I got some notes from the Q conference from a blog of someone who actually got to go *Duncan ( I’m jealous). Chris Seay talked about consumerism. Which is one of the big issues I care about. I honestly think consumerism maybe the biggest problem of why the local church doesn’t function like it should. Americans are so deep in financial debt, that they rationalize not tithing, let alone giving. We are so caught up in material consumerism, we have to have the newest, best thing, even if what we have now is good. we trade tv’s, and cell phones, and cars like we’re 8 years old trading baseball cards, to get that one card that will complete our collection. Yes even spiritual consumerism, we go to church 2 or 3 times a week, so we feel better. We buy “Christian” products from “Christian” stores, you can now listen to as many church sermons as you want via podcasting. Even now our hard drives are becoming gigantic, so we can keep everything we down load. In case we might need it in the future.
It leaves us in a very sad state.
Chris Seay states these facts:
*we celebrate the birth of Christ by a binge of consumerism – $795.86 each. $154bn total spend.
*$18bn spend on makeup each year.
*$15bn on perfume.
* Pet food $17bn.
* For $5bn would solve illiteracy.
*For $10bn we can eliminate water shortage.
*$19bn to eliminate malnutrition.
It’s sad to say that’s there is enough money in the world to solve every problem, it’s just a matter of what it’s spent on instead.
April 26, 2007 at 11:12 pm
Thanks for the link – sorry you’re not here! Consumerism is something every single one of us wretles with all the time, US & everywhere else in the western world. Chris talked of how we need to think not only about how much we buy (I think of this as if I don’t need it, why do I buy it – sometimes it’s ok e.g. buying good food to celebrate can sometimes be the right thing to do, to savour it and to enjoy it) but also how do I spend the money. So the concept of a conscience consumer is very powerful. If there’s a fair trade alternative, why not buy that? It’s a challenge to me and one I’m still working through. This is potentially one of the biggest issues for the church to take head on and show that the gospel does actually talk of a different way of life. We’re called to create and cultivate culture, lets invest in that rather than just spending on consuming. Easier said than done?
April 27, 2007 at 6:39 am
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April 27, 2007 at 7:50 pm
You said it, baby. Too many joes and jills nowadays just spend, spend, spend, and have no dough left to give. The sooner they get a hold of themselves, the more they can give to The Man Upstairs. Thanks for spreading the word about using cash the right way.
April 30, 2007 at 9:28 pm
I don’t agree with tithing, but i personally don’t rationalize not tithing either. i use scripture to support my own view. the tithe is just one way to give. If we gave offerings like we were suppose to we wouldn’t have to lay down obligatory laws of tithing.