(I apologize for lack of blogs, recently.  I have been having more trouble with Bluehost and am hopeful that it has been resolved).  We wish to continue our review of Joseph Conway’s book, Broken But Beautiful.   I have found this third section on Consumerism quite fascinating.  I could not agree more with him about the presence of religious consumerism and that “it does not mesh well with discipleship.”

He does a good job describing the mindset of church members who are looking to be served instead of seeking an opportunity to serve.  Consumers have choices in what they want their church to do for them.  The problem has always been present.  It may be more obvious in the past generations but when you have players and fans, professionalism, the pastor system, and an earthly organization (the local church) with decision-makers/administrators, you will always have a sense of “me” and “them.”  Once this distinction is set in place, a host of problems will arise.   In a highly technical world with greater ammenties in church facilities and classrooms, the choices increase and the occasion for churches to compete for attention rises with it.

He attempts to convey the idea that we can be a true family that promotes genuine spiritual growth despite this broken system.   What he does not realize is that the more offices or professional hirelings and especially assigned tasks allotted to a pastor system, the greater this separation between the players and fans.

Several options may contribute toward a solution to this problem.  First, the concept of the ekklesia (the called-out) must be taught that it is a class of people in the body who are all interdependent on each other.  Each is individually responsible for the study and application of the Word and each are accountable toward the edification and care of the body.  Second,  traditional “church services” must be abandoned.   We are not to be fans in an auditorium begging for a preacher to give what is wanted (heart stirrings, intellectual stimulation, thought-provoking applications, polished presentation of truth, etc) and then rating how he compares to other preachers.   This is the focus for the greatest portion of the meeting with the focus on the preacher while we can only see the back of someone’s head.  Third, the home life and example in the family arena is lost when “going to church” (a term not found in Scripture) in a public forum/church building.  Everyone puts in their religious module in their brain, even dressing in the finest attire, and plays the part for a couple of hours.   This, alone, is problematic because it solicits hypocrisy.   Though exceptions may exist between a few who have opened up to let others inside their hearts, the majority in this system protect their privacy.  The last think they want in this consumeristic framework is to be transparent.   Among the learned ones, they must project the thought that truth is quite simple and they have it.   Unfortunately, others in the same position think they have it, too.   The Bible studies become the platform for the display of knowledge and sophistry.   This is not the atmosphere for edification and encouragement.   It often promotes strife and division.   Then, if we think that a local church run by its wise leadership knows how to control these outbreaks and arrogant display of wisdom, they must table any discussion that really needs serious attention.  For fear of stirring up differences, they learn to shut down needed discussions.  Again, this environment is not conducive to a home discussion that allows questions to be raised that challenge the status quo and comments where one can be more transparent in an informal “family” setting.

Once again, I have said repeatedly, “We have created problems for which there is no biblical antidote.”  The only solution true growth is to start on a better foundation designed by God,  man.   To do this, we must align ourselves with the prophet Jeremiah whose work included “plucking up and destroying”  (Jer. 1:10).    To do so is not destroying God’s people, the called-out.    It may destroy a man-made system of religion that never had a right to exist in the first place because it grew from a shoot of Catholicism influenced by early “church fathers”.   If that’s your definition of “church,” then I hope it is destroyed.   But, that is not what Jesus promised to build, and it does not describe the Greek ekklesia.

Consumerism is one of the many by-products of the local church organization.   While I agree with Conway’s description and its presence in churches today, I do not agree that “it” is beautiful.   Individual souls, marred and imperfect though they be are broken but beautiful, if following after the Spirit.  But, this man-made system that we require individuals to be made a part of has never been beautiful.   I used to read old issues of Scott’s publication as far back as the 1830s.   Individuals would write in asking how to form themselves into a church.   Numerous editorial news bulletins filled the periodical where a small group of Christians had started or formed themselves into a church.   What were they before forming themselves into this local church?   Ironically, there is nothing that God requires that could not be done without it.   But, we like ancient Israel want to be like the nations around us to provide an alternative choice to the denominations.  In doing so, they became just another one among many.  This was the start of consumerism.