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Reflections of a Consumer |
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"The customer only wants two things—show me
you care about me personally, and tell me what you’re going to do for
me now (help me, please).” —Jeffrey Gitomer
Defining the Consumer
I’m
sitting in Starbucks, and I love it. My hazelnut coffee is steaming
next to my laptop. The rich aroma of espresso beans fills the air.
Conversations from faithful patrons are creating a buzz of community in
the room. I’m not the only one at work in my portable office. A young
college student is kicking out a term paper. Across the room two women
enjoy a slice of cheesecake, interspersed with dialogue about their
kids. An older couple sits quietly, sipping coffee, each engrossed in a
magazine. I’m surrounded by people in diverse stages of life: married
people, divorced people, new parents, students, retired folks.
My
dictionary defines consumer this way: “a person who consumes; buys
goods and services for personal needs.” Whatever else the people around
me are doing, they are consuming, and so am I.
Consumerism and the Local Church
This
word, consumer, can be offensive when used in relationship to the local
church. Consumerism is one thing at Starbucks, but it seems to have no
place in the local church. We appropriately object to the notion of
setting up our churches as marketplaces, selling our Jesus wares, and
catering to every selfish whim of the people who enter our doors. A
consumer mentality—wherein I am the central figure in the universe, the
church exists to tell me what I want to hear, and God is a
materialistic vending machine to satisfy my every desire—is not
reflective of the character of Jesus Christ. Nonetheless, I am a
consumer. So are you. So is every individual who enters your church.
What are the ramifications of this fact for the church?
Learn more about how impressions and consumerism impacts the opportunity to reach people in your community for Christ. Order a copy of First Impressions, Creating WOW Experiences in Your Church by Mark Waltz. Make an eternal impression on your guests.
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