Watching Donald Miller's "Non-Commercial Thoughts on Christianity" yesterday during the breakout session at my church's small group leader training, I was struck again by how completely and utterly Christians buy "the magic pill to ultimate fulfillment" argument. What Miller said: if we think "if I just pray the right way and for the right amount of time and for the right reasons, God will bless me and I will find ultimate fulfillment" we are wrong, wrong, wrong. The prayer is less important than the praying. The prayer is what we say (as pathetic as that might be). Praying is talking to God, advancing and deepening the relationship.
When our church was in the midst of the "40 Days of Purpose" campaign, I nearly experienced a nervous breakdown. I mean, here was this book that was basically telling me I was doing it all wrong, living my life incorrectly, and I'd better shape up and discern God's purpose for me (using, of course, the book) or my life was a complete waste. Where was the grace of God? Certainly, not in that book. Miller cites Matthew 6 (using Eugene Peterson's The Message), where Jesus basically says that this is pure nonsense.
The pill, the formula, the structure -- Miller notes that's all our way of retaining control. If we just take it, do it, or follow it, we'll reach ultimate fulfillment, without any other investment on our part. Not unlike the millions of promises made in the far reaches of the diet industry: if we do thus and such, we'll lose 50 pounds, life will be wonderful, we'll have all sorts of friends, etc. etc.
I agree with Miller: I don't believe it any more.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Christianity commercialized
I'm leading a breakout session at my church's small group leader conference today. "Leading" is a loose term, because my main function will be to press play and watch the brilliant Donald Miller speak on "non-commerical thoughts on Christianity" with the attendees.
Worst-case scenario, of course, would be that I would have quell a riot. After all, no self-respecting (and often self-righteous) Christian would consider herself a perpetuator of the commercialism of Jesus Christ. And yet, Miller says, that's exactly what we've done, what we do, and what we will continue to do if we don't think carefully about the language we use and the promises we make (not that Scripture makes) if only our non-believing friends would change their minds.
Miller, in essence, says we use the language of our free market economy to translate the Gospel. Commercials, print ads, whatever are based on the process of making the viewer or reader NEED the item being advertised. To do this, the ads convince them that all they need in life is this item, and everything will be better. Perfect, even.
Come on, you say. I'm smarter than that! I don't fall for the promises of advertising! Nobody's that dumb!
Then why do companies spend millions of dollars to send you that message? Someone is believing it!
How many times have well-meaning Christians make glib remarks to the effect of "no Jesus, no life; know Jesus, know life"? That's translating the Gospel through the language of economics. In other words, your life is downright pathetic without this product and if you just purchase it, your life will be complete. If you just accept Jesus in your life, you will have ultimate fulfillment.
Let's be honest. Is that true?
Worst-case scenario, of course, would be that I would have quell a riot. After all, no self-respecting (and often self-righteous) Christian would consider herself a perpetuator of the commercialism of Jesus Christ. And yet, Miller says, that's exactly what we've done, what we do, and what we will continue to do if we don't think carefully about the language we use and the promises we make (not that Scripture makes) if only our non-believing friends would change their minds.
Miller, in essence, says we use the language of our free market economy to translate the Gospel. Commercials, print ads, whatever are based on the process of making the viewer or reader NEED the item being advertised. To do this, the ads convince them that all they need in life is this item, and everything will be better. Perfect, even.
Come on, you say. I'm smarter than that! I don't fall for the promises of advertising! Nobody's that dumb!
Then why do companies spend millions of dollars to send you that message? Someone is believing it!
How many times have well-meaning Christians make glib remarks to the effect of "no Jesus, no life; know Jesus, know life"? That's translating the Gospel through the language of economics. In other words, your life is downright pathetic without this product and if you just purchase it, your life will be complete. If you just accept Jesus in your life, you will have ultimate fulfillment.
Let's be honest. Is that true?
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