Amusing Ourselves to Death
I remember reading Neil Postman's book, Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business, twenty years ago and sensing that he was on to something very important. Since he was a liberal Christian and I am an evangelical, we saw many things differently. However, he was correct that the church of the 20th century and now the 21st century seems to be engaged in a celestial consumer mentality. The always relevant Francis Schaeffer warned that the church at the end of the 20th century in the west was trapped in a tractor beam being pulled toward desiring personal peace and affluence. The result is that we find ourselves trafficking in the secular and trifling with the sacred.
Now you might feel that I am being too harsh in my assessment. And you might say, is this not really an issue of form and function?
The forms of church can be dynamic and ever changing. It is the function of the church which is static and must not be changed. I find it hard to see the value of using fog machines in the worship service... but maybe that is just quirky me. I can get over myself on that one. But my fear is that it is not only the form but also the function that has been
manipulated and mutated, causing us to focus more on style as opposed to substance, valuing technique over truth, and the performance of the person rather than our gaze being directed toward the glorious God of grace.
Do we meditate on the Word of God daily?
Do we pray more fervently and robustly daily?
Do we share the gospel to people monthly?
Do we desire and do we live lives of purity always?
Was our faith shaken when former pastor Josh Harris denounced his faith and was it strengthened when Kanye West came to faith?
Do we love Jesus more today than yesterday?
These questions are not meant to be a litmus test or a litany of legalistic legislation. They are meant to help us reflect on and respond to the word of God and the God of His word.
We must always remember; the purpose of church is not to entertain, but to empower us to live and die for our King.
Serving Him with you
Until He comes for us,
Fred