Over on Cerulean Sanctum, Dan Edelen has called for a brainstorming session:

What I want to hear from you is how the Church in America can better live out the Faith. That goes from the way our church services work, to how we serve others and evangelize, to how we raise our children for Christ. I’m throwing open the floodgates.

I think much of our methodology has failed, but we’ve been unwilling to admit it. We’ve also not been listening to the Lord’s leading–or His correction. I get the feeling sometimes that He’s shouting at us, but we’re too spiritually deaf to hear Him.

So now’s the opportunity for you to say what’s on your heart. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday I’ll be gathering your recommendations. Doesn’t matter what denomination you’re from or whether you consider yourself Emerging or Traditional, Charismatic or not, let me know what you think the Church can do better. But more than that, let me know HOW it can be done better. I think we’re all tired of people grousing about the Church, but who have no answers. Now’s the brainstorming time.

Well, I’m not part of the Church in America, but there are many issues in common across the Western world, so I’ve joined in the conversation. Here’s the contribution that I’ve posted as a comment on his blog:

I think one of the issues that the church in the West really needs to get to grips with is that of Consumerism.

I’m partway through my English Literature & History degree at Cardiff University here in the UK, and last academic year I studied a unit “History of mass communications and culture”. It was really interesting, since it gave an overview of how the media works and its impact on culture (something that’s very helpful to be informed about as Christians) as well as various other things like Consumerism and Globalisation.

Consumerism isn’t an easy thing to define in a short sentence, so I’ll describe it. It’s when people create their identity by the goods they consume. It’s the pursuit of fulfilment not just in Stuff (just plain materialism) but in More Stuff – always consuming, always seeking more. It’s when people passively choose between options given to them, rather than taking an active role in changing things or producing something new.

The advertising industry is one of the big engines that drives consumerism, and it works by making people discontent so they will carry on buying. Our society works to make people unhappy about their appearance, their level of comfort, their social standing and the like. The implicit message of most adverts is “You can be sexy/sophisticated/cool/ethical/whatever image we’re trying to sell, if only you buy our product!” Consumerism works not by fulfilling people’s real needs, but manufacturing new needs. Consumerism is an addiction that can never satisfy, because it works by manufacturing discontent.

Over the last 50 years, our levels of consumption rocketed massively, yet we are no happier and are considerably more stressed and anxious as we try and keep up with the constant cycles of “More Stuff!” To fuel this, we’ve been exploiting the rest of the world and squandering the planet’s resources. Consumerism isn’t just stupid, it’s corrupt and immoral too.

It’s also an attitude that can infec our behaviour in every area of life. Take spiritual consumerism, for example, where the individual flits from church to church looking to receive what satisfies them, rather than being involved and committed to mutual loving service as part of a body of believers.

My university lecturer really went to great lengths to show all the problems with consumerism – we should have that kind of preaching from our pulpits. As a church, we have largely bought into this way of thinking and living hook, line and sinker. If you compare the lifestyle and spending of Christians with non-Christians of similar income, there is usually only a very superficial difference, sadly.

Firstly, as individuals and churches, we need to be islands of contentment in a raging sea of discontent. We need to model distinctive ways of living. “The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want” is a revolutionary statement. If we truly do not worry and do not chase after the things the pagans chase after, then we will live very differently. We need to take radical action to break the hold of possessions on our hearts – sell what we have and give to the poor, perhaps! As communities we need to build the support networks so that we can turn to each other rather than to stuff. Get our churches to have lists on which people can put things that they own that they are willing to share with others. Why have every family have the same DVDs over and over when one family can say that they’re happy for anyone to borrow a particular DVD from them? And more practically, things like tools and services and so on. Small steps in sharing, but it’s a start in becoming less possessive and more inter-dependent.

Secondly, we need to seek to influence and persuade society to change its attitudes. People are beginning to realise that consumerism can never satisfy. Given the choice, many people would prefer more time to invest in family, friends and leisure activities rather than constantly slaving to get the latest consumer goods.

Thirdly, we need to change the structures and practices of our, society, government and economy. If people suddenly stopped buying “More Stuff!” the economy would come crashing down. We need Christian economists to develop models of a post-consumerist economy, an economics of contentment and service, and work out how we can make the shift to it without causing economic hardship.

That’s a quick summary of my view of Consumerism. I hope that you’ll also join in in brainstorming how we can really make a difference in the world as Christians.