Thursday, March 6, 2008 at 12:12am
The stuff
Last night at my Bible Study we were talking about the upcoming sermon series at our church. Apparently, a lot of churches in our area will be doing the same study at around the same time. We're jumping on the bandwagon.
The series is called "Consumed," and I believe it started with Crossroads Church. We'll probably have our own materials written, because we're an autonomous church and don't want to use somebody else's materials, but it will be the same basic study. And yes, you are correct: We'll be talking about the effect our consumer culture has on our Christian living and what we can do to change that when it is not in line with God's plan. It's a very relevant topic.
There are a few little ironies to it, though. First, everyone has to buy a book for the series. Now, it's a super-cheap book, something like two dollars, and nobody who can't afford one will go without. But how strange to start a series on consumerism with a requirement to buy something?
The other little quirk is that each week the small groups and Bible studies going through the study materials will be given a bag of stuff to get into. Apparently it will contain discussion questions and challenges, and the like. It seems funny to give people stuff during a series challenging materialism. Doesn't handing somebody a bag of surprises just feed that desire to have stuff?
The series seems to be aimed at individual propensity toward consumerism and materialism. But what about the church's struggle with both?
Yes, that's right. I'm asking about the church's struggle with materialism.
It used to be shiny objects. People wanted brass candlesticks or even gold. Then it was new buildings that could be admired. Now it's technology in many churches. The words to the songs can't just be projected up on the screen, no. There have to be videos of high production value. And why settle for one screen when three would be better?
What about the look of the church? Well, it's not good enough to have a sanctuary and classrooms. The classrooms have to be state of the art with all the bells and whistles. And heaven forbid, we keep the same color scheme from five years ago. It's so outdated! And it would be so much better if we had a sign outside the building that was a scrolling marquee instead of just painted.
Our culture is obsessed with having more and the best of everything. We each need to recognize this and live more simply.
That goes for the church, too.
— — —
Emily Oliver holds a master of arts in theology from Xavier University. She is married to Mitch, who supports her theology habit by being a brilliant computer programmer. You can find Emily on her blog www.defining.emily.blogspot.com or email Emily at {email habakkuk317@yahoo.com}habakkuk317@yahoo.com{/email}. © Copyright 2008 by Emily Oliver.
The series is called "Consumed," and I believe it started with Crossroads Church. We'll probably have our own materials written, because we're an autonomous church and don't want to use somebody else's materials, but it will be the same basic study. And yes, you are correct: We'll be talking about the effect our consumer culture has on our Christian living and what we can do to change that when it is not in line with God's plan. It's a very relevant topic.
There are a few little ironies to it, though. First, everyone has to buy a book for the series. Now, it's a super-cheap book, something like two dollars, and nobody who can't afford one will go without. But how strange to start a series on consumerism with a requirement to buy something?
The other little quirk is that each week the small groups and Bible studies going through the study materials will be given a bag of stuff to get into. Apparently it will contain discussion questions and challenges, and the like. It seems funny to give people stuff during a series challenging materialism. Doesn't handing somebody a bag of surprises just feed that desire to have stuff?
The series seems to be aimed at individual propensity toward consumerism and materialism. But what about the church's struggle with both?
Yes, that's right. I'm asking about the church's struggle with materialism.
It used to be shiny objects. People wanted brass candlesticks or even gold. Then it was new buildings that could be admired. Now it's technology in many churches. The words to the songs can't just be projected up on the screen, no. There have to be videos of high production value. And why settle for one screen when three would be better?
What about the look of the church? Well, it's not good enough to have a sanctuary and classrooms. The classrooms have to be state of the art with all the bells and whistles. And heaven forbid, we keep the same color scheme from five years ago. It's so outdated! And it would be so much better if we had a sign outside the building that was a scrolling marquee instead of just painted.
Our culture is obsessed with having more and the best of everything. We each need to recognize this and live more simply.
That goes for the church, too.
— — —
Emily Oliver holds a master of arts in theology from Xavier University. She is married to Mitch, who supports her theology habit by being a brilliant computer programmer. You can find Emily on her blog www.defining.emily.blogspot.com or email Emily at {email habakkuk317@yahoo.com}habakkuk317@yahoo.com{/email}. © Copyright 2008 by Emily Oliver.