A few years ago Flat Stanley traveled the world in envelopes mailed by thousands of elementary school students. He would visit exotic locales and sometimes relative
s of the senders. Each recipient would take Flat Stanley with them and photograph him in various situations and add those photos into a journal. “Here’s a shot of Flat Stanley bungee jumping into Niagara Falls.” “A selfie of Flat Stanley surfing at Waikiki Beach.” “My Uncle Harold’s wedding where Flat Stanley was a hit as the ring-bearer.”
My fear is that Flat Stanley has become the new paradigm for the American Jesus. Flat Stanley is a two-dimensional cardboard cutout, often crudely formed, that you can take with you anywhere or send anywhere else. We love the two dimensional, crudely formed Jesus represented by a cross on a necklace, or a tattoo, or a t-shirt, or a bumper sticker. He goes with us everywhere; he is our little, holy, lucky, buddy.
I hate to break it to you, but the real Jesus is a wholly developed, three dimensional adult human being with a towering intellect, bursting with powerful emotions, devoted to those who love Him. He is also the incomprehensible, multi-dimensional Almighty God. Not someone you can keep in your pocket or send around the world in a manila envelope for a few cents postage. And yet, by covenanting our souls with Him, He fills us with His Spirit like a jet full of rocket fuel. Look at the bigger, fuller Jesus and get ready to blast off!
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thanks!!