As Black Friday approaches, I am struck again by guilt over my consumerism idolatry. I see the sign "SALE" or "GREAT DEALS" and it draws my attention and often my money. If you are like me, then we must battle against "the religion of consumerism (see note below)."
Yet this year I want to offer us a different opportunity. Give the gift that makes a difference. Honor someone by doing something good! Donate a gift in the name of a loved one! The trend to give in honor of someone is not new (as Clay McDaniel posted on the Mashable blog) but it can now be touted in your social network through social media. Amazing!
The Grace Brethren Internationals Missions has a gift catalog that offers many ways to help people from all over the world. (When their site is back up, I'll post the link directly to their catalog) Like many missions organizations that offer opportunities to give a goat, a cow, or a bike--e.g. Worldvision, this year my family is going to pool our resources together and give a gift in our family name. I need the input of our family to decide what to give. But I'll post what the Butler's decide to do.
So, this year consider giving a gift that changes a life in honor of someone you love. Let them know about it. And watch God use our resources to bless others around the world. Please let me know if you are going to
make a difference too.
Please read what I chose to do, "What to give at Christmas" post.
"Religion of consumerism" is a phrase that I heard on CD from Deb Hirsch sharing at the Organic Church Movements Conference (February 8-10, 2008). My friend Mike Jentes (CMA Resources) sent me the CDs. Her comments are from her session on 7 Obstacles to Mission. I greatly learned a new perspective from her thoughts ministering to the gay/lesbian/transgender people in New Zealand.
Posts
11 comments:
I think people battle the "Religion of consumerism" in part because they don't see the Pastors that are to lead the way addressing this issue themselves. Many times they live in the wealthiest areas of the city (while telling us these homes in these areas should not be our focus), drive the latest vehicles (while praising Pastor's that drive 8 year old cars), and they all gather to eat out on the town for lunch more often than not. Meanwhile their Church building is filled with the latest gaming devices, televisions, etc...
When questioned how they can speak against a "Religion of consumerism" and yet show no fruits to exhibit that they do more than give lip service to this argument they say... Well..."We must use our wealth to earn friends for the Kingdom"
Tony, thanks for your comment. But I wonder if you could offer more than just criticism. I do want to hear what you are thinking, but if you are only going to attack and criticize with no desire to offer constructive criticism for the areas where I fail to follow Christ with full devotion—then you’ll just get more frustrated.
My concern is for you to learn and to grow, not argue with you about how your perceptions and my perceptions don’t agree. My mission is to develop all people into fully devoted followers of Christ. I am on this journey. You can perceive from a distance who you think I am. But only God truly knows. So, my question to you and all who read my blog is, “What are you doing to be more fully devoted to God?”
It’s not only pointing out areas where others may fail. And I do fail. I fail often. But it’s about where you can grow and be more fully devoted to God. I am not where I’d like to be in my own journey in following God. So if you feel that I am not where I should be, then please tell me. But don’t just accuse the lot of us of corrupt motivation without offering how you are moving forward in your commitment to follow the Lord Jesus better. Your movement forward in full devotion just may help us all out.
Your comment reads like someone who has a lot going on in your heart. I’d love to talk with you offline, if you are willing. Please email me at dbutler@woostergrace.org.
It sounds like the description in my previous post sounds familiar to you. I hadn’t stated that I was describing your organization anywhere in the previous post. In addition, you labeled this description as “the areas where I fail to follow Christ with full devotion”. That was of interest to me. I’m curious, in my concern for you and your leadership to learn and grow….what would be consider “constructive criticism”? What could one say that would cause all of you to pause and consider what the person is saying? It appears that anything that your leadership hasn’t deemed ordained by God would be the work of the Enemy.
The items I pointed out in the previous post were not merely “perceptions” but lean more towards factual. Of the examples given, which one is not correct? It’s also interesting to me that you never addressed the items I mentioned but simply responded with a personal attack on my questions. How can you obviously perceive the items mentioned as “areas where I fail” but in the same breath never acknowledge or address these items or their validity? I do believe your description of “corrupt motivation” is somewhat presumptuous but at the same potentially accurate. I do give you credit that you have offered a blog and opened yourself to this conversation and not hide behind a false veil of transparency (like the others). On the other hand, unfortunately there will come a point when one has to come to the realization that beneath the exterior image of Wooster Grace are cracks that threaten the very foundation the leadership tries to uphold. These cracks are in fact the “Religion of Consumerism” that will one day be exposed.
I suggest constructive criticism would entail sharing how God is teaching you to put into your life that you perceive is lacking in me—give a concrete example from your life for others to read and to move closer in following God. That’s what I intend my blog to be. Chronicle my journey with God. I’d love to have you point out where you think we fall short and then offer how we can move closer towards God. If you can’t, then you’ll have to just agree to disagree. Unless you only want to argue, then this blog is not the venue. Life change. How are you following God more closely? Admonition without instruction is not helpful.
Please read again my attempt at responding to what the Lord is speaking into my life. Please read post entitled, "What to give at Christms"
Thanks for letting me know that you see cracks that need shoring up. I don’t agree, but at least I hope I understand what you said.
But I will try to post how I am growing in my journey with God. If you’ll take my lead, then others will grow and learn too.
It’s not surprising to me that your approach to everything I say is a defensive, evasive posture. This is a known quality for your leadership when truly questioned about your motives, agenda and pursuits. The continual questioning or twisting my original comments has done everything but addressed the comments originally posted. Except for stating “you’ll have to just agree to disagree”. A typical response from your leadership when questioned in any manner that doesn’t support their decisions. No matter how questionable God’s blessing or involvement in that decision may be.
Instead of addressing the questions and comments it appears you’ve found it more convenient to accuse me of being argumentative? This too is typical of your leadership.
You stated that constructive criticism would entail sharing how God is teaching me to put my life that which is lacking in yours (in this case your leadership at Wooster Grace). If you need me to point out the obvious I will. I don’t tell a congregation to NOT do something and then do it myself.
One day the amount of contractions from your leadership will be made available for all to see. It is then that the your leadership will have to answer for their contradictory pursuits and agenda that up to now has gone unnoticed by the innocent participants.
In most cases it is impossible to reason with anger, and Tony, you are obviously angry. I would suggest that you become involved in any of the local outreach ministies that originate @ Grace. I believe that, if you did, your perceptions about the ministerial staff @ Grace would be changed, and that you would be blessed.
David...
Perceptive... maybe, but not angry. But there you go again labeling me, attacking me personally and still never addressing the original conversation. The have taught you well. As I heard Bob Fetterhoff say at church about someone that sent him a letter or email questioning him. He stated he finds that anyone that does this has a marriage that's falling apart or they cheat on their taxes or they're addicted to porn, etc...
Speaking of perceptive, he apparently knows everyone's heart? Is this how all of you approach someone who has questions? Don't see if the person has a valid point, never address the concern, just attack and label this person and hope you scare them off?
And you want me to become involved with your local ministry? No thanks, If I did and then had a question about something...I'd be labeled an angry, adulterous, pervert that cheats on my taxes.
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10.... no more anger, as if I was to begin with?
I'm not labeling you as anything, Tony. Your comments go beyond critisism.
I merely suggest that you involve yourself in a real way, not simply post comments that lack any real understanding of the truth.
I have been seeking the truth on my own, not as a part of woostergrace, for more than fifty years, believe me I have not been brainwashed @ Grace. God bless you, and keep you. And pay your taxes.
"and Tony, you are obviously angry" sounds like labeling to me? Please be assured that the Lord is using me in a real way. One of those ways is helping others to see where he is not. Have a blessed Christmas.
So, in sum, Tony does not like churches where he perceives pastors have a "do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do" manner; but Dave disagrees because he has served with pastors who serve others in a "do-as-I-do" way.
Readers, you can read my own journey by starting with my post, "Giving my kids what I did not have (dated Thu Dec 10)," then you can decide where I am on my journey in Christ. Please note that this blog chronicles my journey; not that of other pastors.
Readers, please also note that no one has yet adressed the original comments posted concerning a "Religion of Consumerism" and the attributes of which that can be found at Wooster Grace. Pastor Daron himself recognized these attributes in my original post with no mention of Wooster Grace in that post? And yet Daron Butler has justified the presence of these attributes of "Religious Consumerism" by ignoring the fact they exsist in his orginazation.
I guess will just have to agree to disagree.
Post a Comment