafe” that you could enjoy coffee in while watching the sermon live from their 4 camera high def live system. It looked amazing.
The problem was that it stopped at looks. Sure, the church had a lot of members and seemed to be growing like mad, but the weekly sermons were more about how to feel good than they were a look into scripture. Even the small groups were more about doing social activities than they were about learning Biblical precepts. On the surface it was a great looking church, but beyond the thin veneer, it was little more than a social club.
Churches need to stand firm on the scripture. They aught to teach repentance and forgiveness of sins, and they need to focus less on how pretty the church and the people are and focus more on how great God is and what Christ has done.
The church in America has been greatly shaped and molded by the government, culture. Capitalism alone has created quite the monster out of the teachings of Jesus. Two questions for you Jim..
Is there a church out there that meets your criteria?
(have you found it?)
You seem to be saying that Christians have to be repentant all the time and not just after they say a “sinners” prayer. I know a lot of Christians that are not repentant of their sins (post prayer) because they don’t think they’ve done any wrong (or because they just want to live in sin). In your mind are these people going to miss out on eternal life?
Reminds me of the McPassion Meal – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4TKVyEc91s
The toy surprise is probably Christian Silly Bandz. If you don’t know what that is, you need to read Stuff Christians Like.
Oh, come on. The toy surprise would be your very own Cross to bear!
I’m not up to looking into the deeper meaning of anything today. I totally could go for the Quarter pounder with fries and a coke. sugar, salt, grease as the holy trinity? No, can’t do it. I’ll just take my junk food on this one.
Scary picture
I think our sliced green apples is the ability to choose what our gifts are. A church I went to had us take a 200 questionnaire to find out what our spiritual gift was lol. So based upon that, that’s where you were to serve.
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