Wow. I have had so much to think about. Between my own musings, Mark Moore's lecture, and Amy Scott's blog posts, I am feeling more than ever the oppressiveness of the sin of materialism. I think what has captured my attention most was Amy's comment:
"Of course, the problem isn’t that we disagree that consumerism has run amuck, but that we’re so entrapped that we don’t even realize we’re slaves."
All I can say is, "Amen" and "Lord, open our eyes to our enslavement!"
And I want to know, right now, what is one thing I can do?" Because, honestly, as a wife (and therefore the helpmeet, not the leader in our home), I can not change the direction of the family's discretionary spending. I can pray, and I will pray that God will lead and direct my family through my husband toward righteousness, but in the time I wait on the Lord…what might I do? How can I make a difference?
I will continue to mull this over and bring it to God, for I know that He has not finished with me on this yet. (And for some reason, I keep thinking of Starbucks and how shameful it is of me to spend so much on a latte…. Perhaps I have my first step already laid out for me.)
Do you think we, as Christians living in a consumeristic culture (did I just make up a word?), are able to begin changing things, beginning with our own families, by reducing the amount of consumer-driven advertising that bombards us each day?
Each advertisement is its own sermon. I sometimes I have to stop and think about which sermons I’m willing to expose myself to.
Lots to think about Amanda! Thanks for the thought-provoke.
Carol, I don't know if it will make a difference to simply reduce the advertising, though we cancelled our cable subscription (even though I really miss the Food Network and Fox News) simply because the advertising was too much.
I think it is going to take a much more radical step of curtailing our actual spending on unnecessary (though not necessarily extravagant or "bad") items. We may be able to comfortably afford a new pair of shoes, but does that mean we need them?
Still thinking on this, Carol, and I have another post I'm mulling over in my head based on some Scripture I "ran across" after this last post.
By the way– I am not trying to change society. A worldly society will remain materialistic no matter what we do in our own spending/viewing habits. But the people in that society will continue to remain unsaved if Christians are not being salt and light. And when we spend like everyone else…has the salt lost its saltiness?
Very needed information found here, thank you for your work