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Honey,
Where's My Green Drill?
by David Roller, Latin America Area Director, Free
Methodist World Missions
 I
love consumerism. I've heard a few sermons against it but they haven't
convinced me. I mean, if we actually consume something it can't be that
bad. Buy a car; consume it over 15 years, no problem. Buy a drill; use
it up, fine and dandy. Even if I were to consume something really expensive
like caviar, I can't consume that much.
I've decided though, that I am against collectionism … the accumulation
and hoarding of so much stuff I could never consume it in a gazillion
years. I'm against collectionism cholesterol — the fatty deposits
that clog up our garages, basements, and shelves.
No
servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and
love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise
the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
— Luke 16:13 |
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Buying 16 rolls of paper towels when they're on sale is not collectionsim;
that's good stewardship. Buying four different kinds of cordless drills
is. (I mention drills because I think they're cool and I only own three!)
So what's the difference between collectionism and consumerism? USE. If
I use those four drills in my work, then it's not collectionism. Collectionism
is when I accumulate stuff I don't use.
I see it, I want it, I buy it. Sometimes I buy it just because "they"
said it was on sale. Sometimes I buy it because if I really stretch my
imagination (which is good for warding off Alzheimer's) I can imagine
using it someday, perhaps in a parallel universe.
 But
there is a law that says we can't value both people and stuff. They are
in opposition. Every decision to collect stuff is a decision to discard
people. There is no such thing as victimless collecting.
We all agree that it's OK to provide for our needs. But beyond that, the
questions get harder and harder. Is collectionism ever justified? Under
what conditions does Jesus' "two cloaks" rule not apply? (I
just checked in my closet and I've got four coats, but fortunately no
cloaks!)
What shall we tell the person who goes hungry, spiritually and physically,
because I decide against them and decide in favor of another hanger in
my closet?
What shall we tell them?
 David
and Yvonne have the task of mentoring church leaders as they grow the FMC
in the countries of Latin America. This includes overseeing the 15 mission
districts, coordinating North American missionary efforts, and partnering
with annual conferences in their missionary efforts. David serves as Area
Director for Latin America. |
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