Consume to Live or Live to Consume
Skye Jethani's piece in Christianity Today highlights the worldview shift that has occurred in the western world. As Jethani notes, in a culture where the number one leisure activity is shopping, Christianity has simply become another brand one can choose to choose . . . . or not.
Having said some of these things in recent weeks through a message series on worship, I resonate with Jethani's thesis. Christian people may not be particularly different than their non-Christian neighbors. And when it comes time to head to the mall, the Christian faith doesn't seem to faze our fascination with self-identity with what we purchase. Jethani quotes Mark Riddle: "Conversion in the U.S. seems to mean we've exchanged some of our shopping at Wal-Mark, Blockbuster, and Borders for the Christian bookstore down the street. We've taken our lack of purchasing control to God's store, where we buy our office supplies in Jesus' name."
What Jethani doesn't say, but what I fear is that much Christian economic and social activity continues to foster a growing polarization in American culture. If unchecked, the day will come where Christian orthodoxy will be determined by what stores you patronize.
I guess the idea of Christian discipleship being connected to a life characterized by virtue, concern for the poor, and Christian witness just doesn't sell.
Carson Reed
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That being said, the most thought-provoking element of Jethani's article for me is the idea of the church in Amercia operating on a consumer-driven model.
I don't agree with Finke & Stark's specificity that "the American church adopted a consumer-driven model because the First Amendment prohibited state-sanctioned religion." Faith was a matter of individual choice and self-expression long before the First Amendment. People have chosen to practice different faiths from those sanctioned by the state for years & years - often at tremendous cost.
I think the "American church" adopted the consumer-driven model because it works - according to the measures of membership numbers, market share, monies raised and ministries funded. How well it works in changing lives . . . well, that's kind of hard to measure.
Maybe we're selling "church shoppers" short - maybe it's not all about brand identity or self expression. Maybe they move on because they aren't finding life-changing, loving community that reflects the kingdom of God.