When consumerism goes too far

I wrote this a couple of months ago, but just decided to put it up here. Enjoy!


We live in a consumer’s world. Whether it’s the all-day shopping trips to the mall, selecting out of a myriad of dining choices, or picking a channel to watch that meets our specific entertainment taste, we have been conditioned to believe that life is all about “me”. Forget the ignorance of the Middle Ages when the prominent scientific perspective believed that the sun revolved around our planet. We have reached a whole new level of ignorance because most of us believe that the whole universe revolves around me, myself and I. Think about it. The “what can you do for me” mentality permeates all that we do. We’ve been sold an idea that the most important needs that are met should be mine.

And this attitude is not just a by-product of our society; it’s born into all of us naturally. Put one toy in a room with two children and you know what will happen. Me-first thinking is expected. When was the last time one of your children said, “Mom (or Dad) how can I help you?” I don’t know about you, but I have to constantly teach my children that they are not the center of the universe.

What’s most disturbing to me is how we’ve brought this “me-first” type of thinking into our places of worship. How do you know if you have been guilty of this type of Christian-consumerism? Here’s a quick quiz. Is the quality of your church experience dependant on how good the sermon was, or how good the music made YOU feel? Do you feel blessed only when YOUR prayer request was acknowledged and prayed for? Do you keep track of how many people said “hi” to YOU before and after the service? If you answered yes to any of the following questions, you might have a problem.

Jesus stated in Matthew 20:28, “the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Let me ask you a question, when you walk into church on Sunday morning, do you exhibit a servant mindset or a consumer one? Sadly, I’ve seen too many churches drown by the deadening weight of consumerism, and I’ve seen too many Christians start giving in to a McChurch diet of fast, easy, and affordable Christianity. Jesus always seemed to discourage that type of discipleship (see Matthew 8:18-22). If the church is to be a place of Christ-followers, then let’s replace the consumer mentality. You will revolutionize your church experience and your church as well.