Will Consumerism in the Church Ever Die?

The above photo is what dominated a direct-mailer I received at my office yesterday from this organization.

Is it just me? Or does this image blatantly epitomize how comfortable the Church has become in it's adulterous affair with consumerism?

Forgive me, but even this quote -- taken directly from their home page -- is just plain 'ol irritating to me:

"The Entrepreneurial Church is a unique "one-stop-shop" opportunity to learn about every aspect of launching a new ministry from the ground up, adding a mission-motivated enterprise, or expanding facilities. And you'l hear from people who have done it, along with experts in areas like strategic planning, finance and fundraising, and technology."

Recognizing the effects of consumerism both within and upon the Church is nothing new -- but I've got to wonder... will consumerism in the church EVER die?

Comments

[Matt]

Consumerism in the church was definitely born, so it has a chance of dying. From my reading of scripture I see a blatantly communal early church (this within a Jewish law system that was quite specific about rights to personal property). I think consumerism really dug into the American Christian mindset during the Cold War. Not that we weren’t already individualistic. Communalism was just too close to the perception of Communism; and since those Commies were “evil” that must make Capitalists good. By the time the U.S.S.R. collapsed we were fertile ground for modern consumerism.
Consumerism in its most virulent form may be the greatest negative force holding back the emergent church. Love of ownership, buy its nature, restricts our ability to embrace community. We can not surround ourselves in an environment of the individual, the “Mine”, and expect to nurture a heart that gives life away.
Will Christian consumerism die off? Not as long as we are at peace in Western culture. Personally though, I would rather be different than brand different.

[Darren D.]

When viewed from the outside, are we really that different than the organization that sent you the packet? We have emergent conventions, emergent books, emergent organizations, emergent publishers, speakers selling the emergent movement, emergent bloggers and probably emergent products.

My concern is that the emergent transition is becoming co-opted by a market culture that would make us just another brand on the shelf to choose from. This would minimize our message and relegate us to just another subculture to be exploited for economic gain.

Will consumerism ever die? Not as long as there is a buck to be made. (a sad truth) We can only be vigilant and watch for signs of the disease and try to minimize its effects.

[Karl Thienes]

One word: Ugh.

When, oh when, will people tire of this and begin to truly seek apostolic Christianity?

[Justin Baeder]

I think it's honest of people to offer products and services like that if they feel that what they are offering will make ministry easier for others. In other words, it's the system of big church that's fueling the need for stuff like this. It's hard to start a (traditional American-style) church or build a new building, and to the extent that these products are simply facilitating what people are going to do anyway, I think they're OK.

But it's enough to make you stop and think: Is this really what we should be doing, if it takes all this money and technology that's foreign to scripture and the historical church?

[Phil]

This kind of thing is frustrating to me too-it cheapens the Gospel and our witness. I find it telling that a lot of times when journalists or authors look into evangalicalism from the outside what they see is an advertising niche.

[Aaron O.]

Karl stole my comment! I would've used the word "Ick" but the sentiment is the same.

[Chris (DesertPastor)]

Matt has a good point:

"Consumerism in its most virulent form may be the greatest negative force holding back the emergent church."

It seems that I'm hearing this much more frequently of late (from many different people). We want to "get it" within the Emerging Church, but largely, we still don't "get it."

That's why I think Darren's sober advice is probably dead-on:

"We can only be vigilant and watch for signs of the disease and try to minimize its effects."

When I hear Karl asking:

"When, oh when, will people tire of this and begin to truly seek apostolic Christianity?"

Part of me is probably shaking my head, along with Karl, and part of me is more hopeful -- especially due to the growing interest in "ancient-future faith" and what others have labeled "generation-O." There is some movement taking place, albeit not as widespread or rapid as many of us would prefer.

When Justin suggested:

"It's hard to start a (traditional American-style) church or build a new building, and to the extent that these products are simply facilitating what people are going to do anyway, I think they're OK."

...it got me wanting to hear more about this (tell us more, Justin). I know that God does work through people's commercialized religious endeavors in drawing people to himself (scripture bears out the fact that God speaks through some VERY unique means), but I still struggle with our "pursuit" and our "valuing" of such methodologies.

[pavel/addai]

Quote
"The Entrepreneurial Church is a unique "one-stop-shop" opportunity to learn about every aspect of launching a new ministry from the ground up, adding a mission-motivated enterprise, or expanding facilities. And you'l hear from people who have done it, along with experts in areas like strategic planning, finance and fundraising, and technology."
Quote

Well long ago Amway borowed many things from religious Revivalism, "the testimony", corporate songs that sound like hymms/ choruses, a talk that resemebles a four point sermon with a poem at the end etc. And of course in grad school I had to take a upper division essay writing class. And there was a famous essay comparing TV adds especially from PRoctor and Gamble products to the Gospel message. (In general these adds portray dirt and uncleanliness much like Sin. But the commercial carries a Gospel message, brought from a type of "messenger of light" that yes you to my friend can be delivered from "ring around the collar" and other spiritual problems).

Anyway I think this is just things "going full circle". Advertisers once used Christian themes to preach their product message. Now Christianity is returning the favor... OF course the churches which come out of this may be consumer driven Golden Calf worshipping Centers...

[Benjy (groovythpstr)]

I don't think there is anything inherently wrong with advertising, marketing, resources and conferences, etc. The problem it seems, as in many things, is with balance.

[Chris (DesertPastor)]

So Benjy...

"The problem it seems, as in many things, is with balance."

What does this look like in substance, rather than simply in theory? Are EC leaders who decry the commodification of the IC all mistaken? Are they only "partially" correct?

Or, is it possible that "balance" is not the only evaluative criteria we must consider?

[Matt]

I do not agree that consumerism and the church can find a “balance”. But then, we need to decide what consumerism is. Benjy spoke of, “advertising, marketing, resources and conferences, etc”, when promoting balance. I don’t have a problem with products, I do believe that a mindset of voracious consumption is damaging to the cultures of the Church. It is our approach to products that concerns me. Sometimes it’s t-shirt and CD sales replacing God’s provision. Or it’s reading the flavor of the month Christian book, but not absorbing the message it holds, much less the Word. It is point of view that I believe holds back power, not any particular item.

[Justin Baeder]

Chris-
Thanks for asking. There are a lot of churches out there struggling with the practical difficulties (read: business end, funding, communications) of running what America considers a successful church. I think if people are going to do church this way (which is not my preference), they should do it as well as possible. Sometimes this stuff gets a little sick, like the marketing = evangelism stuff, but a lot of it is good.

What's emerged here is a cadre of experts on how to run an institutional church. They may sometimes be over the top in how they market their services and how much they charge. Fundamentally, though, I like to think they're in it with good motives, and they are ostensibly achieving good things.

But my original question is, why do we need this? Why does church exist in forms that can be improved by such services? Imagine a consultant offering the 1st-century Jerusalem church advice on how to reach more people, or clarify their mission, or target their demographic more precisely. I can't.