Consumer faith

The current crisis on wall street has repurcussions that extend beyond the financial sector of our society.  We live in a world that is defined by consumerism, what we consume defines who we are as person.  This consumption is the fuel for our economy providing the means for business to sell products that are necessary for the individual’s consumption.  We are told and have come to believe that who are, what we are, our worth and significance is based upon the image we’ve created for ourselves and this image is formed by what we’re able to consume, buy, possess, own.  Now that we’re in an economic crisis we are threatened by the lost of identity and the fear that the powers that give us our image (Corporate America), our gods, may fall.

But, there is a deeper dilemma to this economic situation that threatens the form of religion Christianity has become in recent decades.  Following Corporate America’s lead church’s have created a faith that is based upon consumption.  We’ve packaged god into a marketing plan that is used to attract, convince, the largest number of people possible that our particular church is the one to attend.  People have responded to church programs designed to provide for the felt needs of people (i.e. products that they desire to consume) by treating church the same way they treat any product that can be bought at the mall.  There is a shopping around for a faith that suits their personal needs and provides them what they currently desire.  Once their desires and needs change they move on to another church constantly looking for religious products to consume. 

It’s not that church programs are bad or that church shouldn’t attempt to invite people to become part of the faith community.  But, we must ask the question can God be consumed, the Creator of the unieverse, the one by whose breathe we live and move and have our being.   Can Jesus be turned into an action figure and be sold next to G.I. Joe action figures?  If the church is the Body of the Christ who suffered a horrible death for our sins and defeated that death in a resurrection glory.  If the church is about following the Jesus who was obedient to the Father even to death.  Then how can church be consumer driven?  Church is not about selling religious goods and promoting the slavery of consumerism that traps people in a never ending burden of constantly needing to buy something new.  Church is about a relationship with the one gives eternal life. 

So what will happen to Consumer Christianity with the changing forces in the world’s financial crisis?

I’m back

Hi everyone, it’s been a long time since I’ve written anything.  I’m hoping to develop a new series of reflections on the God Story and Life.  Please send me your thoughts and comments to my reflections whether or not you agree with me.  Let’s enter into a dialogue together to search for truth in the midst of life’s challenges.