Super - Size It!

In 1955, the largest soda McDonald's offered was just 7 ounces. In a little over 50 years, the same “large” has swelled six times that size to 42 ounces. In a recent
international marketing campaign, McDonald's is pushing their super-sized drink
more than ever, lovingly naming it "Hugo" to entice customers. Should
someone choose to grab a Hugo, he or she will be taking in over 400 calories in
the drink alone. A whole series of questions beg to be asked: Why in the world
does anyone need that much soda? Does it really sell more hamburgers? Is bigger
actually that much better? Are we so addicted to more, we can’t say no? It’s
like shooting a squirrel with an elephant gun. What’s the point?

Now, don’t get me wrong. I am all about free. Some of my friends have accused me of living the slogan, “free is me.” However, this is one of those cases I can’t make sense of.  It’s kind of like a church offering more Jesus, a better Jesus, a new and improved Jesus, a Jesus delivered in a super-sized cup, a Jesus Cup plus a free game piece and an action figure Jesus. I can see the commercial now, hear the jingle and see it after the Focus on the Family ad during the Super Bowl. The reality is you don’t need a lot of Jesus. You just need the one and only.

In a recent book, Jesus + Nothing = Everything, Tullian Tchividjian (grandson of Billy Graham) goes on to describe all the ways people who call themselves Christ followers add to God’s love. He lists items some little Christ’s (that’s what the word “Christian” means) like to add to their faith believing it provides an extra dose of God’s power. The author is referring to items like specific clothes worn (Sunday
Best), personal grooming habits, level of moral standards upheld, versions of
bibles used, rituals practiced, music sung (or not), worship styles used,
preaching length, service times, robes worn, instruments used (organ or guitar), etc, etc.  All of which are just Christian incense to hide the real smell of what is happening in the human heart of those clamoring for them. Now, please do not misunderstand me. I like adding some of the rich tradition to worship when it makes sense and everyone around me understands why. However, for the “super-size it” crowd, it seems easier to focus on the practices and the informal rules of church than to look inside and ask the question, why is a relationship with the creator of the universe not enough? Why is there a need to super-size?

Personally, I believe it happens for one of two reasons. First, the super-sized admirer has never experienced the power of the living God in their life. They can recite all the creeds, do all the hand motions and maybe even quote some scripture but they haven’t ever met Him. They have never sensed a peace that is beyond words. A peace that is more impressionable than all the words the poets over the centuries have tried to ascribe for human love. The second reason some sense a need to add to the faith is that they remember a time in which they did commit themselves to live as servants of the most high but life has changed dramatically since then. The things they swore they would never do as a child or as an adult have all been done, all the lines they drew in the sand have been crossed. They just can’t find their way back and have convinced themselves the encounter didn’t happen or they are not worthy.  

The truth is that there is a peace, joy, love and hope which comes in only one size and it’s available for the asking. You can even get it without getting out of the car. God has a drive up. However, sometimes the speaker confirming your order is muffled, so you may have to come inside the shop.

If any of this blog speaks to you, please come on by the God
shop I hang out at or any of the other ones in the area and place your order.