iGod: Christ and the Consumer
I recently read an article, titled "iChurch: All We Like Sheep", which discusses the issues of consumerism and the church. It is a very good and appropriate read especially for church leaders. It is an issue I struggle with greatly, being a consumer myself and, trying to reach consumers with Christ. A few question I often ponder is, "How do we 'attract' people from a consumer driven, secular society to repentance and obedience in Christ (without marketing it as another product to add to the 'Christmas wish list')?" Secondly, "How do we get Christians to commit to their local church community that provides for their spiritual needs rather than their individual wants?"Many of us approach the church as consumers rather than servants of God. We want the church to provide for all our desires and only then will we think to give of our time, energy and finances to serve the church. However, the church often feeds this mindset by detailing the list of activities it provides in order to tantelize the Christianized-consumer's tastebuds. Even the church newsletter advertises those who have taken up the consumer challenge "Farewell to Bill and Bessy who are on their 3 month holiday to Europe" or "Mary has bought another house and is looking for someone to rent it out". Am I being to harsh or do others see this issue permeating the Church?
posted by Mully @ 4:47 PM
2 Comments:
Hey Mully, good to see you blogging again! Enjoy reading them. I had a read of the article and I agree with most of what you've written except for the last bit.... I think we need to be careful not to get too legalistic/judgemental of ppl - I don't see what is wrong with going on a 3 month holiday (or anything wrong with announcing it in the church newsletter - it's family news, helps create that sense of community...) and your comment about Mary buying another house and looking for ppl to rent it out to - I don't see what is wrong with that either. Yes, we need to be aware of our hearts and guard against selfishness/greed/materialism etc but I'm just wary of the sense of condemnation that may come upon people who just want a holiday or who God may have blessed with material things... maybe I misinterpreted what you wrote and I don't mean to say that you are judgemental...just aware that Bill,Bessy or Mary may feel a bit judged when really, their motives are fine. What do you think?
Hi Eva, Thanks for your comment; you made a very good point. I am not trying to judge others for buying a second house or going on a holiday (that depends on their motives). My concern is with the advertising of these things in the notices. I think there is a fine line between letting the community know what your doing and leaving an example of what ones priorities are. Does one become a Christian in order to prosper materially and buy second homes and go on long holidays? In someways it is comparable to the Corinthians in which Paul wrote to. In the church there were the 'haves' and the 'have-nots'. The 'haves' certainly made it clear in their attitude and the advertising of certain things that they had 'made' it in the world both materially,spiritually and intellectually. And they rubbed it in to the 'have-nots' (4:8-17; 9:1-13; 10:23-33; 11:17-22; 12-14). As Christians we want to see people saved by the gospel and be obedient to Christ. We do not want to encourage secular consumerism in the church. My question is are there things in our church gatherings that encourage consumerism or Christ?
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