What Place Does American Consumerism Have in the Christian Faith?

I have just recently read a great article by Christianity Today on how American culture has affected Christianity or to be more exact, how Christianity in America has succumbed to the greed of American consumerism.

The article is "Leader's Insight: From Christ's Church to iChurch: How consumerism undermines our faith and community." by Skye Jethani.

Jethani argues that we are what we consume. He believes that we create our identity through what we buy. I agree that people try to identify themselves by what they drive and wear. Some people judge others on what they own or don't own too.

"Alan Wolf, a leading sociologist and the director of the Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life, has concluded that, "In the United States culture has transformed Christ, as well as all other religions found within these shores. In every aspect of the religious life, American faith has met American culture-and American culture has triumphed."

Does Christianity in America need mega-churches to survive? Do we need lavish furnishings in our buildings? I would say no, in fact I am strongly against the Mega-church concept. Home churches in the first century thrived with real growth that can't be measured by numbers, even while they were under persecution. Numbers do not indicate the health of a church, in fact when I hear a church has thousands of members I normally just assume it is not well off. Mega-churches have no way for the members to really get to know each other and minister to each other. You can have hundreds of small groups but that doesn't guarantee people will join them.

Another reason I am against the mega-church model is that the church leadership grossly waste the resources given to them by their congregation. Mega-churches are never built with minimalism in mind. They waste money that could be spent on things that people actually need.

When people are struggling to survive all over the world and there are missionaries who are struggling with out supplies, what comes to mind as something we should spend our money on?
Yes...of course...a huge Jesus statue. This way people will know for sure that we follow Jesus because he sitting right in front of our church. Freaking brilliant.... Check out this link to see what I am talking about. Associated content won't let me embed images. :(

"Roger Finke and Rodney Stark, co-authors of The Churching of America, 1776-1990, argue that ministry in the U.S. is modeled primarily on capitalism with pastors functioning as a church's sales force, and evangelism as its marketing strategy."

(Sarcasm)You too can be come a millionaire, the mega-church business model is a proven long term investment that will work for you!! Just think about it, thousands of people giving you money every week! (/Sarcasm)

The Apostle Paul warned against ministers who sought after money in 1 Timothy 6:9-11
"But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.

For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness."
He also tells us before that in verses 7-8 that we should be content in what we have.
"For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.

If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content."

Ministers need accountability today, the story of Ted Haggard proves that. Churches should make sure that their ministers are getting paid since "the laborer is worthy of his wages". However, we should not have the ministers living lifestyles that are more decadent than the majority of the congregation or even the poorest of the congregation.

If American Christians took 1 Timothy 6:7-8 seriously we would see a totally different church today.

I will be the first to admit that I am a hypocrite. I own an iPod (3rd Generation 10GB), I am typing this post on my 2004 iBook G4. I know that I am not living these words out as much as I should. I started changing my life two years ago so I could become more minimalistic, however I have not reached the my goal totally. I do not follow Asceticism because it is not Biblical and I do not think that I am better than anyone else because of my lifestyle. I was convicted by God stop pursuing stuff a while ago and to start pursuing His kingdom. My minimalist lifestyle is the just the natural progression of that.