Consumerism

This post is from the defunct blog "Dying Church"

From an interview with Dan Kimball:

For those who have grown up in the church, we really have taught them to view church like they would if they were on the panel of "American Idol". The expectation of performance, the mindset of "what does this church have to offer me?" the way they judge church by how good is the preacher, how good is the music etc. I think we would admit that this is the mentality of most Christians in evangelical churches if we were honest. I don't blame them, because since they were children we taught them to view church as the place to have "fun" with hyper-kids games and videos, and for youth to view church as the place to get emotionally charged and hyped from songs and energetic rallies and camps which teach Jesus etc. We have brought them to the Christian concerts, fed them into the consumerism of Christian commercialism of T-Shirts, CD's etc. and in many ways have based their Christian experience primarily around these things, with an occasional missions trip to Mexico thrown in. I hyper-exaggerate here, but I have a sinking suspicion if we really think about this, we leaders may be the very ones who had a lot to do with what we are now fighting in our churches in regards to consumerism.

Comments

[george]

Darryl, read most of the interview, don't get a lot of what he is saying. All about the senses and smells and yea lets not forget about Scripture it is important but the main thing is we need to adapt the message to the culture and blah blah blah. I guess my cynisism rings through there eh? Maybe I'm being too critical of all this emerging church stuff. I mentioned on your other blog about reading Blackaby's book Experiencing God and how he talks about finding where God is at work and joining Him there. Can you point me to an emerging church (whatever that means I still don't understand) where God is clearly at work. There was a lot about mission in what he said. What exactly is the mission of the emerging church? Being in the GTA area can you point me to an emerging church type place where God is clearly at work.

[Darryl]

George, I really don't care if a church is emerging or not. I don't even know if there is an emerging church in the GTA. I'm not really interested in defending the emerging church. I do care that churches, whatever the label, are doing what they should. I think Kimball's thoughts on religious consumerism are excellent.

[Trish]

Wow Darryl a little harsh weren't we?

[Darryl]

Trish, how did I appear harsh? It wasn't my intention.