Consumer or Consumed

A pastor recently voiced a concern that I have had for some time. And, with our response to the Covid pandemic, it has only magnified this concern to a loud alarm. For years I have agreed with church leaders who warned us baby boomers not to “sell” ministries and programs to prospective members. The typical church brochure reads more like an advertisement for a family vacation: a choir for those who like to sing, a women’s and men’s group, a youth fellowship as well as a Sunday School. There are church dinners and fairs, Christmas Cantatas, Easter egg hunts, and my favorite, the church picnic. Something for everyone.

For decades, these activities, and their corresponding elaborate promotion, relieved us of our evangelical mandate. We would never want to make someone feel uncomfortable with God talk. Sharing our faith was in the same category of discussing politics or sex at a party.

The result was that we created member/consumers rather than disciples. People saw giving as purchasing services. I give because my kids go to Sunday School and I sing in the choir. Sometimes these ministries are compared with secular activities. The church camp is so much less expensive than the YMCA, and the Bean Suppers are a great value. The terms “church shopper” or “church shopping” entered our vocabulary in the 1980’s. These terms are used by people seeking a new church home, a deeper spirituality, or perhaps a preaching message that is aligned with their own political views.

My pastor friend raised the concerned that Covid has made the consumer culture more attractive. Now people can church shop right from their living room sofa. Only time will tell how many of our virtual church members will return to the pews. I heard one disturbing estimate that 2 thirds of those still viewing the church service from home will continue that practice after the pandemic.

Here is the danger I see. Instead of being consumers of services we are becoming spectators, looking for something worthy of binge watching. The consumer member is being consumed by the online culture. How long will it be before our members find an online church experience that is so well done, the music so professional, the preaching so uplifting and motivating, that they stop tuning into our church service? Worse, how long before the monthly contribution is transferred to the Church of the Virtual Disciples? Time will tell. I hope time is not running out.