Religious Symbolism and the Church<\/p>\n
Miller\u2019s book, Consuming Religion<\/em>, summed up the consumer driven culture of many Christian denominations and theologies found in our world today Churches and Christian non-profit organizations have experienced great wealth and membership growth when they have been able to meet the demands of their constituents.\u00a0 This can be both positive and negative.\u00a0 In some cases, Christianity has been used as a marketing ploy for \u201cChristian celebrities\u201d and churches to attract monetary donations used to feed greedy individuals. \u00a0On the flip side, leveraging communication and marketing structures to propagate the message of Christ in a relevant manner is critical for churches today.\u00a0 Many denominations utilize religious symbols or elements to engage people in faith practices.\u00a0 Miller\u2019s book, Consuming Religion<\/em>, provides a summary of commodification and the impact to faith.\u00a0 Today\u2019s culture is so engrained in consumerism that people approach even religion with a consumer mindset. The dynamics of commodification causes people to \u201cconsume\u201d religion instead of engage in their faith.\u00a0 Christianity becomes something they can acquire just like any other commodity.<\/p>\n After reading Miller\u2019s book, I thought about my grandmother who was a PLT club member in the 1970s \u2013 1980s.\u00a0 The PTL club (Praise The Lord) was hosted and owned by a couple, Jimmy and Tammy Faye Baker. \u00a0They preached the \u201cprosperity gospel\u201d, which is still prevalent today.\u00a0 This theology teaches that one receives blessings and happiness from God when they live an obedient life and are reconciled to God.\u00a0 They amassed a cult like following of lower and middle class Americans.\u00a0 I remember my grandmother saying that God was going to provide her with wealth and riches because she is supporting the work of Jim and Tammy Faye. The only thing that my grandmother ever got from supporting PTL club was a drained bank account and a false sense of security that she was going to heaven because she supported that ministry.<\/p>\n Throughout history of the Roman Catholic Church, some form of religious icons or materialism can be found.\u00a0 The 95th Thesis<\/em> of Dr. Martin Luther spoke out against the Catholic Church\u2019s practice of selling indulgences. \u00a0Indulgences are \u201cremission of part or all of the temporal and especially purgatorial punishment that according to Roman Catholicism is due for sins whose eternal punishment has been remitted and whose guilt has been pardoned (as through the sacrament of reconciliation<\/em>)\u201d[1]<\/sup><\/sup><\/a> The Catholic Church also has many saints with corresponding religious icons that can be found, such as the statues and images of the Virgin Mary.\u00a0 She is considered the \u201cqueen of heaven\u201d and people pray to her daily for everything from healing to interceding for love ones to get into heaven. \u00a0There have been attempts to reform the Catholic Church, but as Miller has pointed out, neo-traditionalists have rejected attempts to modernize Catholicism and have stuck to the traditional practices, beliefs, and costumes of the church.[2]<\/a><\/p>\n Evangelicals have also fallen into the trap of religious icons and symbols. Many of our churches view their buildings, pastors, and doctrines as \u201csacred cows\u201d that cannot be changed or modified. \u00a0In the church that I am currently serving, there is an underlying mentality that nothing should be changed because we will lose our history and tradition. This mentality is common throughout of our older established churches, and change does not always come easily or joyfully. Everything from the old organ to the painting of Jesus on the wall has become an icon.\u00a0 While these items may not be overtly worshiped, people view them as a necessary part of their worship experience.<\/p>\n I believe that the message to Christian leaders is one of caution.\u00a0 Understanding the dynamics of commodification is important, as faith is not something that can or should be marketed or acquired.\u00a0 We need to carefully balance our marketing efforts to ensure we aren\u2019t just driving for church growth, popularity, or financial gain.\u00a0 The focus must first and foremost stay on Christ.\u00a0 If any symbol or communication from or within the church takes the focus away from Christ, then it should not be used.<\/p>\n
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