Consumption or Love

As consumers in a commercial driven culture we can begin to view other souls as objects, or potential cures for our deepest fears and insecurities. “Perhaps if I found the right lover I would no longer feel this deep existential despair.” But of course no human soul could be the Constant Other, the face that will never go away. Only the infinite can fill that role. But the silence can be deafening. It’s a fearful thing to be alone. Do you love me enough to let me go? “I can’t live without you” – “I would die if you ever left me” – These are not the songs of love, these are the songs of consumption.
-Jon Foreman, lead singer of Switchfoot

The truth will set you free but it’s only slightly less scary than hell and a whole lot harder to get there. -Jon Foreman

"Love does not alter the beloved, it alters itself.”
Soren Kierkegaard

“The capitalist culture of consumption… does not provide meaningful sustenance for large numbers of people.”
Cornel West

these are the scars deep in your heart /this is the place you were born /this is the hole where most of your soul comes ripping out from the places you’ve been torn /and it is always yours /I am always yours
-Always, On Switchfoot's New Album

I've been thinking lately about capitalism and how it changes culture. It is founded on the premise of selfishness, that someone would want to work hard because he could get more of the pie. Why work if there is no gain? Yes, people volunteer and some work in non-profits, but the general mindset of capitalism is selfish. Many even have trouble separating capitalism and market economies from democracy and cannot imagine a democratic America without capitalism.

Faith in Jesus is essentially, "God First, Others Second, and I'm Third." Jesus' way of thinking is pretty near contrary to the selfish premise that capitalism is based on. And most people would agree, theoretically, that consumerism is empty and devoid of meaning. If we know, in our heads, that it is empty, why do we try so hard to find our meaning in consumerism? Most do not do it purposely, consciously, but I think almost everyone in Americas has gone out shopping when they wanted to feel better or has gone to the local ice cream shop after a bad day.

It seems like, in such a consumption-driven culture, people would be begging for meaning. Well, I think they are. Why are they not finding it in Jesus? I think American Christians, myself included, need to rethink where we are searching for and finding our identities and meaning. We need to consider our unbelief; if we really believed Jesus' promises, would we get stressed and worry? If we actually had faith in His goodness and believed His promises, we would be radicals and never fret over the economy. I want to REALLY believe. Right now, I know that I am wallowing in unbelief just from the amount of times a day I freak out.

In such an empty way of living (capitalism's consumerism), Christians should be rejoicing that so many are searching.