Christian Consumers

Ed Stetzer:

Believers who think like customers contribute to the underachieving church in America. The damages move far beyond ineptness at engaging the mission of God. The incessant demands of a consumer congregation causes irreparable damage to those who lead such congregations. Some of the consumer demands are based on pastoral perception too. Pastors often experience chronic anxiety because they fear their flock . . .

We need to understand everyone's role. When pastors do for people what God has called the people to do for themselves, everyone gets hurt and the mission of God is hindered. God designed the church to act as the body of Christ, and bodies have more than one part. Here is what it should look like: "Based on the gift they have received, everyone should use it to serve others" (1 Peter 4:10). "A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial" (1 Corinthians 12:7). The church is most alive when every believer serves in God's mission where assigned by the Spirit.

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