
How prevalent is consumerism within the church? Unfortunately, church attendance and a consumeristic mindset are correlated.
By Aaron Earls
The prosperity present in the American church presents numerous opportunities for Christians to use their resources to support and expand the work of God’s kingdom. However, there are also the temptations inherent in wealth.
Jesus warned His followers about the pull of money on our heartstrings. He explicitly said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21, CSB). Many churchgoers may have their bodies in a pew each week, but their hearts are on Amazon, according to a Lifeway Research study.
Lifeway Research asked five questions related to consumerism to see how prevalent the perspective is across America and within the church. Unfortunately, attending religious services and embracing a consumeristic mindset are correlated.
Those who attend religious services more than once a week are the most likely to say shopping makes them feel worthwhile (61%) and they know they’re getting ahead when they have nice things (56%). They’re also among the most likely to say they’re driven to accumulate nice things (61%) and like to have the latest technology (55%).
Pastors should be aware of these tendencies and temptations because they can hinder the spiritual growth of Christians and the discipleship impact of a church. Leaders may be immediately and more acutely aware of how consumerism can impact churchgoers’ generosity, but other dangers can also emerge.
“Leaders may be immediately and more acutely aware of how consumerism can impact churchgoers’ generosity, but other dangers can also emerge.” — @wardrobedoor Share on XSeeing church services as a production to observe
Churchgoers may be in the pews and feel that’s all they need to do. With a consumeristic perspective, attendees see services as performances to watch and appreciate, not avenues for participation and worship.
The mindset shift places the individual as the focal point and not God. The consumer attends church asking, “What can I get out of this?” not “How can I serve God and others?”
Treating faith as merely a helpful add-on
If consumerism governs a person’s heart, following Jesus must take a back seat. It can be a nice addition to that person’s life but will not take preeminence.
For the 56% of weekly attendees who believe they’re getting ahead when they have nice things, their faith could even feel like a hindrance to what they really desire—upward social mobility.
They may never express it in those terms, but Christ can never rule their lives because they’re too full of stuff and the need to have more stuff. So Christianity becomes just another accessory in their lives.
If all vestiges of their faith were removed from their lives but they maintained their current standard of living, they’d hardly notice.
Avoiding obedience in difficult areas
Those viewing life through a consumeristic lens will find it difficult to obey Christ when it costs something.
“Those viewing life through a consumeristic lens will find it difficult to obey Christ when it costs something.” — @wardrobedoor Share on XWhen Scripture commands the consumeristic person to do something they don’t want to do, Scripture must be wrong because the customer is always right.
Consumerism tells us we deserve to be happy and comfortable, and the way to achieve that is through buying more things. Christianity calls us to be holy and joyful despite our circumstances because Jesus is more important than anything.
Captured by cultural and technological trends
Those who attend religious services most frequently are among the most likely to say they’re driven to accumulate nice things (61%) and like to have the latest technology (55%). This consumeristic mindset leaves them open to other cultural trends that pull them away from faith.
Despite what we may think, culture and technology are not neutral. They shape us, often and most pervasively, when we’re unaware of it.
As people chase more nice things and the latest technology, they may also become shaped by that pursuit. Their goals and the aim of their lives subtly shift away from God’s desires to their own.
Searching for worth and success apart from Jesus
Perhaps most heartbreaking are the 3 in 5 people (61%) who attend religious services at least weekly and say shopping makes them feel worthwhile. Along with the more than half (56%) who say they know they’re getting ahead when they have nice things, these individuals don’t realize what they have or can have in Christ.
“Make certain those who sit under the teaching at your congregation know they can find the abundant life they seek at the cross of Calvary, not the checkout at Target.” — @wardrobedoor Share on XWe already have inherent dignity and worth because God created us in His image. That doesn’t change whether we have money to spend or not.
We are successful as we faithfully follow Jesus. Our bank account or home full of gadgets and trinkets won’t give us what we’re looking for.
Those who attend church regularly should know these truths, but there are many who don’t. Make certain those who sit under the teaching at your congregation know they can find the abundant life they seek at the cross of Calvary, not the checkout at Target.
For permission to republish this article, contact Marissa Postell Sullivan.
