A Consumerist Spirituality
We live in a post-commitment society. Two-year cable deals have been replaced by monthly subscriptions to Netflix, long-term dating is threatened daily by the left-swipe on Tinder, and paying 99 cents to use a mobile application is asking too much of our loyalty. In a world now dominated by consumerist ideologies that offer a plethora of choices when it comes to products and services on the market, we are often scared of going all in. We are disturbed by the idea of settling for only one option and missing out on the next best thing. You and I continue to scroll endlessly on huge movie databases like Hulu without being able to choose what to watch, unaware that the driving force behind our hesitancy is not necessarily a matter of taste, but rather, a fear of commitment.
We often do not realize, however, how much our daily consumption shapes our spirituality. Our tendency to forgo commitment to the long-haul has seeped into our interaction with religious activities. Stefan Paas, a Dutch researcher of ecclesiastical communities, writes that people formerly treated churches as family, but within consumer culture, people view churches today like restaurants.[1] When the church is seen as a family, we go to events because we feel obliged by our strong relational ties, even when the activities themselves may be boring and do not provide us any value. Within Korean Adventist circles, strong family ties are still an important reason why many attend the Sabbath service, despite the worship experience not being the best. However, when the church is seen as a restaurant, those who attend may like the food (worship/sermon) that is served, but it does not necessarily mean that the same restaurant must be visited again the following week. Also, one does not become a member of a restaurant because there are always other options to try out in the area, and there is always the possibility of cooking your own meal at home. Paas continues to add that, after eating at a restaurant, it would be strange to ask the guests to wash the dishes. Therefore, in a consumer society, the church is not a community or family that I belong to and am responsible for, but a service that is provided to fulfill my spiritual desire for growth and self-realization. Therefore, whenever the church does not provide what I need, I have no reason to stay.
So how should our churches respond in an environment driven by capitalistic and consumerist ideals that constantly teach us to refuse long-term commitments and seek self-centered interests? Is it possible to successfully invite people into a life-long, covenantal relationship with Jesus Christ that will result in faithful, consistent engagement with the spiritual community?
Subscription models today have adjusted significantly. Digital products often offer a 30-day risk-free trial to access all its features before paying for the product in full. Psychologically, this makes sense. Committing to a product or service without ever experiencing it first-hand is nothing else but a leap of faith, and many users are not willing to make that jump at the initial stages of contact with a new product. However, when it comes to Christianity, we often hastily try to push seekers into a long-term commitment at their initial stages of contact with our community. Yet, I have often wondered if the church would ever provide room for the curious, for the individual who is wanting to experience fellowship with God and the community of believers before the added pressure of rushed commitments. Does Christianity give space for a trial period?
Charles Kraft, cultural anthropologist and missiologist, mentions that getting people to change their commitments at the worldview level happens by implementing two methods: (1) providing a new explanation or (2) providing a new experience.[2] As Adventists, I believe we are very efficient at informing people about our theological uniqueness, and inviting them to church on a Sabbath morning provides the seeker an opportunity to receive new information through the Bible study at Sabbath School or through the preaching. Yet, we are very poor in creating moments when people can truly experience the power of God and see the relevance of the Gospel in daily life situations.
I believe, therefore, that God’s invitation to “taste and see that Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8) should serve as a guiding principle in this consumer society that inclines towards experience before commitment. So how can Christian communities provide environments where people can “taste and see” God? Here are three simple changes that you can consider for your congregation:
Outreach vs. Worship Services
We need to rethink our strategy for the initial contact that we allow people to have with Adventism. Adventists are very good at inviting outsiders to our evangelistic meetings or our Sabbath morning services. These are often the environments that expose them to Adventism for the first time. However, they receive the information as passive observers, rather than being actively engaged. Studies continually show that this current generation is very pragmatic and wants to make a difference in the world. What would happen then if we decided to invite our friends to volunteer at an outreach program with us? What would be the case if they could actually see how our Gospel message brings healing to those suffering in our communities, and that they themselves can be a positive impact when they follow the principles of the Gospel. People today are looking for a religion that works, and churches should take advantage of this attitude.
Small Group Study vs. Collective Teaching
The larger gathering at church on Sabbath morning has its purpose, but often the teaching feels impersonal, and someone visiting for the first time might feel disconnected from the body because of lack of intimate ties. However, smaller gatherings provide a space where teaching does not need to take the form of a monologue, but can be interactive, dynamic, and allows room for the guests to ask questions concerning their own personal needs and spiritual journeys. Seeing the power of the Scriptures speaking into their own lives and providing wisdom to tackle their issues allows them to taste a bit of God’s goodness.
Belonging vs. Believing
Our fascination with baptism within the Adventist tradition has moved us to sometimes discriminate against those who are “in” and those who are “out.” At times, we have not allowed non-baptized individuals to take part in certain aspects of church leadership and community forming events. Can a non-baptized member sing at your church in the praise team? Are they allowed to do the Scripture reading before the message is preached? Can we empower them to maybe be part of a team that works with the media, or welcomes people at the church, or a planning committee for an event? How far would you allow a non-baptized member to participate and experience being part of a community before coming to a clear understanding of the Adventist message? These are questions that should be considered with care.
God has given Adventism a beautiful message that leads people to drink from the Water of life. The church must adapt in this consumer society as a prophetic witness to show that nothing in this world can satisfy what the human heart is longing for. God is calling us as a church to allow people to taste and see that He is good.
[1]Stefan Paas, “Mission Among Individual Consumers,” in The Gospel After Christendom: New Voices, New Cultures, New Expressions, ed. Ryan K. Bolger (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2012), 153.
[2]Charles Kraft, Anthropology for Christian Witness (Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books,199) 56–57.
Daniel is currently working on his Ph.D. in Mission and Intercultural Studies at Andrews University. He is highly interested in ways that postmodern, urban settings affect spirituality and missional living. He also currently pastors the One Hope Church, an English Ministry at the Queens Korean SDA Church in New York.