I was reading the Gospel of Matthew today and came to the sobering realization that if I were alive at the time of Jesus Christ, I probably would not have been one of his disciples.
All Christians today like to think that if we were alive when Jesus walked the earth, we would be the thirteenth disciple.
I think most of us are delusional. I know I am.
In Matthew 8:19, a man comes to Jesus and says, “I’ll follow you!” It’s so easy to say. Isn’t it?
How does Jesus respond? He basically says, “If you follow me, you won’t have a home, an income, a bed to sleep in, or regular meals to eat. Still want to sign up?” (Matthew 8:20).
Take a real, good, hard, honest look at your life. Are you really willing to give up your house, your job, your bed, your income, and your meals to follow Jesus?
I know my own heart. I think I would have said, “Oh. Well… in that case… let me go home and ‘pray’ about it.” (Which is Christian lingo for “No.”)
And then I read this in Alan Hirsh’s book The Forgotten Ways:
I have come to the conclusion that for we who live in the Western world, the major challenge to the viability of Christianity is not Buddhism, with all its philosophical appeal to the Western mind, nor is it Islam, with all the challenge that it poses to Western culture. It is not the New Age that poses such a threat; in fact, because that is a genuine search going on in new religious movements, it can actually be an asset to we who are willing to share the faith amidst the search. All these are challenges to us, no doubt, but I have come to believe that the major threat to the viability of our faith is that of consumerism (p. 106).
Consumerism has actually become the driving idealogy of the church’s ministry (p. 110).
[Consumerism teaches us] that the thing that will complete us in a new kitchen or a house extension, whereas in fact these only add more stress to our mortgages and our families. … Offered “heaven now,” we give up the ultimate quest in pursuit of that which can be immediately consumed, be it a service, product, or pseudo-religious experience (p. 111).
What are your thoughts on all this?
I want to follow Jesus, but I also want to provide a nice home, good food, warm clothing, and a soft bed for my wife and three girls. How can that be incompatible with following Jesus? I don’t see how it can be, but maybe I’m just drunk on consumerism and am in denial. Any suggestions?
I don’t believe just caring for your family is consumerism. In our western culture a house, clothes, etc. are necessities. When it becomes consumerism is when we HAVE to have all the latest gadgets, top of the line, most expensive clothes, cars, etc. And as far as “the church”, why can’t they just meet in a school, house, park…why do millions of dollars have to be invested in stone, carpet, iron, wood, stained glass windows, etc. To me that is consumerism.
Jerrie,
I think that is a good distinction. God expects us to care for and provide for our families, but there is difference between doing this, and greedily coveting all the additional trappings of a materialistic society and culture.
Maybe the answer to consumerism is not to own nothing, but instead learning to live in a way that is sustainable.
Consumerism’s biggest problem is waste not being used.
“Take a real, good, hard, honest look at your life. Are you really willing to give up your house, your job, your bed, your income, and your meals to follow Jesus?”
Easy answer: Nope. I’m not willing to give anything up, and yet, I’m still going to follow him just fine, and he’s still going to accept me.
My thoughts: “[Consumerism teaches us] that the thing that will complete us in a new kitchen or a house extension, whereas in fact these only add more stress to our mortgages and our families.”
His premise is absurd.
Consumerism is a problem? Sounds deep and spiritual. Too bad it’s not. Consumerism isn’t the real problem, the real problem is ignorance. People don’t understand god’s love for them, so naturally, they go searching for a substitute. It’s just like anything else. This age old argument has been proven wrong countless times.
I can testify to this fact personally.
Hmm. Excellent points. I think I pretty much agree with you. I would like to think that if Jesus asked me to give up some of my possessions, I would follow Him (in fact, as I think back, I have given up jobs and homes and family to follow where He leads….), but I agree with you that the real problem is ignorance, and especially ignorance about God’s love.
Thank you for the insights Jerrine Regan and Ulf Jetter. I think you are both right about what consumerism is and isn’t.