Too big to fail. Remember that one after the big financial crash in 2008? It’s a banking and finance concept that says that some financial institutions are so large, important, and interconnected that if they appear on the verge of failure, the government must step in financially, or the whole financial system might collapse.

A fascinating concept, don’t you think? If you get big enough, we’ve got no choice but to save your bacon. Troubled banks buy up smaller banks in an effort to get big—too big to let fail. Kind of incentivizes bigness, doesn’t it?

But we don’t really need any incentive to be big in our culture. If you go to the drive-thru at just about any fast-food restaurant, what’s the first question they ask you after you place your order? “Would you like to super-, biggie-, up-size that?”

You know what I'm talking about. It’s Father’s Day, right? I got the mail only to find a scratch-off card in it that said I'd won ... all I'd have to do would be to go to Sam Swope Honda to claim my prize over the Father's Day weekend. No telling how much I might rake in.

But you know what happens, right? You show up to claim your prize ... no purchase necessary—purchase doesn't enhance chances of winning ... but then somebody with really straight white teeth and an electric smile sees you. And, like a Predator Drone, there’s a sudden radar lock on your position.

"What kind of car are you looking for?"

"I'm actually not looking for a car. I'm looking for my prize."

"Well, yes, of course. We’ll get that for you in a minute. But as long as you're here ... what kind of car are you driving right now?"

"A 2006 Chrysler minivan."

"How many miles?"

"140,000."

"Wow, that's bound to have been a great car for you!  Of course, it's not going to last forever. Have you thought about what you're going to do when that one's no longer serviceable?"

"Not much, no."

"Well, the new Honda Oddyssey is a great vehicle. Rides like a dream. Plus, it's got all kinds of room. Much bigger."

And he's off ...

So, I find it easier (and considerably less expensive) to have that conversation in my mind rather than in Sam Swope's parking lot.

But can you hear the assumptions at work?

What you've got is insufficient for your needs. You're going to want something better. Bigger. It’s right there—the automatic assumption that if you have a chance to get something bigger and better, you’re an idiot to refuse.

The church isn’t immune to this way of perceiving the world. It’s hard for us to admit out loud, but deep down it’s easy to believe that big is always preferable, that big equals success.