The Commercial Church
Thursday, April 30, 2009 at 9:47AM MAD21 By MAD21
In the fast-moving pace of today, it's easy to be swept away by all the things coming at us. We are constantly being bombarded by things trying to get our attention to either buy, read, donate, visit, watch, etc. Everything has become about how to get our attention, how to entertain us, how to get us to do something, us, us, us.
Stop for a minute. Should it be that way? Before all the technology, before there was a need to be doing and going all the time, the Church was a main focal point in the majority of families. And... it was NOT all about us, us, us.
Aaron Van Voorhis discusses this issue in Relevant Magazine in his article, "The Commercial Church." In it, he says, "The Church is no longer seen as the sole proprietor of truth and spirituality. Church attendance continues to drop. But just listen to songs on the radio, dialogue on TV and in movies. Theological messages—veiled and not so veiled—are everywhere, creating a swamp of spirituality. And so the Church struggles to have its voice heard...The problem is that the Church believes it must compete with commercial enterprises, mass marketing and the entertainment industry to reach and influence people."
While it's nice to have all the latest gadgets and programs, big screens and expensive sound systems, our churches need to remember why we are there, why they are there. We are not coming to be entertained or to have something sold to us. We are there to worship the God who made us. To fellowship with Him and other followers. It's not about us, it's about Him. It's about who we are through Him and learning how to get better at being children of God.
This week, let's all reflect on how much we have coming at us and how we can turn off some of the noise so we can focus on what's real, not what someone is trying to sell us. The Church is important, both the function of the church and the people of the Church. As Aaron Van Voorhis puts it, "...the Church is still vital. We are relevant, but not as a show, product or media."
Church, Commercialism, Faith, From the Heart in Faith
Reader Comments (1)
It's very unfortunate that the article that inspired this post has been taken down. I've been trying to see if they moved it to another location on Relevant's site to no avail. If I find it, I will post the new link.