Comments on: Can People Shaped by Consumerism Be Happy in Church?

By: Luke D

Luke D — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 19:29:34 +0000

I finally came to the conclusion (possibly temporary) that our situation offers the best of both worlds: A Sunday morning service that’s traditional, conservative, and drives us nuts followed by a Sunday evening small group that’s personal, challenging, and life-giving–all in the context of the same church. The morning service is something to push against and get us fired up to change it; the evening service helps put it all in perspective and explore real solutions to the problems of the morning group.

For now, at least, we’re not asking for anything more out of organized religion.

By: Ted

Ted — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 06:23:41 +0000

I’m very hard to please in church, too. I don’t know if it’s just about consumerism, though, although I’m sure it’s a factor. The media (especially TV, for me) has helped to create in many of us a very finely discriminating and jaded set of sensibilities. [Think how everybody is now a discriminating connoisseur of pop singers now, thanks to American Idol :)]

In other words, I’m sure you’d be seriously uncomfortable with at least one thing, even in a church that fit you like REI. Whether a church is directly marketing to you or not, if you can find one that’s not seriously annoying, you’re doing great (I have, finally).

On the bright side, if you weren’t such an intelligent, well read, complicated man, not much of this stuff would bother you.

By: Random Acts of Linkage #56 : Subversive Influence

Random Acts of Linkage #56 : Subversive Influence — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 11:54:10 +0000

[...] Hey, here’s a question: Can People Shaped by Consumerism Be Happy in Church? [...]

By: Matt EHH

Matt EHH — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:57:36 +0000

Hey Justin,

good question. To me church should strive to reflect diversity, and therefore be committed to staying together even when it’s uncomfortable. Diversity comes with discomfort. It’s not that I think that the pinnacle of ecclesia is diversity, but unless we hear God’s story from different perspectives than our own I think it can be difficult to avoid creating a system that justifies hearing only what we want to. The tough part is helping each other to accept the struggles when it could be easier in a tailor-made church, because it’s actually worth it.

We got a ways to go in our attempts at community, but the journey so far has been actually worth it, for me at least.

By: Justin

Justin — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 01:46:25 +0000

April-
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head when you say

I wonder if our current culture is suffering with an identity crisis of sorts because it has become so fragmented.

Remember when we only had a few genres of music? Country, Rock, Jazz? Now how many genres are there? We are becoming more diverse and fragmented and perhaps our faith is, too.

Andy-
If I thought it was as simple as that, I’d agree. But all churches are the way they are for reasons other than “God’s plan.”

By: April Terry

April Terry — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:16:58 +0000

Rather than consumerism, I would think that it is human nature to want to be weekly involved in a church that is comfortable. The problem, as you have expressed, is that everyone has a different idea of what comfortable is.

I believe that God wants us to attend church not to satisfy our own gratification, but in order to obey what He is asking us.

I think it’s great to question the whole model of what worship is, but in the end, it is going to reflect society. If you attend a church in Zimbabwe, you are going to experience their reflection of Christ in their culture. I wonder if our current culture is suffering with an identity crisis of sorts because it has become so fragmented.

Remember when we only had a few genres of music? Country, Rock, Jazz? Now how many genres are there? We are becoming more diverse and fragmented and perhaps our faith is, too.

By: Andy G.

Andy G. — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:39:19 +0000

I think people can be happy/satisfied with a church. Rather than trying to find a fit for one’s self, find a church that follows God’s plan as described in the Bible. Pretty simple. Otherwise one will continue to seek out something different depending on feelings.

And obviously there will be annoyances as a church is made up of human beings, who can be a little annoying at times.