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by Elisabel Ruiz Today, Christians experience a very real struggle between faith and consumerism—the affection for having more and the sense that we will never have enough. Theologian Walter Brueggemann developed his own interpretation of this increasing problem, saying, “Consumerism is not simply a marketing strategy. It has become a demonic spiritual force among us, and the theological question facing us is whether the gospel has the power to help us withstand it.”1 Although the Bible offers a liturgy of abundance in God’s creation and plans for sustaining it, consumerism teaches that there is not enough—what Walter Brueggemann calls “the myth of scarcity.” The Bible story that leads us to that myth is found in Genesis 47. The principle of scarcity is introduced when the people are given food in exchange for their land, their cattle and, eventually, their lives. “That was how the children of Israel became slaves, through an economic transaction.”2 That same slavery still exists when, in exchange for goods and services, we choose to give up tranquility and control of our lives to the myth of scarcity. We need to go back to the Bible and our theological roots to overcome the myth of scarcity with the theology of abundance. There is enough for everyone because God gives abundantly. In fact, we have enough resources to care for ourselves and make a difference in the lives of others. But the liturgy of abundance can only be realized when we share what we have with others as God does with us.
Learn about the liturgy of abundance as it is presented in three biblical stories, and what this abundance tells us about our relationship with God in the September/October 2005 issue of Horizons. Call 800/524-2612 |
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