Consumerism - page 54 onwards - paraphrased.
Consumerism and Consumption
From a Christian point of view, there is nothing wrong with consumption in and of itself. Human beings were created by God with the need to consume: to breathe air, eat food, etc. We need ideas, vitamins, company, excitement, space. What we are discussing here, however, is consumerism as an outlook, as a way of seeing things, a mentality as an identity.
Some thoughts on Consumerism and Christianity.
For those with a consumerism mentality, choosing Christianity is a matter of adding another commoditiy to life, to round it out, to fill in a blank or two, to complement a lifestyle. Christianity is something you select or reject like you would a pair of shoes.
People move to a new place and go for a spot of church-shopping. Not without a list, of course. Here we go: gripping preaching, yes, but please not long sermons, good and stimulating child-care, music to my taste and so on. Does the church meet your current preferences and needs? And to help you along just nicely, churches advertise themselves. And oh, if you wish, you only have to select a part of the religion you fancy. And if something does not work for you, kiss it goodbye and move right on. You pick your gods you want and you pick the rules you want to live by. You pick the rituals you fancy - only those that give you fulfillment and stroke that ego of yours. You and you alone manage your dazzling array of choices - you call the shots, and you are in charge of your picking or discarding.
If I approach Christianity with a Consumerism way of looking, then I go along to church for fun, identity, meaning and self-value through what I consume there, without obligation to God or people. Daylight robbery and the height of cheek. Sin. As consumerism takes root in my heart as it has taken root in our culture - it becomes a powerful driver from within me and successfully escalates my insistant demands.
Let us recognise and beware that, shopping, the number one leisure activity and which appears to have the power to give meaning and identity, could become a framework through which we interpret everything else - including God. Soon we perceive King Jesus as just one more brand we consume along with Gap, Apple, and Starbucks.
Some Churches market like crazy, add features, attract and entertain. Competition is rife among church brands and providers of identity and meaning, comfort, relevance and excitement.
Approaching Christianity as a brand (rather than a worldview) is one of the explanations why the majority of people who identify themselves as born-again Christians live untransferred lives and still find themselves in the kingdom of darkness. Jesus has been demoted from Lord to label, and the religious customer rules.
Let's call a spade a spade, error and foolishness, error and foolishness. Wolves are not for petting. Let's celebrate the liberating truths as found in Scripture, and trust in the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ.
"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness by His grace and in His power. And praise God, our faithful Promise Keeper.... He rewards all those who seek HIM. All by grace - how else!?
