The Gospel Of Consumerism
Warning: Consumerism is everywhere and growing. There is no getting away from it which is potentially harmful. Consumerism is like an invisible, powerful entity of its own, but it quietly infiltrates every aspect of our lives. Just look around. Sadly, as consumers, we have become desensitized to the effects of consumerism and its’ ploy of promoting our interests. We want more and more, yet we have so much.
What did God save you from?
How did He rescue you from death to life, darkness to light, slave of sin to freedom in Christ?
I have heard it said by some that they do not have much of a testimony. It’s, well…..boring! Nothing radical or earth shattering. Not much worth talking about.
She said: “My testimony is simple and dull. I grew up in a Godly home that taught the truths of God’s Word. I believed at a young age. No great rebellion, addictions, or prison stories. Just a Godly family, growing up in a church, and hearing about Jesus. It just can not get any more boring as far as testimonies go!”
The above describes me pretty well too, except the boring part!
Here is part of my testimony and the radical nature of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I was born to a Godly mom and dad who themselves grew up in Godly homes. I think I probably heard the gospel before I left the birthing room. (Just Kidding…maybe….)
My parents loved God and sought to raise their two boys with an understanding of who God is and what He had done for them on the cross. I can not even tell you the exact point in time that I first repented of my sins and made Christ the Savior of my soul.
(Some would say – “that is not good, you should know….” Which is…..Ridiculous!)
I can not tell you of a great moment of guilt and shame. I just knew, at a young age, I was a sinner who needed a Savior. Our family attended the same church for 17 years. It was there that I continued to learn about Christ. I had an amazing brother and Godly friends: (Jeff Merwin, Doug Shackelford, Joel Schwalbe, Kyle Brinkman, Jason and Matt Hoag, and all those who were a part of the Rock House – back in the day!) We were a far from perfect crowd! Each with our own level of boring to amazing testimonies. Along the way, I have also sat under some wonderful, Godly pastors. (Alex Clattenburg, Rod Carlson, Fred Franks, Wayne Brooks – I am very grateful for you men!)
Here is my point: We dismiss the radical, amazing grace of God when we view ANY testimony as boring. Is any salvation anything less than amazing grace? Are some who go from death to life more glorious than another? Does not every salvation reveal the life shattering glory of God!?!
When we think in terms of a boring salvation, we belittle saving grace and we dismiss the cross on which He died to accomplish our salvation.
How is it that we can think of ANY testimony as not Amazing Grace? Is Christ’s sacrifice on the cross a radical sacrifice to only a few?
Yes, I grew up in a Godly home. But, I did not choose that home. Nor could my parents or myself conjure up a salvation. Parents, friends, and pastors could not produce in me a heart for God.
God, took this sinner that was bent to sin and He saved me. He did that! Not my parents or my friends or my pastors. God used them all, and I am grateful for them all! But, at the end of the day, God moved on my heart and took a soul that was once an enemy of God and made me His son. Had God not impressed on me my need to repent and believe in Jesus as the Savior of my sins, I would not be saved.
This IS radical. It is not natural, it is supernatural. It is not human, it is nothing less than the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit bringing about my salvation.
God saved me with His ordinary grace, and God’s ordinary grace is always radical grace!
Boring? I do not think so!
Radical? Yes!
Every life that is brought from darkness to light is nothing less than: Amazing Grace, How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
(Ephesians 2:1-10 ESV)
Have you ever thought your testimony wasn’t good enough?
Or, have you ever embellished your story a little to make it, well, radical?
If so, be free from the nonsense and celebrate the amazing, radical, grace of God in your salvation story!
What a week….. Easter Week!
Imagine…. on this very week 2000+ years ago Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. The crowd that gathered shouted “Hosanna, glory to God in the highest”! By the end of the week He was crucified by a crowd that shouted: “Give us Barabas” and “Crucify Him”.
Wow, what a pendulum swing!
So much to consider during this, the Easter week.
The religious leaders have been seeking to trap Him and orchestrate His death. Judas steps forward to provide the opportunity to make their dreams come true.
The ministry of Jesus has been brief and powerful. He has chosen this band of brothers that have gathered around Him. Each day, Jesus is found to be teaching them and preparing them for this very week. They are the 1st Easter Community. An unlikely group. Unimpressive in every way. And yet, they will be entrusted with the continued sharing of Jesus’ life, soon to be death, followed by the miraculous resurrection.
Easter Community: This is what has my attention this week.
This is what shocks me 2000+ years later.
If you are a follower of Christ, you have been called to be a part of that community. Jesus gathered disciples 2000+ years ago….. and He is still doing that today! And, if you are a true believer in Jesus Christ….YOU ARE A PART OF THAT COMMUNITY.
And being a disciple that is a part of that community, we also, have been entrusted to tell of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. And, while there is a heightened sense of awareness this being Holy Week, the reality for all believers is that we are a part of that community every week.
As you gather with your church for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, or Easter Sunday, reflect on what Christ has done to provide this community of believers. Nothing less than the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus has made this community of believers possible!
God has brought His mercy and grace to not only you, but all who you will find yourself gathered with this weekend. But not only that, you are gathered with all the saints who have gone before you. Some martyred, some new in their faith (thief on the cross), some old in the faith, some strong, some weak, all saved by the grace of our Lord.
Amazing love, how can it be?
That you, my king. would die for me
Amazing love, I know it’s true
Its my joy to honor you
Amazing love how can it be?
That you my king would die for me
Amazing love I know it’s true
Its my joy to honor you
In all I do
I honor youChris Tomlin
To be clear, I am not suggesting you celebrate the community above the Savior. We are not gathering this weekend to celebrate, “What A Community Of Believers”. No, we gather to celebrate the Savior, “What A Savior”! But, we do so within a community of disciples.
Unlikely disciples, then and now.
This is the community of disciples I am blessed to be celebrating with this weekend!
God, you have drawn us into this community of people who follow your Son, Jesus Christ. Open our hearts to this glorious truth. Renew our hearts in this unending grace. Help us to honor you as we celebrate all that you accomplished in your life, death, and resurrection.
How about this for the next book title on church?
The Consumer Driven Church.
At the consumer driven church you “do” church the same way in which you “do” your grocery shopping. In the small town I live (Titusville, Fl). You can drive to Aldi’s because they have great prices, but they don’t always have the vegetables you need.
NO Problem – you can drive to Publix which is only 5 minutes from Aldi’s and grab your veggies.
But what about the movie rental?
Again, not a problem! Wal-mart is on the way home and they have not 1 but 2 Redbox machines!
Consumerism…. You gotta love it!
My family regularly utilizes all 3! (Not to mention the often sought after cup of coffee at Starbucks which is located in the Target! – Located across the street from the Wal-Mart!!)
As for me and my house….. we will shop around.
Have you noticed?
Have you noticed our Americanized consumerism has seeped, more like flooded, into the local church? Today, pastors are tempted to think that they need to cater to this mentality in order to build a church! The result is sometimes funny and sometimes sad.
Sometimes funny:
I like Aldi’s! Mostly because they are NOT Wal-Mart! They know who they are. Small grocery chain, with limited space, and thus limited product. That’s Aldi’s and that is why I like them!
How silly would it be for Aldis to TRY to be a Wal-Mart. The joy of the Aldis experience is: I don’t have to engage with ALL THAT STUFF. Aldis is…. simple. I like simple! The point is – Aldis knows who they are. Aldi’s is not trying to be someone they are not.
Knowing who you are is helpful in that it helps you know who you are NOT!
Crazy, isn’t it, when the little local church tries to be the Wal-mart – super center church. I have fallen victim to this, at times, over the years and I shake my head. How silly, even funny (yes, I am laughing) when we don’t know who we are and we try to be something else. It is a dumb way to try to build a local church.
In the consumer driven church we run to the Aldis church for relationships, the Wal Mart church for youth programs, and the Publix church for quality worship music.
I don’t think we are aware how much consumerism has affected the psyche of the average American church goer.
Aldis is comfortable in their own skin. As a church member in your local church….. are you?
Sometimes sad:
It is sad when a church – that is an Aldis – is lustfully trying to be the Wal-mart. It is sad because we are not accepting who God has called us to be or who we are in Christ. AND, this is the saddest part….. often this church will do whatever is necessary to please the consumer. This is not only sad, it is dangerous! Sad and dangerous because the church regularly translates into church consumerism. Which regularly translates into “watering down” God’s Word to make it acceptable and palatable to as many people as possible.
I Timothy 3-4
Paul, having instructed Timothy that Gods Word is God breathed and all the implications of that truth, then charges Timothy to “Preach The Word….”. As a part of that charge, Paul goes on to say:
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
(2 Timothy 4:3-5 ESV)
You see, what you see in churches today who have bailed on God’s Word regarding: sexual purity, marriage, family, parenting, and on and on…. is not so much about those issues. Drill down deeper than the surface issues and you will find a church or individual members and or pastors who no longer believe God’s Word is the Authority.
When God’s Word is no longer the Authority – the pastors and churches will cave to the pressures of people, fear of man, and consumerism.
You do not want consumerism to drive your church!
A Long Way Around The Block:
Sorry, I took you a long way around the block to “get the mail”. But, here is my main point. What is your conviction about YOUR local church and about God’s Word in that local church? Is there ANYTHING more needed in the consumer driven culture that we live in than the Word of God?!? ANYTHING?
Actually, my friend, I do believe we are in the consumer driven church mess that we are in BECAUSE we have pushed God’s Word to the perimeter of church life. No, I am not saying the Word is not read! OR that the word is not preached. I am saying in the consumer driven church the Word is used to “prop” up a sermon rather than “drive” the sermon. The Word becomes secondary rather than primary. Perimeter rather than at the Core.
3 things to consider:
1.) Is the Word of God the priority in your church? (This does not mean that the Word is read or even preached. It, means…is the conviction that Gods Word is GODS Word permeating into the life of the church?)
2.) Is the Word of God the authority in your church? (All of us have an authority! Opinions or what you picked up from the professor in college or…….?) If the Word is not your authority, what is?
3.) Is the Word of God enough in your church? (I am not saying other things (i.e.programs and ministries) are not important, but even other things must be built on the Word of God itself.)