Crucifying Consumerism | Fulfilling Purpose
A Christian caught in the endless loop of a consumeristic mindset will never actually feel fulfilled in their faith. They will continue the endless pursuit based on what church can provide the best services to them without ever actually connecting with or engaging with a particular church family. Often times, this consumeristic approach leads to a consistent church hopping looking only to satisfy the latest itch or felt need. All the while, the deep longing of the soul cries out for something that goes beyond programatic faith and jumping to the next new fad. For many, consumeristic Christianity is simply a spoon feeding of the faith that never allows a person to grow into a viable part of the body of Christ. No connection is ever felt and the person never finds their life fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:25-28, ESV)
Instead, for the Christian to feel a life consumed with passion and fulfillment, there is no alternative than to dive head first into church as a family of believers together. Faith is not a terminal endpoint of the life of the believer but the foundation upon which their life is built. Thus, we do not look to simply get things out of Christianity but look to express the faith through our engagement in the mission of Jesus Christ in the world today. We do not go to church or receive services from the church. We are the church, the representation of Jesus Christ in the world through the Holy Spirit within us. Each of us has particular gifts given to us by God to express the faith we have been given by God to join the ministry of Jesus Christ. In this, we are designed to shine the light of God in the world by actively engaging in the mission of the church and to serve God by serving others so that God would be glorified in all things.
Not To Be Served By To Serve
When we talk about Jesus descending to earth, taking on flesh, and receiving the punishment for the sins of mankind upon Himself, we refer to this as the humiliation of Christ. This refers to Jesus’ lowering of His own status and being to the level of humanity in order that mankind could approach God again. Through the humility of Jesus Christ, He provided a way for man to return to their right and proper relationship with God. Jesus did not come to earth to enjoy the egotistical fanfare of the pleasures of this world. In fact, given His nature as fully God, it would not have made sense to lower Himself to the level of a servant. Yet, out of an abundance of love, Christ chose to make Himself less by taking on the form of mankind. Rightfully, Christ could have demanded that the world serve Him as the High King and ruler over all eternity. Yet, instead, Matthew makes it clear that Jesus came to serve not to be served. He delivered Himself up to the punishment of sin seeking to serve others for the glory of God to be revealed in that service.
Jesus Christ offers a model of service for us. While we may be people from various backgrounds, pedigree, and achievements, all of these things cannot compare with the glory of God in all eternity. Therefore, we will never find true satisfaction in merely choosing to be consumers of the Christian programs. Just as Christ did not look out for only Himself and His well being, we too, as an expression of our faith, must look towards the well being of others. In seeking to serve one another, we allow the love of God given by grace to flow through us and impact others understanding of the Gospel. True fulfillment in our purpose in life comes from becoming more and more like Jesus Christ even in service. We lay down our desires and our wants and take up the mantle of living out our faith in every arena and every avenue so that God would be glorified and people would have an encounter with the Gospel when they come into contact with us.
Using Our Gifts
Importantly, God will not send a person out to any mission field without equipping them with the gifts needed to complete the purpose given to them. While the perspective of what is needed will likely be different from our perspective and the God’s perfect eternal perspective, He will nonetheless ensure that when we remain in Him, we will have everything we need to fulfill our ultimate purpose in life. God defines our identity, our personhood, and equips us with every good and perfect gift. At every turn, all things speak to the glory of God in the world and it is by His provision and His alone that we can accomplish anything. Our enjoyment and fulfillment comes from our relationship and connection with God and who He created us to be. Then, when we do good works, we pause and gift thanks to God for His provision of strength. Crucifying the consumerism we wrestle with means that even as we are gifted and empowered by God to do the work He has called us to do, we acknowledge that everything comes from Him for the sake of His glory in the world.
The Spiritual gifts are given to believers for the expressed purpose of building up the church as the body of Christ. No one person has in themselves the entire catalog of gifts, but only what is given to them by God. In short, we need one another, to serve and support one another in Christian love for the sake of the larger whole of the body of Christ.
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:11-16, ESV)
We cannot run from our created purpose and still expect fulfillment in this life. God crafted and intended a person to not just be created in a specific way, but to join in the ministry of the Kingdom of God in this world. We find our joy when we rest in the purpose and plan of the Father. Crucifying Consumerism in Christianity, then, rejects the notion that man is created to consume but instead if created to pour ourselves out and serve one another with our gifts for the glory of God.
About The Author
Daniel Burton is the founder of The Gospel Outpost. He is passionate about discipleship and seeing people grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. To find out more about him, check out his Author Page.
