We need to correct diagnose them and help them to change their world view.
Skye Write: So it is with God. Those holding a consumer world view see everything as a commodity--assigning value based not on a thing or person's inherent identity, but their usefulness to the consumer. In Consumer Christianity God has not inherent value apart from what he can do for me. As one sociologist studying American faith has put it, our God isn't the one revealed in Scripture--almighty and holy--but a consumer deity part divine butler and part cosmic therapist. Unfortunately many churches are failing to deconstruct this warped understanding of God, and in their attempts to attract religious consumers they may actually be reinforcing the idea that the individual, not God, is the center of the universe.
Here is the link to his book.
3 comments:
Interesting take on 'consumerist Christianity,' which I don't believe has a huge impact on college campuses, but definitely on Christianity at large. From different articles I've read in some secular journals/mags such as "New Yorker" some people like the brand image. (1) The author criticizes the head pastor Frank Santora’s 'Faith Church' in New Milford, CT of the mega-church as preaching 'Christianity-lite' . Well, that was one year ago. Is it still true now? There's a lot of discussion about mega-church's consumerist model of evangelism. I gather that America's struggle against this consumerist idea within religious institutions. I gather that students will often have this model in their heads when approached about issues related to Christianity, Bible, and religious belief in the 21st century. Any thoughts?
-Andrew
(1) Frances FitzGerald, Annals of Religion, “Come One, Come All,” The New Yorker, December 3, 2007, p. 46
Andrew, Frank Santora continues to preach very watered down messages, very much like Joel Osteen, whom he seems to model himself after. It's not even Christianity he's preaching about anymore either, but how to use God to do whatever in one's life.
His poor use of Scripture has been featured a few times on Fighting for the Faith, most recently - http://www.fightingforthefaith.com/2009/05/busting-the-myth-that-st-francis-of-assisi-said-preach-the-gospel-and-when-necessary-use-words.html
And in April of this year - http://www.fightingforthefaith.com/2009/04/defeating-the-grey-eyed-pessimism-monster.html
Both podcasts are worth the time to listen.
Shouldn't any book titled "The Divine Commodity" at least be available as a free download?
Post a Comment