Brilliant short article here on faith and consumerism. Briefly put, here are some of the highlights: if ‘consumption is a system of meaning’ (Baudrillard) then Christianity is seen as a brand, not a worldview. As a result, in the USA (and elsewhere, surely) Christians may simply transfer their consumption to Christian causes. American ministry is based on capitalism with pastors as the sales force and evangelism as the marketing strategy.
Technorati Tags: Christianity, consumerism, capitalism, ministry, Baudrillard
Big Circumstance 
Interesting blog. Thanks for the good read~!
I agree with most of the article – bu there are some points that can be misleading and not as “bad” as one thinks:
“Church shopping to find a church that has my identity”
One day we will all be in heaven – together – no denominations!! Thank God! But until then, we still have a world to reach with the gospel. The gospel being the message of Christ and his transforming power.
We do live in a culture that consumes – even in Canada. I planted this church I pastor 5 years ago. I took a look at the demographics of our community and began to build a church that was aware of where the people were at. I came to see that this community is basically unchurched, and the only view they have of church is what they see on the religious channel (american mostly) – God help us if that is their only point of reference.
So, our music, sermons, visual is geared to the unchurch, with no compromise of the gospel message. It is scripture and the Holy Spirit that illuminates mans spirit – not our marketing and “relevance”.
Now, with that said, I still think it is important to be relevant and be excellent in whatever we do.
The church needs to be a place of saftey and relationship. Not a place where we walk in and are “fake” – “religious”. We are real with each other, a sense of vulnerability and accountability. Sometimes I have found the church to be too plastic, which leads people to a plastic Jesus – some figure they put on the dash of the car.
I wish the church would just be the church! A people called to build relationship – not empires. A people called to build their lives on Christ in order that they may live out their GOD GIVEN dreams!
May we always be reminded: “The problem is not consuming to live, but rather living to consume.”
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Interesting blog. Thanks for the good read~!
I agree with most of the article – bu there are some points that can be misleading and not as “bad” as one thinks:
“Church shopping to find a church that has my identity”
One day we will all be in heaven – together – no denominations!! Thank God! But until then, we still have a world to reach with the gospel. The gospel being the message of Christ and his transforming power.
We do live in a culture that consumes – even in Canada. I planted this church I pastor 5 years ago. I took a look at the demographics of our community and began to build a church that was aware of where the people were at. I came to see that this community is basically unchurched, and the only view they have of church is what they see on the religious channel (american mostly) – God help us if that is their only point of reference.
So, our music, sermons, visual is geared to the unchurch, with no compromise of the gospel message. It is scripture and the Holy Spirit that illuminates mans spirit – not our marketing and “relevance”.
Now, with that said, I still think it is important to be relevant and be excellent in whatever we do.
The church needs to be a place of saftey and relationship. Not a place where we walk in and are “fake” – “religious”. We are real with each other, a sense of vulnerability and accountability. Sometimes I have found the church to be too plastic, which leads people to a plastic Jesus – some figure they put on the dash of the car.
I wish the church would just be the church! A people called to build relationship – not empires. A people called to build their lives on Christ in order that they may live out their GOD GIVEN dreams!
May we always be reminded: “The problem is not consuming to live, but rather living to consume.”
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Greetings, found your blog thru the eBible contest postings. Tis quite neat a point you and the first commenter make. I would probably have to say that I might be somewhat guilty in that Mobile Ministry Magazine is me (and others) not letting mobile tech and the Internet be completly used by persons/businesses/governments for selfish gain. The point is to see Christ preached to the ends of the earth and this is one heck of a tech to do it. Should we use it, yes. But not at the cost of chasing consumer products so that we look more presentable and the Gospel is therefore crompromised.
Keep up the good work here, I hope to be back more often.
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