Choice is Normal

April 14, 2004

Category: Church , Observations , Postmodernism

Burger King Logo As I was driving through town on my way to church the other day, I noticed a Burger King restaurant. Just then, I had this freaky intersection of thoughts in a flash of a moment. I thought, what “flavor” of church do I want today?

It’s this weird combination of CHOICE with CHURCH. In today’s society, I’m so used to choice, that I expect it will happen everywhere I go. Whether it be a restaurant, grocery store, concert, college, computer or mp3—I have a choice.

For a split second, I saw churches everywhere with big bright yellow and red flourescent signs out front announcing their brand. I pictured going in and ordering what I wanted from the front counter, handing over my money, and getting to enjoy what I bought at a small table somewhere inside.

What should “the church” do to accomodate (make comfortable) people who find choice to be normal?

Posted by pablohart on April 14, 2004 11:55 PM

Comments

i have a friend writing a thesis on this. i think it's entitled "too many choices," and desribes how capitalism's plethora of choices causes unhappiness.

i had a conversation with Jeremy Begbie one time about this when he was visiting the states several years ago. he was talking about how he hates the bagel shop experience in the US because he can choose from a dozen different kinds of bagels, with a dozen different kinds of cream cheese, creating almost limitless possibilities. in England, he said, there are usually two choices: toasted or not. he walks into the US bagel shop thinking he knows what he wants but then becomes overwhelmed with all the choices, finally choosing one, but wondering the whole time if another choice would have been more satisfying. he thusly does not enjoy the bagel he did choose.

the analogy works with church too i think. sitting in your pew do you ever think "i wonder what Rob Bell is preaching on this morning"?

...too many choices...

Posted by nathan at April 17, 2004 11:48 AM

i guess i didn't directly answer your question. What should "the church" do to accomodate (make comfortable) people who find choice to be normal?

nothing. the church doesn't need to mimic market capitalism because market capitalism is incongruent with the gospel message. the church can use the opportunity to talk to people about the difference between self-serving (which is a necessary constituent of capitalism) and other-serving.

Posted by nathan at April 17, 2004 11:55 AM

nate, this is great. thanks! sitting in church, i have thought on many occasion, i wonder what rob bell is preaching on this morning..., or i bet rob bell would have translated this passage differently.

could you further explain your statement, "market capitalism is incongruent with the gospel message?"

Posted by pablohart at April 18, 2004 9:00 AM

both the supply and demand sides of our economic system are primarily motivated by self-service. a business owner, when he wants to earn more money for himself, expands his business, creating more product. (the good result is that he must hire more people to make the product, therefore more people have jobs). since so much supply is created in the economy as a result of the selfishness of business owners, a scheme must be implemented to move the product. enter mass marketing. mass marketing uses one main thesis to convince people they need all this newly-produced stuff. that main thesis is selfishness. using burger king as an example, "Have it your way." visa: "It's everywhere you want to be." microsoft: "Where do you want to go today?" the list goes on.

it's all incongruent to the message of the gospel because the message of the gospel is one of perfect other-service, that we might serve one another in love even to the point of laying down our lives for each other.

Posted by nathan at April 18, 2004 11:55 AM

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