I hesitate to blog this one, but my radical side overcame my hesitant side.  :)  Watch this commercial — it consistently makes me laugh — but think of church.

Paul uses a number of different metaphors for the church.  The church is a family.  The church is a body.  The church is the bride of Christ.  The church is the army of God.  If you think about it there is a bit of a difference between those metaphors.  For example the family metaphor brings out a bit more of the compassionate side, perhaps the army of God metaphor hits sacrifice a bit more, but they are all valid.

But then I’ve been studying the cross lately.  When I ponder the cross and think of the American evangelical church… I wonder if I don’t spend a bit too much time in Mamby Pamby Land.  There are times when we all need a compassionate listening ear, but aren’t there also times when we need our Commander-in-Chief to kick our butts out of Mamby Pamby Land (MPL)?  Like…

• “Oh I don’t like it when they always ask me to give my money to the poor.”  MPL
• “Why can’t they sing the songs that I like…the way I like them?”  MPL
• “That pastor’s sermon just don’t feed me.” MPL

When Jesus said, “Take up your cross and follow me…” He was calling us to come and die — Nothing Mamby Pamby about that!