Christian Consumerism
What questions should a Christian consider when considering which church to attend? It’s a more challenging question than one might think, for just as there are many ways to peel a Kiwi fruit, there are many appropriate ways to run the various facets of a church. What kind of building to use? What genre of music to sing - contemporary or hymns, an organ, or a worship band? Should there be stained glass windows or a smoke machine? “And who runs this place anyway”, the pastor, church board or a faraway denominational headquarters? The more critical and vital question is, What are my obligations when joining a local church? we shouldn’t merely be looking for what we can get out of the assembly, but more importantly, our attitude should be, “can I add to and be a blessing to this particular place.” Sometimes the Bible is silent – non-prescriptive on some of the components of church life. In those instances, it allows local assemblies to do as they see fit as there are no rights and wrongs, simply preferences. It’s this non-prescriptiveness that allows each local community to be different. It’s still prudent to study what the Bible says about church life because when God gives clear direction, and He often does, it’s for a good reason.
When considering your options, watch out not that you don’t have a consumer mentality. A consumer mentality is where you’re shopping for the best “bang for your buck” (you're offering money.) A good Sunday school for the kids, professional-sounding worship music, ample parking and the like. It’s conceivable the Lord would send you to a church that doesn’t have all the latest, most fantastic programs and conveniences, but He might want you to attend a simple smaller church where you could be an immense blessing. At the beginning of Christian history 2000 years ago, choosing a good church was easy, for there was usually only one church in town anyway. Today, even a small town has many options. Having choice should be viewed as a good thing because just as we all have a wide range of personalities, learning styles, and religious backgrounds, every church is different from the other, having its unique character and flavour. Some Christians worship Jesus best through a ceremony, so they should consider joining the Lutheran or Anglican churches. Others connect with God on a more enthusiastic and vibrant level and should find a church that is more relaxed and contemporary in culture. Church leaders usually have at least a bachelor’s degree in the Bible, and many have a Master’s or PhD! The reason is there is such a massive amount of information to explore and even friendly differences of opinion; however, there are a few core beliefs that every Christian should believe and thoroughly understand. Make sure the church you choose is firmly committed to these eight essentials:
The Bible is from God.
God is three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ is God with a human body.
Jesus Christ died a horrible death for the sins of humanity.
To be a Christian, a person must accept and act on what Jesus did on the cross.
When a person becomes a Christian, the Holy Spirit comes and lives inside them.
Jesus will come back again to the earth someday.
A Christian’s conduct needs to align with the Bible.