Monday, September 17, 2007

Serious Question.



If I move to a different church because I think my present church is too consumer-driven in its stories and practices, does that make me a hypocrite?

(I'm asking hypothetically, Pete.)

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Only if you do so impulsively.

Anonymous said...

Of course it does, but then you would only be joining the rest of us who wear that label proudly.

Sorry I missed you on my recent trip to Kentucky. I stopped by Joseph Beth 3 times, but you were no where to be found, dude.

Mark Van Steenwyk said...

Nope. I don't think it does. There were viable reasons for leaving a church before consumerism began to shape our understanding of choice and decisions. In other words, it is possible to leave a church and choose another one without doing so consumeristically. Opting out of one church because it is too consumer driven is a theological issue. The question to me is whether the fact that you are shaped by consumerism is making it easier for you to leave that church and opt into another one.

Kyle said...

I'm not sure what I expected, but these are interesting responses. I will think on this. Thank you.

+ Alan said...

I think I know what you're defining "hypocrite" against here. So the answer is, as I'm thinking about it right now, it depends. It depends on what your definition of "consumerism" is as relates to a church. Is it a good definition? Is it overly scrupulous in that area? Those would be good questions to answer.

It basically comes down to a conscience issue I think. Can you, in good conscience, remain and be a part of a particular church? Are there deep reasons that would make this conscientiously impossible? Those are questions to be seriously investigated and answered. Just a couple of thoughts.

Garrett said...

I'm desperately searching for a joke about hippogriffs, but I haven't found one yet...

Anonymous said...

it only makes you a "hypocrite" if you were involved in the consumerism, and then out of no wair you claim "BAH, this is wrong...im finding a new church!"...and then yet u continue to take part in consumerism at your new church.