\u201cThe Divine Commodity\u201d<\/a> right now, a book about how our consumer culture in the western world has affected church life. \u00a0It\u2019s an important topic for me right now because we\u2019re in the midst of assessing the health of the church I lead as we digest the results of an internal survey we recently completed.<\/p>\nI\u2019ll begin by suggesting that consumerism is a two-edged sword, rather than wholly evil, and spend the rest of this post looking at both edges of the sword. \u00a0The most obvious edge is the negative one \u2013 faith is in the marketplace, like it or not, and as such people are shopping for churches, and even whole belief systems that \u2018meet their needs\u2019. \u00a0In such a world, if I like prosperity theology, I can find it. \u00a0If I like \u201cChristian Polygamy\u201d, or a church that either exalts or diminishes the role of woman in leadership, or a church that forbids gays and lesbians from attending or encourages them, I can find it. \u00a0I can also find \u201cjust the right music\u201d and \u201cjust the right youth ministry\u201d and \u201cjust the right kind of preaching \u2013 you know, that perfect blend of conviction, humor, challenge, and encouragement that I need.\u201d<\/p>\n
At many levels, attending church has become synonymous, at least for some, with buying apples. \u00a0When you walk down the aisles, whether at your local co-op, or Costco, there are lots of apple choices, and it falls to you to choose the one that\u2019s \u201cjust right\u201d, whether you want to choose or not. This is the world we live in, and the risk we run is that this customized faith becomes nothing more than an idol \u2013 which simply means a god made by us, which is by far the easiest kind of god to worship, because it\u2019s really just an image of us. \u00a0One risk we run is that we all gather around these unique \u201cbrand\u201d characteristic and then, in our self-referential communities, remain blind to the areas that need transformation in our lives. \u00a0The other risk we run is that we\u2019re always one or two services away from leaving because the church no longer \u201cmeets our needs\u201d. \u00a0 All of this is contributing to the stagnation and dying that\u2019s happening in our churches here in the west.<\/p>\n
Is there an upside to this consumerism? \u00a0I think so because here\u2019s the reality of Jesus ministry: \u00a0he met people\u2019s needs. \u00a0Hungry people received bread. \u00a0Blind people received sight. \u00a0Captives received freedom. \u00a0I\u2019d argue that anytime you meet people at their point of need (not every person\u2019s perceived needs, but people\u2019s actual needs), you\u2019re going to be accused of catering to consumerist culture. \u00a0However, in truth, people need community, beauty, an opportunity to encounter God in ways that are accessible to them, an invitation to step into God\u2019s story, and care along the way as they commit to doing so, and more. \u00a0Why are we afraid of this?<\/p>\n
Yes, we must do more than meet needs, because our calling ultimately is to help people walk in God\u2019s story as fully formed disciples, followers of Christ. \u00a0But along the way, we meet needs, and this means considering people\u2019s needs, and as leaders, assessing how we\u2019re doing in meeting them.<\/p>\n
Upside? \u00a0Downside? \u00a0Solutions? \u00a0Cautions?<\/p>\n
I welcome your thoughts.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I\u2019m reading\u00a0\u201cThe Divine Commodity\u201d right now, a book about how our consumer culture in the western world has affected church life. \u00a0It\u2019s an important topic for me right now because we\u2019re in the midst of assessing the health of the church I lead as we digest the results of an internal survey we recently completed. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-304","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-life"],"yoast_head":"\n
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