Spirit of Consumerism 8.23

Smyrna & the Spirit of Consumerism

About a week or so ago, Bree and I watched a cute film. It was well done. But for the first several scenes, I was pretty frustrated with the main character, and not sure if I was going to be able to finish the film.

You see, the main character, She has an addiction to shopping. She loves to shop. It’s her curse. She can pretty much think of nothing else; the smells, the new cloth, the adrenaline of a new purchase. She is upside down in credit, and doesn’t know where to go, what to do, or how to get out of the habits she’s in. The film starts with her in route to a job interview, seeing a new green scarf in a store front window, rationalizing the need to buy it and wear it, to ensure her ability to get the new job. She decides she needs the scarf so badly that she pays for part of it in cash, and part of it on 3 different credit cards – because they’re all nearly maxed out!

Our text this morning from Revelation 2:8-11 is written to the church in Smyrna. We are looking at it in light of a Spirit of Consumerism. It might not be relevant right off that the church in Smyrna is caught in a spirit of consumerism, but as we look at their situation, we can’t help but wonder, how are we - here in Seattle, wherever we are, in our own lives - caught in a spirit of consumerism.

To give a little background, the city of Smyrna was located adjacent to a deep gulf which made it a desirable location for nearly every major political power. The city was in constant turmoil, destruction and rebuilding. Author/Pastor Scott Daniels says Rome takes most of the credit for Smyrna’s resurrection.

In the minds of the first-century citizens of Smyrna, it was because of their allegiance to Roma and the gods of the empire that their life as a major city had been restored. Even the buildings that surrounded the city during this time were symbolic of the gods’ favor. As one approached the city by boat, the great buildings looked like a crown or garland adorning the cliffs; it’s said, to encourage poets to speak of the spectacular skyline of the city as ‘the crown of Smyrna.”

The city was in a place of prestige with the Roman Empire. However the church was not. The church in Smyrna faced threats from two directions. The first was Rome, with the people becoming increasingly willing to worship the great empire. It became the practice of the people, like their patriotism, to once a year go to the alter and burn a pinch of incense, doing so gave the citizens a certificate that verified they had participated in their civic duty. The second and more challenging came from the Jewish community of Smyrna, who had developed a co-operative understanding with the Romans to worship their God freely as long as they were willing to participate in various civic aspects of the city’s life. Although many of the Christians in Smyrna were certainly Jewish, gentiles were also converting to the Christian faith. So, as new believers sought affiliation with the Jewish faith, hoping for the ability to no longer participate in the cultic worship practices of the empire, they were openly rejected by the Jewish citizens of Smyrna, leaving them outside the umbrella of protection afforded the Jewish population and thus vulnerable to persecution.

This brings us to the poverty of the Smyrna church. It is probable that this poverty is a literal material poverty and not a spiritual poverty. The economic welfare of the believers, we may assume was not due alone to their normal economic condition but to confiscation of property, looting, and the difficulty of earning a living in a hostile environment.

From the perspective of earth, the city of Smyrna is rich and powerful. The city wears the crown bestowed on it by the empire. From the perspective of earth, the Christians of Smyrna are not only poor and foolish, but also suspicious outsiders who refuse to participate in the systems of power that make the city great. From the perspective of heaven, however, the city of Smyrna is poor because it has placed its hope and trust in powers that cannot survive “the second death”.

It’s interesting that of the seven churches spoken of in Revelation, the church of Smyrna, with its empirical poverty, is the only one to still exist. It remains a vibrant center of Eastern Orthodox worship and education.

I was watching this film “Confessions of a Shopaholic” with Bree the other day, and here I am, discussing the Spirit of Consumerism. The girl in the film, had a spirit of consuming about her. She wouldn’t think to look in the closet for an outfit to wear to a special occasion; the mall was the only place to look.

This is pretty common of our society isn’t it! We have a spirit of consumerism. I do it, and I know you do too. I did it this week. Perhaps this is my “confessions of a consumerist.” Anyway, Bree and I went to the bookstore on Thursday and a book popped out to us. As I flipped through it, it made me laugh and I bought it.

The book I bought is titled: Little-Known FACTS about Well-Known PLACES – Disneyland.
Here let me highlight a few of my favorite random facts about Disneyland.
Did you know: There is a regulation-size half-court on which employees can play basketball inside the Matterhorn?
Did you know: The most popular food item at Disneyland is ice cream. Main Street’s Gibson Girl Parlor alone sells enough yearly to build a life-size replica of the Matterhorn.
Did you know: The gold decorating the exterior of It’s A Small World isn’t paint but, in fact, 22-karat gold leaf.
Did you know: The ground at the entrance to the park is red to simulate a red carpet, and to make every guest feel like a V.I.P.; and on entering Main Street, the pavement becomes black, because black gets hot and “hot” keeps crowds moving – not just into the park, but directly into Main Street shops.
Did you know: To encourage guests to buy sweatshirts and warm clothing, the Disney Clothiers, Ltd store is kept several degrees cooler than the other shops on Main Street.

What does all this say to us? What does it say about us? Several of these little known facts about Disneyland speak to the amount of consuming we do as a people. It talks about our empires structure to encourage us to spend, buy, take, and consume.

Every year, when I was growing up, when we would have Nazarene Night at Disneyland, I had to have a new hat. I had quite the collection of Mickey baseball caps. I never ate ice cream, I didn’t buy sweatshirts, or t-shirts, but you better believe I came home with a hat!

Doesn’t it seem like our culture encourages us to consume. We are encouraged to upgrade our tv to digital. We’re encouraged to switch out our DVD player for a BlueRay. We’re encouraged to take advantage of the Cash for Clunkers while there’s still money available. Get rid of the old, upgrade, renew, and buy the new! There is always this desire for more, to have, to posses. Our culture spurs it on. Our North American culture actually thrives on it. It thrives on our spending. Remember the $600 bucks we got from the government to spend last year!

Even our popular television shows sometimes poke fun at our consumerism, while at the same time encouraging us to continue to spend. Take the show Chuck for example. Chuck works for the BuyMore, which is next to Large Mart. When we watch shows, sports, anything on the ol’ tube, (and now even the internet) we’re inundated with commercials seeking to lure us into supporting the shoe, food, car, and dotcom industries.

But what do we do with this as Christians? How do we balance our understanding of Christ’s call on our lives with the empirical message to consume?

That’s a hard question because we have our own tendencies and forms of consumerism in the Church don’t we? We always hear the term “Church Shoppers.” There are people out looking for the church which meets their stylistic, emotional, personality, and esthetic needs/tastes/ and flavors, just as they would a new car, shirt, or restaurant.

We live in a pluralistic religious society, much like that of the city of Smyrna, where there are many faiths to choose from. We have Buddhist, Mormon, Hindu, New Age, Jewish, & Christian – which contains how many denominations? Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, Episcopal, UCC, Baptist, Methodist, Congregational, Brethren, Nazarene, Wesleyan, Presbyterian… The list goes on and on. We have choices, doctrines to choose from and ways we have structured even the Church to fall into the trap of consumerism.

In the book Shaped by God’s Heart, Minatrea says “Research reveals that we prefer engaging in experiences rather than passively receiving goods or services. The more immersed and actively involved one is in an experience, the more memorable that experience is. Should church be any different?

Most people would agree that many worship services do not actively engage people. Worshipers sit in pews watching those on the stage. From this perspective, what many call ‘worship’ appears more entertainment than involvement. Authentic worship invites participants, not spectators. Worship is not learning about God; it is encountering God. It is not hearing about him, but hearing him. Worship is not standing some distance away and looking on; it is entering his presence. Worship is experiential and participative. It is active. The experience of worship changes us.”

This quote makes me wonder what the difference, if there is one, is between consuming and participating. We are asked to participate in the Kingdom of God. We are asked to pick up our cross. We are asked to step out of the norm, out of the empire, and into the kingdom.

So, what does participation look like? How do we, as the people of God, participate in his plan of redemption for his people? How are we stepping out to serve the hurting, the broken, the disenfranchised? How are we engaging all of our senses in worship? How are we looking to the graces of yesterday and enabling them to ignite the smoldering embers of our faith to burn boldly into tomorrow!

How are we mimicking the first century church, the church of Acts 2, in stepping out of the consuming norm of the empirical standards? The end of Acts chapter 2 says: 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold their stuff, they gave to anyone, male female – I believe believer or not, who had need. They began living in God’s Upside Down Kingdom.

God’s Kingdom is not one where we buy and buy and buy, having, needing and wanting the latest trend. God’s kingdom is one where we give and give and give, loving those who are entrapped in the deteriorating system which falls at the second death.

You see, we are called to something much greater than the consumption of material goods. If we are to consume, we are to seek the cup from which we will never thirst again. If we are to consume, we are to break from the living bread which sustains. If we are to consume, we are to soak up the words of our loving father that we may perpetuate their truth to this dry and thirsty land.

It is not in our consumption that we are defined as followers of Christ, but rather by our giving. We are called to give. We are to give love when love is not found. We are to offer peace when hostilities abound.

The consuming nature of the empire found in Smyrna did not define the church. And the consumption of our state must not define us. We are called to be people, like the church of Acts 2, who look out for one another. We are to support the unwed 15 year old mother. We are to come around her and offer her love and encouragement. We are to be Christ where hurt and sorrow foster. We are to give in light of the societal call to consume and toss away.

This is why we offer Mosaic in terms unfamiliar to the empirical structure. Rome cannot define who we are and how we live. We will provide a place for all to come together. We will provide a place where God’s Upside Down kingdom is displayed. As God’s people we will not be defined by the consumeristic empirical spirit of this broken world. We will be a Spirit filled, loving community, open to the wonders of God’s work. We will embrace those who wander; seeking to help the disenfranchised find hope in the community of God’s love.

You see, we are called to something much greater than the consumption of material goods. If we are to consume, we are to soak up the words of our loving father that we may perpetuate their truth to this dry and thirsty land. If we are to consume, we are to seek the cup from which we will never thirst again, we are to break from the living bread which sustains.

Pray
As we come to the table today in remembrance of the sacrifice of the body and blood of our Lord, consume that which was freely given to you in love so you too may love as God loves.

Benediction:
As you go, go not with a spirit of consumption but rather of giving.
Go and Love.