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Welcome to Church, Can I Take Your Order? :: Deeper Devotion
Welcome to Church, Can I Take Your Order?
By Jeremy Smith
Do you know why many people dislike American culture? Because we are consumers; we consume everything. Books, movies, music, all forms of entertainment, clothing, all the latest fashions and trends, ideas and information, products, goods and services, natural resources, and-of course-food. Recently on the Simpson’s, Homer is wearing a t-shirt with Uncle Sam eating the world and it says, “Try to stop us.” Whether we like it or not, we are a society of consumers. And, even though this is a perfect example of how we should be “in the world but not of it,” American Christians have not been immune to this trend. We are called to be counter to the culture, and yet we fall in step with the ideas of our world without so much as a struggle.
Why is this a problem? Well, besides the fact that we are not called to live materialistic lives, where things are more important than relationships, the consumerist mentality creates an imbalance of focus on the self. In a word, we are selfish. Maybe not more than the culture around us, who we wrongly compare ourselves to and come back feeling smugly self-righteous, but compared to the selflessness of Christ, we are a shame. Christ was the ultimate anti-consumer. Even though he deserved everything this world had to offer, he “took the form of a servant.” And yet we, his followers (or “little Christ’s,” as the word “Christians” means), refuse to follow his example. What’s even more disappointing is the prevalence of our selfishness in the one place it should never be seen-the church.
The church is intended to stick out like a sore thumb in the world. When outsiders look in, they should see the love and unity of Christ and be amazed. But what people often see is nothing different from what the rest of the world offers. That’s because we aren’t any different. We, the church, see ourselves as nothing more than a club or membership that brings with it special privileges and enjoyable benefits. Do any of these sound familiar?
- “I don’t like going to youth group anymore. The new youth pastor isn’t as good as the old one.”
- “I just can’t worship the Lord to that style of music.”
- “I don’t get much out of the service when he speaks. He’s just not a good public speaker.”
- “I’m trying to find another Bible study, because I just don’t relate very well with the people in the one I’m in now.”
You’ve probably heard other Christians say things like this. Maybe you’ve said some of these things yourself. Although it’s not a perfect indicator, if you’ve heard yourself say these things often, or these have been your reasons for not being involved or serving in your church, then you most likely have a problem. If you suspect you do, ask the Lord to show you. The truth is, none of us is immune to selfishness and it’s a natural, but sinful, tendency. But it also must be stopped. As a member of the body of Christ, you have a responsibility to Christ and to the believers around you to be the best body-part of Christ that includes dying to the consumer mentality of this world. This is not McChurch and, no, you don’t get worship on the side. Worship is something you give to God. Church is not about you-it’s about him.
So what do we do about this wrong attitude? What can you do about the fast-food faith problem? Try the following:
- Realize that nothing good comes from focusing on ourselves-even focusing on our own spiritual health. (It’s important to evaluate where we are spiritually, asking the Lord to guide us, but to focus on our own spiritual health and well-being is to take over God’s job in our lives. He said “seek God’s kingdom and righteousness first,” not “seek your own spiritual well-being first.”) (Matthew 6:33)
- Pray that God would change our hearts from our consumer mentality and ask Him to convict us of it on the spot, when it happens. (Psalm 139:23)
- Actively seek to take captive thoughts which lead us to casually criticize the church, church leadership, or fellow believers. (2 Corinthians 10:5)
- Make it a personal challenge to do something about the problems we do see-but in a humble and loving manner. If you see something good to do, do it! (James 4:17)
- Whenever we join a new Bible study, ministry team, or whatever, seek to find the places the Lord could use us-rather than look for the things we could get from the group, or ministry. (Romans 12:4-10)
- Emulate Christ, by taking the positions of lower importance, lower enjoyment, and lower blessing. By doing so with a joyful attitude, you bring glory to God and show the power of Christ to change selfishness into selflessness. (Phillipians 2:3)
As you give up more of yourself and take the form of a servant, you will come to know the richness of life in Christ. You will never find richness and joy in consuming. Consuming only leaves us feeling dissatisfied and wanting more. Life is too short and Christ’s blood too precious for you and I to be the food critics of the body of Christ.
For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
- Galatians 5:13-15
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By Glenn Ansley, April 23, 2007
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September 15th, 2003 at 7:05 pm
Excellent insights - But I suspect your analysis doesn't go quite far enough.
There is a good bit of statistical evidence to suggest that as many as 8 out of 10 American "self-identified" evangelicals do not tithe. While there may be a variety of views regarding the issue of tithing, it seems to me that this figure is far more revealing that we here in the States are willing to admit.
There is a reason why Jesus said that it is not possible to serve God and money. I believe it is because money more than any other thing offers the most enslaving substitute for God. It seduces with its offer of security, power and opporunity. It enslaves with what it demands in return for what it pretends to offer. And I think that the statistics on giving reflect the sad reality that many Christians have bought the promise money offers.
Jesus said in the parable of the shrewd steward that if one cannot be trusted to handle earthly wealth how can they ever be trusted to handle true wealth. Could that explain the lack of real power in the Western Church. Why are so many of the catagories of social distress reflected at almost the same rate in the church as in the secular culture? Is is possible that we have chosen to serve money, and the outcome is impotency. Why are so few converted? Is it possible that the dirty little secret in the American church is that for all our lamenting about the big old secular culture bogeyman that the real problem is the lack of sacrificial faith and obedience routinuely identified by Jesus and the apostles as the ordinary outcome of coming to faith in Christ.
For me the most glaring evidence for this is the pathetic way in which Christians give. The works of the kingdom - care for the poor, needy and the most marginalized require a response that demands sacrifice on the part of those who are blessed with so much. Jesus said the fields were white for harvest, but the workers were few. He could have added - you have to be willing to go where those fields are white. The co-opting of the American Evangelical church by the mentality of consumers looking for the best religious goods and services are only the most obvious symptom of a far more sobering reality - we have become so sated by the affluence that faith plays almost no real role in our day to day life in God. Nothing pinches - so nothing with regards to the purposes of God seem that urgent. This I fear is a luxury only the wealthy (which by world standards is virtually everyone in the US), can afford.
September 16th, 2003 at 8:06 am
papacarchy, i think you've hit the nail right on the head! we try to maintain this dichotomy between the self-sacrifice of following Christ and the self-actualization (self-centeredness) of western culture. and this hypocrisy shows up perfectly in our giving–we can't put our money where our mouth is. we honor God with our lips, but our hearts are far from him. if our hearts were close, our money, gifts, and time would be his to use.
September 16th, 2003 at 7:03 pm
Jeremy -
Its pretty disconcerting as well that so few in US seem to be aware of how deep and pervasive this problem is. It makes me think "I wonder if the Laodician church had a clue they were in trouble?" When the bar gets so low that discipleship is pretty much a precept rather than anything seriously considered - does God just shrug and say — "If they won't go work among the poor I will." Hence the great movement of God's Spirit among the developing world's people - South America, Africa, Asia.
When one lives in a culture as materialistic and obsessed with consuming as ours and she sends her seducing siren song over ever possible imput medium conceiveable - is it possible that most of the church here doesn't know it — because no one looks any different than anyone else. Its hard to know you are screwed up if being screwed up is the norm and being a disciple is so anomolous that the numbers are just too tiny to make a difference — at least for the moment. Actually - in spite of the pessimistic tone of this post — I actually have great hope for the church, and its impact in the world. Mostly this comes from time spent in Brazil, and close connections to what God is doing is Africa. I witnessed ordinary Christians in great numbers who regarded sacrifice and faith that really stretched them as normal Christian life. That is a sign of great hope. I am somewhat pessimistic about the US - but I am here plugging away within my own Christian Community. We are presently moving our congregation into an urban community, preparing to do some pretty risky stuff - for which I am greatly thankful. I am also certain there are pockets of faithful radicals out there who long for the same kind of faithful witness to be the norm for the church rather than the exception. Peace
May 22nd, 2004 at 8:53 pm
That is true.
May 25th, 2004 at 5:09 pm
your gay
July 22nd, 2004 at 7:44 pm
I agree with you. We are such a materialistic and consumer society. It is sad to think that we continue this attitude once we become Christians.
I do disagree with what you said after your first set of bullets. I think that it is important to move onto a new church bible study if you are not growing there.
June 14th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
Hands down, this was probably my most favorite article to date. It had a lot of information that I could definitely relate to in my own life and showed me how I can work on it. Thanks!
Andrew
June 21st, 2007 at 1:33 pm
Whilst I may be slightly off-topic here, I must say that alot of the Christian based blogs/sites that I visit often place a large focus on what we, as the body of Christ, aren’t doing or are doing wrong.
After years of being unquenchably materialistic, I now tithe and give offerings faithfully; and I know that this article and the subsequent comments may very well prick the heart of someone that does not, but it would be nice to, at least some of the time, shift the focus to what God is doing, rather than what ‘we’ are not.
God is marvellous, and it would be nice to share our experiences of His wonderful goodness with our fellow brethren across the globe, rather than analyse areas that others are falling down. We all fall down in one area or another.
May God bless you all.
Curtis (from London)
November 21st, 2007 at 8:16 am
Hi,
I agree that Americans are overwhelming materialistic. But, there are some who are sacrificing to give what they can, even when they are praying that God would provide for their next month’s bills. Our family is considered low-income in the world’s eyes, but we have been so blessed!!!
We also give to a child via Compassion International, and we are amazed on a consistant basis as to how blessed these children are not in the eyes of most Americans, but when our little girl writes us, she thanks us for giving her money for food… Food that we as Americans would not think twice about buying. And, these kids praise God like you wouldn’t believe!
So, prai6e and thank God today, and let yourself be consumed with Him and Him alone!!!
In Christ, Miranda
November 21st, 2007 at 12:43 pm
Miranda,
Thanks for your comment and testimony. Kristie and I support a child through compassion international as well. It helps to keep us in the right frame of mind.