The Simple Pastor
By Phil Whittall, church planter, blogger & book reviewer
RT @lukedvd: Hope his resignation from the England manager job will allow @JoelVirgo to focus on his church duties #nomorehairdye 16 hrs ago
If you hadn’t noticed it’s nearly Christmas, that time of year where we go slightly loco with money and stuff, and it’s a unique event. Rampant consumerism and the celebration of the birth of Christ in a stable, and it was combining those two things that led to this very clever advert. Of course in the race to condemn all this excess we may kill all the fun or so thinks Sarah Dunn. This chart shows Christmas spending by country.
Unsurprisingly, in America despite not having the most money they will spend nearly the most on gifts. This is because, as Eugene Peterson says in this short video, the most materialistic we have ever known and shows how to handle wealth! (Ht: Mark Meynell)
It was following a drive through America that Tim Challies began to seriously think about the issue of money. He found this prayer on stuff and contentment and then ways to think wrongly about money. He then asks the questions do I have to give? And if so how much do I give?
This all goes to show that we live in a consumer age and it’s a pressure not evenly felt. By that I mean, as this post says, ‘UK parents seem to find themselves under tremendous pressure to purchase a surfeit of material goods for their children. This compulsive consumption was almost completely absent in both Spain and Sweden.’ A thesis that our personal experience can anecdotally support.
The best antidote is to be generous and to cultivate gratitude and that takes some thought. It’s worth thinking about.
I admit I often tend to end up doing more listening to the world than the Word but I’m working on it. Anyway, what does it tell you about the world when you come across something like this.
Swipely is a new social network (like we need another one) or perhaps more accurately something we can add into Facebook. Here’s the gist,
‘Essentially, with the swipe or a card or a simple mention, you can share with your network (or the world) what you just bought with your piece of plastic. After sharing it with the swipe of a card, you can talk about it, rate it, discuss the overall buying experience with anyone.’ - The Social Capitalist
Now maybe this is just me, but I’ve almost never talked about a buying experience – it’s never really been an experience at all. Our level of conversation is reduced to our purchases, the level of our relationships is reduced to where we shopped and what we bought. Not what we read or what we thought but what we bought. Don’t do it.
Firstly, the simple acknowledgement that the US ‘economy rests on consumption’ and its the same here in the UK. If we can agree on that, it just makes discussion of consumerism much easier. I’ve led seminars or workshops and have been asked often enough whether or not we should consume less if that means someone somewhere is going to end up unemployed. The thinking is that because we have a consumer based economy wouldn’t it be nationally irresponsible if all the Christians started buying less.
If we unpack that a little bit, there’s first at least the implicit agreement that Christians are probably spending their money pretty much like everyone else. Secondly, that our first responsibility is towards our national government (it’s not) and thirdly that giving isn’t actually a form of ‘spending’ (it is).
The article then reminds of the addictive nature of shopping, finding a ‘bargain’ triggers all the same nerve centres in the brain as drug addiction of compulsive behaviour. The shops know it just not all the shoppers. The paragraph ends with this telling line, ‘And it’s not even the material good that necessarily brings the joy—it’s often simply the anticipation of the find.’
Which is true, the actual item isn’t always the point of shopping, it’s the anticipation, the hope, the dreams that it fuels and the expectation that a little slice of happiness can be found with a swipe of the visa. Of course this is therapy we’re talking about not grocery shopping. We need therapy when we’re sad, when we’re sad we’re more self-centred and when we’re more self-centred we spend more on ourselves. In a consumer society then it’s in the national interest for us all to be slightly depressed.
Then a professor from the US says that in the run up to Christmas ‘shopping can act as a balm for those suffering from depression, anxiety, and loneliness during the holidays.’ But not a long-lasting balm, just one to get you through to January.
If the church is to be salt and light and is going to influence culture at all we must learn how to be an alternative community in a consumer society and not just a slightly less consumerist one.
Read the Mint post here
In 2004 I became one of the owners of a Christian bookshop. I believed that there was a place for a business that made Christian books, resources, music and most importantly the Bible readily available on the High Street. The selection of Bibles in your average Waterstones or WH Smith is, after all, not too great.
I believed that this shop could have a different ‘spirit’ to it, run (as best we could) with Christian values, that could offer employment and most importantly be a place that was a witness to non-believers and an encouragement to the family of God.
In this I think we have in some measure succeeded. Recently a woman gave her life to Christ right there in the shop, others have been prayed for, found encouragement and a listening ear. The coffee shop is beginning to provide a venue for fellowship and friendship. Not to mention those who have found the Word of God, resources to build faith, strengthen marriages, give generously, be creative, and live wholeheartedly for God. The stories continue to grow.
I hoped it would succeed and provide me with the opportunity to be generous with the proceeds and on this front we have failed. It’s a tough word failed, but when it comes to making money this bookshop has done the opposite. It’s been frustrating, confusing and painful. I was sure, I am sure that it was the Lord who led me to take on this old business and give it new life. In my head I know the life of even one soul who has found Christ is worth more than tens of thousands, my heart and bank balance struggle to agree.
There are a number of frustrations. I get cross with Christians who tick us off for selling say a Joyce Meyer book or The Shack because they think its theology is dodgy and then go and buy stuff from Amazon which sells any old godless crap. I get frustrated by the lack of reading and hunger to learn about our faith (it’s just such a wasted opportunity). I’m bothered by a belief that penny pinching somehow equals good stewardship, and upset that some churches think they have a divine right to a discount.
Anyway my time as the owner of a Christian bookshop is soon to come to an end but not I hope for the bookshop. I’m hoping that the Christians of Shrewsbury (and further afield) will see the vision I have, see the reasons why there should be illumination, light on the high street, why it’s important to help someone in person find a copy of the Bible they can read or give and will buy shares in a new charitable trust in order that not just the bookshop but the mission of the business can carry on. This video explains the campaign more
Help keep the light shining from Illuminate Trust on Vimeo.
If you want more information you can find out more by emailing trust@illuminatebooks.co.uk.
HT: To Andy & Gareth for plugs on their blogs
The more interesting thing perhaps that has been rumbling around, is that as an evangelical Christian I am out of step with society in LOTS of ways. This is uncomfortable but I think I’d better get used to the idea. It seems to me that government legislates with the tide of popular opinion which is flowing mostly against the example of Christ. It seems to me that more and more, the Church needs to be prepared to see itself as the early church saw itself – a missionary movement that stood out in contrast to the world of its day.
Here are some ways that I think I am completely out of step (not including my dress sense or choice in music):
Any others?
*Update* Just listened to this talk by Dave Holden on counter cultural churches, from the TOAM conference.
As a Christian I really want the way I live to have consistency, no Sunday only behaviour for me, well that’s the theory. So right now I’m considering the whole issue of where I buy my food and household items and so that puts supermarkets and for me and the better half Tesco right in the spotlight. So I’ve just finished reading ‘Shopped’ and it’s really made me think and we’re going to experiment and see the time and money implications of shopping elsewhere. Anyway for those interested in some of the issues in Shopped but aren’t going to read the whole book then try here for an interview with the author. I worry that I buy into personal crusades but JB is a respected journalist for her bio click here
Anyone changed the way they buy? Did it make any difference?
I need to talk to my wife as she is either to be highly praised above all women for showing such restraint and common sense or my credit card will be blitzed when she finds out how many more shoes she can buy just to be average! Is it just me or does 30 sound like a lot?
Aargh! Just read this 80 pairs and counting!!
I believe Jesus when he said 'life does not consist in the abundance of our possessions'. I believe he offers something better. This blog is mostly about that search.
I'm also a husband, a father, church planter, keen runner, reader, and motorcyclist. These and a few other things make guest appearances from time to time.
RSS
Twitter
Facebook
Google+
LinkedIn
Picasa
