The Impact of Consumerism on the Church: A Call for Change
Few messages in the history of our church have been as important as the ones in this series. As we begin this weekend, I want to lay out the damage consumerism has done to the church, this generation, and the next. At the same time, it's my prayer that by the help of God, I will be able to show you where God is leading us and what it's going to take to get us there. Buckle up. It's going to be quite the ride.
Consumerism - I See, I Want, I Take
Consumerism has infiltrated every facet of modern life, including the church. Skye Jethani, in "How Churches Became Cruise Ships," points out how the church, in an attempt to attract a disengaged generation, began offering entertainment, community, and support, often overshadowing the true message of God. The means used to attract people became the means to keep them, leading to a skewed focus on numerical growth.
But, as Os Guinness notes in "Dining with the Devil," numerical growth doesn't equate to spiritual growth. Much of it is a reshuffling of the same individuals, not true conversion. Church leaders, in this consumer-driven culture, become spiritual baristas, offering a menu of spiritual goods based on preferences rather than nurturing true discipleship.
Signs that consumerism has taken over the church include a shift towards being weekend-oriented, where the focus moves from "Go and Tell" to "Come and Hear." Congregations become worship junkies, constantly seeking the next spiritual high. Numerical growth becomes a metric for success, measured by factors like the quality of sermons, feeling welcomed by leaders, and the style of services.
The High Cost of Consumer Christianity
The price of consumer Christianity is a shallow faith. Many megachurches strip their services of mystery and the sacred in pursuit of rapid growth. Adam McHugh highlights how the emphasis on external experiences creates worship junkies who leap from one high to another, making it difficult for them to hear the voice of God.
George Gallup's research reveals that there's little difference in ethical views and behavior between churched and unchurched individuals. This consumer-driven approach has led to a crisis of nihilism, where the meaning and purpose of faith are lost.
A Lost Generation
The consequences of consumer Christianity extend to the next generation. As adults consume faith in moderation, their children often engage in excessive consumption or reject faith altogether. Bob Roberts' call to start a thousand churches with thousands of members in ten years hasn't reversed the decline of evangelical Christianity, as Gene Edward Veith points out.
A Return to the Jesus' Way of Changing the World
To combat the negative effects of consumerism on the church, we must return to Jesus' way of changing the world. We should shift our focus from large gatherings and great services to deep transformational discipleship, as suggested by Pete Scazzero.
This means centering on the ministry of the people, not just the pastor. We must ask ourselves what would upset our congregation more: not providing certain amenities or failing to obey biblical commandments. We should focus on equipping believers for works of service, as mentioned in Ephesians 4:11-12.
Instead of reaching the many but seeing few transformed, we should aim to reach the few in order to reach the many, following Jesus' model of confiding in a select few, training a core group, and then mobilizing them to impact the world.
In conclusion, consumerism has had a detrimental impact on the church, leading to shallow faith, a lost generation, and a decline in true discipleship. To counter this trend, we must return to the core principles of our faith, focusing on deep transformational discipleship, centered on the ministry of the people, and raising the bar of expectation. Only then can we hope to bring about a revival of genuine faith and discipleship in our church and beyond.
- Senior Pastor Keith Stewart | Springcreek Church
The Preference-Driven Church | Consumer or Contributor? (Part 1)
