The consumer

As I’m sure I’ve mentioned before a growing issue in the church is the seeming infusion of western consumerism. It has lead to something that resembles supermarket Christianity. The seemingly clear (at least to me) call from the New Testament to get involved with a local congregation has given way to our need to received dynamic teaching and worship that suits our style. If we are not receiving what we need then we simply ‘shop’ elsewhere for it; or don’t ‘shop’ at all. Not only are we encourage to go local, but we are also warned ..to not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing (Heb: 10: 22-25).

A Revelation of Church

I was recently encouraged by a friend of mine to take a serious look at the Book of Revelation. Traditionally this, the final book in the Bible is either avoided (people fear the pictorial language will confuse them and that it has little relevance unless we are facing the end of the world) or become obsessed by it (looking for signs of the end being neigh in every situation across the world which takes the headlines). I think I probably fitted somewhere into the first category. I was challenge to study it as it is actually the only book of the New Testament written by Jesus himself; albeit dictated to John.

Anyway, having just got through the first section; the seven letters to the seven churches, something really struck me that I felt was relevant to this topic. Jesus was at times scathing in his attacks on a number of the churches. He picked out their issues, explained the sever consequences (being spat out of his mouth doesn’t sound good to me) but never once said; therefore go to the church up the road because they have it sorted.

The seven churches in Revelation are relatively very close together. You could walk around them all in about 2 days. It would have been perfectly feasible for Jesus to encourage the ‘holy & spiritual’ members to simply go up the road to a church that would better meet their needs. Be He doesn’t. Why? Because one of the themes throughout the Bible is that by enduring and overcoming we claim the prize. And I believe that this can start with the Church.

The letter to the church at Laodicea sums this up perfectly.

They are described as “wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked”. And yet they are told; not to close and move on, but to repent. Probably one of the most misused verses in the Bible is Revelation 3:20. The door in this verse is not the door to the human heart as many evangelists over the years would have us believe. It is completely inadequate when talking to non-believers as there is no mention of repentance, baptism or receiving the Holy Spirit. This door is the door to a church which Jesus has not attended for some time. However, if any one person in that church hears the call and allows Jesus back into the church then He will come in and dine with that person. Verse 21 states quite clearly the need for individuals to overcome the situation they are in and it also spells out their reward.

Teenaged encouragement

I was so encourage last week by a group of teenagers who have been struggling of late with church. The issues are not on the scale of Laodicea but are about the much more usual question of style. Their solution blew me away and offered much hope for the future. Instead of; like a number of more ‘mature’ members, staying away from church and complaining about it, they wanted to get together and pray for it. Pray for the good things that go on, pray for the things they struggle with, pray for the leaders (something we are all called to do), pray for the sense of relationship and community, and pray for themselves as they seek to find their place in all. Such a level of maturity, and hunger for God was certainly an example to myself and Jo.

I’ve gone on too long. So to conclude I will finish with where I began. Church is Jesus’ solution for our nation. It was designed to take the good news to the community and to encourage its members on the way. It is not a disposable consumer product. If things are not going well (or maybe simply not to your taste) then yes it is hard. Jesus knows it’s going to be hard; this is why terms like ‘overcome’ are used. But those who do overcome will be the ones who claim the prize. The prize both in this world, and the next.

So practically how can we do this? Our teenagers offer one amazing example. Prayer is the place which we must all start. Does anybody out there offer any other tips?

Wes suggests that there are four questions we need to ask ourselves when we reach for our wallets.

1. How does this business treat its employees?
2. What is this business� impact on our local economy?
3. What is this business� impact on the global economy?
4. What is this business� impact on the environment?

These are four very noble and valid questions but I think the fundamental issue behind how we view our finances has been overlooked.

Firstly, lets be clear, money is neutral. It is not good, it is not evil. For those out there that misquote the famous bible verses; money is not the root of all evil. “The love of money is the root of all kinds evil” So the issue with money is what it is used for and how you view it, not money itself.

Secondly, you are not more spiritual if you are poor. Many believe (as was looked at briefly in our study of Daniel 2) that if you have money then you should give it all away. This is not the case, we are called to be good stewards of what we have. If we have nothing how can we engage in the spiritual discipline of stewardship and the worshipful act of giving (see The Spirit of the Disciplines by Dallas Willard).

Thirdly, prosperity teaching is nonsense. God doesn’t give money to the more ‘spiritual’. I don’t even know where to begin with that one so I’ll make that sweeping statement and leave it there.

With that out of the way, lets look at what I think is the key to this issue. I touched on it in point two above. The idea of stewardship; what we have is not our own, we are simply looking after it. Yes, I did say that. We own nothing, everything on this earth is Gods, and we are looking after it.

There are all sorts of interesting paths this leads us down. Looking at how the use of what we have been given charge of on earth may or may not effect we are given charge of in heaven etc but for now let us stay with this point. If we view our money (as well as our possessions) as merely what we have been given to look after; to use responsibly and for Gods glory then this should radically change the way we view our spending.

Yes, this will work itself out in the four questions which Wes asked us above (amongst others) but fundamentally the issue is, as always with God, the state of our hearts. We need to understand that this money is not ours. We spend it on behalf of Christ. Would He be happy with what we are spending His money on?

Are we being a good steward?