A Consumer Society

We had a favourite restaurant, We liked the menu. We liked the ambience. We liked the food. AND it was nearby. Then a new waitress appeared. To say we rubbed each other the wrong way would be an understatement. So we found out when she was scheduled to work, and avoided the restaurant on those days. Whenever we appeared we were greeted warmly and continued to enjoy what they had to offer, just not as often. She has since left and we are now appearing more often. However, we were able to continue to both enjoy what that restaurant had to offer and to give them the benefit of our money, albeit on a reduced scale, over that time.

You have a favourite clothing store that you visit regularly. Then they change the style of clothing that they carry. You might go in occasionally when there is a sale, or a special event, just to see what is there and maybe pick up a couple of pieces. It would be ridiculous if they should meet you at the door and say you weren’t welcome, that they didn’t want your business, because you haven’t been a loyal customer.

We live in what has been called a consumer society. There are at least two meanings that come to mind when I hear that phrase. First is a society that runs on the visible consumption of the people in the society. While this may be the prevalent meaning today, a consumer society is also a society that offers enough options to the people that they are able to choose the ones that best suit their needs at any particular time. No longer do we all have to patronize the village store… or the parish church, for that matter.

Medicare hasn’t reached the point where they tell you which doctor you have to go to, nor do dentists or optometrists refuse to treat you if they discover you have gone to another dentist for treatment.

We all have differing temperaments, differing needs, and differing strengths. The problem arises when we are called on to make the decision whether to continue building on our strengths were we feel safe and comfortable or to strive for real maturity by challenging our weaknesses. As I get older, I find that I have less and less time that I am willing to give over to strengths that are already there. Where I find fulfillment is in pushing the edges of those strengths, my strengths; in choosing to spend my time doing those things that are challenging to me rather than doing things just because they are expected or to please the status quo.

So why do churches [or at least the people that are in charge of them] feel that they have a right to expect that that their church is the only place where you don’t have the freedom to go when and where works for you the best. If you prefer one preacher over another, if you like one style of service better, if you only go when your best friend shows up, it SHOUDN’T matter. What should matter is that once again you have come to be part of that community. And that by coming, you are also growing.

Just as a restaurant or a store can't be all things to me all the time, neither can a specific church. I would hope that the church would be as gracious in welcoming me back in the door whenever I should choose to return and for whatever reason, as the restaurants and stores are. Churches like stores and restaurants are in ‘business’ of attracting and keeping customers. Just as the secular sector is concerned with meeting my needs better, so to should the church. However the attitude that greets me inside church doors most often is ‘You are not welcome here until you conform to our rules and expectation. You have different ones? Too bad!”

I know that many of you are thinking “But that’s different,. That’s the church.” And I agree! However why should the secular sector live out the commandment to ‘Treat others as you want to be treated' which the church feels free to disregard? Just asking!!

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