Some things just need to be addressed.
Photo by Jaime Lopes on Unsplash
I’ve been seeing social media ads for a couple of seemingly related conferences coming up in our region. The events feature speakers well known in the evangelical world and promote values which seem biblical.
At least on the surface.
Heavy promotion generates heightened excitement to draw people in.
One ad promises life transformation as people step into God’s purpose for their legacy, their family, and their finances.
Other promises include that attendees will “maximize their God-given potential…unlock generational wealth…awaken the leader within…live a life of significance…elevate your standard… scale your influence…win like a champion.”
Conference attendees can help support good causes such as fighting sex trafficking and cancer, all while hanging out at a luxury resort, playing golf with celebrities, and possibly winning a Porsche.
The message is clear: you, too, can enjoy a great life just like these wildly successful, high-energy, wealthy, attractive men and women who are ready to pump you up.
With lines like “let all your fears turn to cash” and “become rich in faith, family, and fitness,” the promo video could pass as brilliant satire.
But I can’t laugh, because too many people fall prey to this stuff.
We’ve been saturated with our culture’s obsession—the dream of living a glamorous, comfortable, enviable life.
For Jesus, of course.
So we cough up the cash for an emotional high at a super-positive event, hoping we’ll reach the dangling carrot of a Fantastic Life.
Listen, sisters and brothers:
When we chase prosperity and self-importance instead of God, when we whitewash our disordered desires with Christian verbiage, we’ve got an idolatry problem.
If we fixate on our personal significance and influence, then no matter how loudly we claim our life is all about Jesus, it’s not about him at all.
Ironically, the ads I mentioned have been showing up in my feed right after posts by a wise friend of mine, Jamie Beeson.
The contrast couldn’t be clearer.
Jamie says,
“Our beliefs can sound really spiritual and God-honoring when really they are rooted in identity issues, fear, unbelief or pride.”
She addresses the “Christianese and toxic positivity that masks exhaustion and is leading you to burn out or worse.”
When we make much of ourselves, we wear ourselves out—but when we make much of Jesus, we find contentment and peace.
The invitation Jesus extends has nothing to do with striving for significance. He makes no demand on us for constant hyper-positivity or working hard to impress others (of course, we call that “influence”).
No, Jesus invites us to rest and freedom. He offers us love, joy, and peace. His promises aren’t a seductive lure—they are completely trustworthy (2 Cor. 1:20).
In Jesus, we find hope, not hype.
I suspect most of us (me included) must learn the lesson again and again that we can just relax.
We’re not going to gain a meaningful life by building platforms, reaching audiences, or advertising our awesomeness.
Jesus offers everything we long for. He fills our empty places. He satisfies our thirsty souls. He guards our hearts with his supernatural peace (Phil. 4:7).
We don’t need to chase the glitz and glamour of another frenzied event featuring the Beautiful People who promise us the keys to happiness.
Only Jesus can assure us of something we desperately long to know—that we matter.
Friend, please hear this:
You matter, not because of your talents or accomplishments.
You matter, not because of your followers or finances.You matter because God made you in his image. You matter because human beings are the crown of his creation. You matter because you’re his beloved child.
That’s it. That’s all we need.
Not another jacked-up event.
Just Jesus.