I’m learning what it means to be an outsider, outcast, second-class Christian.
I don’t have the money to buy the latest and greatest book. It’s a struggle to just pay the bills.
Since we have arrived in this position it has become clear to me how much of the Christian world revolves around money and how such a large portion of us are excluded because of finances.
There’s always something: Buy this book, go on this retreat or conference, go to this breakfast meeting, buy a CD copy of today’s sermon for the bargain price of 10 times as much as it cost to make etc etc.
I have been amazed at how we are constantly bombarded by a call to buy things to further our Christian walk.
Is that really what the Church is supposed to be about? Are we really supposed to be developing two communities, one for those who have spare cash an one for those who don’t? Are we really supposed to be creating a little sub culture which looks no different from secular modern culture filled with consumerism and a constant stream of ‘must have’ products to buy?
I think that now I have tasted and seen what it is like to not have and disposable income, if I had $19.99 to spend on the latest book by Mr-big-shot-pastor I’d now rather spend that money on buying a meal for a homeless person or two or give it to someone to help them pay their electricity bill.
What do you think? Am I out of line? Or is there just too much commercialism in the Church?
No, you’re not out of line. You’re exactly right.
There’s a lot of commercialism included in the Church that sometimes dilutes the truth that we’re supposed to be telling, and are often trying to tell. This is well worth considering.
Great post.
Thanks for the comment and the encouragement Wickle.
I just look at so much of what the Church does and promotes and I don’t recognize it from what I read in the bible about what the church is supposed to be.
Peter,
I read your comment on Stuff Christians Like. I actually have 2 copies of the book Crazy Love and I’d love to give one to you if you want it. I first read the book this summer and it deeply impacted me. I would highly recommend it– even if Jon hadn’t been doing this book club thing.
I’ve put my email address in the info field of this comment, so if it sounds good to you, send me an email with your mailing address.
On a side note, I agree with your take on commercialism in the church. Over the past year or so, I’ve begun to notice all of the clutter that we add to our lives in an attempt to strengthen our walk with Christ. Our intentions are often good, but many times we forget that He should be our focus and His Word is the only ‘must have’ book. (That said, I wouldn’t even be recommending Crazy Love if it was just more clutter.)
I hope to hear from you soon,
April
I don’t think most churches in America look any different from the rest of America, which is to say, why, yes, there is rampant commercialism in the church too.
Like so many things that the church gets blamed for, it is merely a reflection of the sinners who worship there, and the fallen world we live in.
People who don’t go to church are fond of citing the fact that people who go to church are hypocrites. I always agree with them. That’s right….churches are full of hypocrites. But, as the verse goes (can’t remember where) they’re hospitals for sick people, not museums for saints (probl. a bad paraphrase, but you get the idea.) Which is better for Christ’s cause– the hypocrites who are in church or the hypocrites who are not? At least those of us who are in “the hospital,” so to speak, have a chance of getting better.
I came to your website to offer to buy you the book, and see that April has done the same. I will be glad to, if her offer falls through.
I also would say, it’s not that great a book. I posted over at Jon’s, that I don’t think I’ll be the most popular person in Bookclub, with all the folks there who are salivating over Chan’s book. The book is extremely exceedingly prescriptive in nature, and is Law, Law and more Law, without scriptural meat to back up his prescriptions. However, because I love SCL and Jon Acuff, I will not resist being able to join in the fun.
Careful, Peter – you’re about to draw fire from the seeker-friendly, mega-church (you know – the ones with the $3 million ‘sports’ ministry) crowd.
Next thing you know, they’ll be calling you a trouble-maker and blasphemer, sorta like that carpenter from Nazareth.
“You shall know them by their fruits.” That’s a mighty sharp sword you’re swinging.
I agree Peter, I see it everywhere and it drives me crazy. We go to a very biblical sound church that teaches the word but it still has a way to go to really be the complete church it needs to be. The division and commercialism seems to be spreading rapidly everywhere.
We just have to keep fighting for what is right!
By the way, thank you for your comment on my post from last night. You are right, It is OK. In my raw addmission of my regrets I appreciated your words and what they meant.
God Bless!
I’m kind of torn here. I write books. Christian ones. I believe in the message I’m sharing, and I love hearing stories of how God has used the books to touch lives, save marriages, and what have you.
I don’t have a lot of $ either. I love, love, love to read, but I haven’t bought a book in over a year. If I can’t borrow it from the library or a friend, I don’t read it. No room in the budget.
But if people don’t buy my books, I can’t afford to keep writing. My hubby works from home designing websites (primarily for churches and ministries). We barely pay the bills.
There’s got to be a balance somewhere…
Heartafire,
I hear what you are saying… I think that we should take the bible seriously though when it says to be ‘in the world but not of the world’ and that people should be able to see a difference between the Christian community and the rest of the world. Thos in the hospital should be getting better!
Joe,
You keep talking about me and swords! Scary! I do wish people would stop suggesting to the mainstream Church that they attack me though 🙂
Marla,
I am completely with you!
It’s hard because there is a difference between complete commercialization and writing God inspired literature and getting paid for it but the line is thin.
I do not know what the answer is and I certainly do not think that you should stop writing. If that is what God has called you to do then do it!
Books are just one example. Church bible studies where the participants are required to pay for materials are much worse, in my opinion. As are expensive off-site ‘retreat’ that promise spiritual gains but are far out of reach of the likes of you and me.
I’ve never looked at it this way before. You might be on to something.
I think to a certain extent, a church having money is a good thing, *if it is used in the proper way* (i.e., outreach, spreading the gospel, etc), but there is an *incredible* commercial aspect that’s infected Christian culture. Witness all the Christian bookstores that have more trinkets (Testamints! Kid you not.) than solid books on Theology. This, really, is just bad, bad, bad.
Totally agree with you Peter!
Thanks for this post, very relevant to me in a way today!
Money can really grind us down! It is a shame that so much stock is placed in something so worthless.
By the way, you have been tagged. Check out my blog.
Like Maria this is something that I struggle with all the time but as a writer of Christian books I also realize that I contribute to the problem. Part of what I grapple with is how do we provide interactive opportunities for people to grow in their Christian faith without commercializing it? And at the same time how do we put bread on the table for ourselves and our loved ones? I think that our whole economic system is hugely flawed and this is one small symptom of that but it is difficult to find other models to look at that provide viable alternatives
I notice that in youth groups quite a bit. One activity after another, all with costs. I’m afraid it scares away some families who can’t afford it and are too embarrassed to say so.
Thanks for all your comments guys. You have given me a lot to think about.
Neil… I really think their needs to be a complete overhaul of church finances and that everything should be paid for… but that requires the church body to give freely the way they are supposed to.
It’s one of the tings I love about house church. Our church has overheads of about $100 per year for licensing and stuff – all the rest of the money goes to do whatever it is that God calls us to do and is given away freely.
It’s just amazing how much God fills the tithe box. It’s like we can’t give it away fast enough!
I remember a church I attended in Guam. The guest speaker (whom I disagreed with) called forth those who believed they were being called millionaires for the "Kingdom of God." About 60 couples came forward, about one-half the adults in attendance. I left sad, a visible manifestation of greed, the twisting of scripture to make it about money and "defined worldly success." It seems that all sincere Christians I know from wealthy to poor are hearing the same message, that being in the form of a question from God to said sincere heart seeker, "What are you willing to give up?"
You're right, Randy.
It's so sad that people twist the gospel in such disgusting ways.
…and of course, who becomes the richest out of all of them? … The one who takes the tithes.
Surprise, surprise!