Would You Agree to This?

First, from Nadia Bolz-Weber on Theolog, the blog of the Christian Century:

I serve a funky little Lutheran congregation, a liturgical and sacramental emerging church. Someone recently asked, "Do you think the church you planted will, you know, get really big?"

I smiled broadly, looking up at the sky and then back at my friend. "Um," I said, "well...no." She looked at me, shocked at my seemingly low self-esteem. "There's just not a huge market for the message 'Jesus bids you come and die'," I explained. "People don't exactly line up around the block for that. But 'Jesus wants to make you rich!' seems to be doing really well right now."

Which connected quickly in my mind with one of the cartoons this past week from David the Naked Pastor:

Sure makes sense to me. I have come to realize since I am not preaching week-in and week-out that most people don't think very often of the possible consequences of truly following Jesus. To be honest I don't think I thought very much about it when I was preaching. I'm not sure many ever do. At least those of us who live in places where we don't have to worry if we are Christian.

But then again perhaps preaching isn't about telling people they are putting their lives in God's hands when they become Christian. Not in these dangerous ways, anyway. That idea is for small supportive groups where Christians gather to be the community of Jesus. I am not sure that happens very often on Sunday morning. Worship has a strengthening and God-centered place. Then, we get together so we can discover how to live it.