Yes - we are.  I like the term “spiritual narcissism,” I think it describes western evangelical Christians (present company included).

There is plenty of evidence, but one that jumps out to me is our far too late entry into the effort to serve in the sub-Saharan Aid/HIV pandemic. 

Okay - you know my soap box.  What are other evidences we can spot in our own context and what is the best way to address it? 

Wendi

Erwin says, “American Christians tend to be incredibly self-indulgent so they see the church as a place there for them to meet their needs and to express faith in a way that is meaningful for them...there is almost no genuine compassion or urgency about serving and reaching people who don’t know Christ.”

How true those words are.  Anyone in ministry for any length of time grows tired of hearing those selfish words from church people.

In 30 years of pastoral ministry, I did my best to teach that if you come to church to “meet needs” in other believers and come to serve, then your needs will just naturally be met by others.  Isn’t that what the Body of Christ is all about?

But when you look at a church to meet your needs, the heart will never be right when coming to worship a God who sent His Son to “seek and to serve.”

But do unbelievers come to church to have their needs met?  I agree that discipleship must encourage believers to look beyond hemselves, but is that a reasonable expectation for someone who doesn’t even understand that the Bible is divided into two “testaments?”

It seems to me that people initially come to church looking for something - they have needs that are not being met.  I don’t have an issue with that.  I want the church to meet those needs, as we teach them to meet the needs of others.  After all, people flocked to Jesus because of what he could do for them.

Dave

TRUE!  However, there is one item McManus left out of his evaluation of the Church-spiritual materialism.  Unfortunately, too many Christian churches are focused on using spiritual disciplines to obtain material wealth.  The airwaves are full of those who want to be rich, happy, and successful.  Whereas, the gospel speaks about obedience and not success.  Yet, the message is infiltrating the church thta if you give money to this ministry, then all of your financial dreams will come true.

I think the reason for declining Church attendance in America is due to the fact many people are much more educated and understand a lot more about life than say in the 1300"s when people walked around thinking the world was flat.

I agree with all of this! You can’t be around American ministry for more than a couple years to figure out how self-indulgent we are as Americans.

Selfishness, self indulgent, self absorbed… this is a human condition.  Does it impact the church?  Sure does in more ways than one.  For someone to seek to have their needs met is not self indulgent, how we go about having our needs met can be.  Every week I speak to a group of people that range from under 10 years of age to late 70’s.  I am responsible to God to lead them well by giving truth that points them to Christ, equips them to ministry, encourages them to change world views in partnership with God’s Spirit and empowers them to live God’s word daily. 

Some of these people are of different ethnicity, some are brand new to Christ others are veterans of faith and service, some are single, married, divorced, remarried, parents, kids, empty nesters, new parents.  This diversity is exciting but it also represents different needs.  The newly married couple loves the study about marriage but the 7th grader does not.  The new believer loves the study on forgiveness but the veteran feels like this s basic. 

What unties them is this, a clear mission, a clear celebration of impact and a clear picture of God’s heart for people.  Without this clarity need meeting becomes self indulgent, with it need meeting is another way to minister and build and reach and equip and love and represent Christ to people.

I understand the frustration of the original author and those that posted in utter agreement with his article.  I feel the pain of those in whom the spirit cries for a more authentic relationship with the Lord.  And I know that organizations that are made up of human beings are not perfect.  Churches are flawed simply because they are a product of the humans that make them up.  We’re human.  We’re sinners.  Praise Jesus for his salvation.

I choose to see what’s good and holy not only in my Church but in each individual around me.  It is not always easy, and sometimes I have to declare it in the name of Christ Jesus minute by minute just to try and stay true to that sentiment.  I continually pray for the heart of Christ, to see through his eyes and hear through his ears.

The Christian Church is such a punching bag these days and I’ve thrown my share of punches.  I’ve only followed Christ for a little over a year so my knuckles are still bloody and raw from the swings I’ve taken at the established Christian Community.  I’m guilty of maligning Christian Churches and individuals associated with them to the worst possible degree.

Now I feel I’ve got a lot to make up for.  There is power in what we speak.  Intentions matter.  I do not want to join with a legalistic ‘religious’ doctrine, nor do I want to jump on the bandwagon of Church bashing that goes on all to frequently both inside and outside of the Christian Community.  The Church itself is worth protecting, because the Great God Almighty is working there.

Instead of taking a negative attitude I will declare that there /is/ a revival taking place within the Christian Community.  I who once very fervently practiced a pagan religion am a product of that revival.  I walked in the darkness and I have seen the truth and the light.  The established Church brought me here, and I will forever be grateful.

No the Church isn’t perfect.  None of us are either, especially me.  So I will shout from the highest mountain that any link to the one and only true God is a good one.  Any time I see or hear the Cross it’s a blessing.  Anyone searching for the Lord in their own time and way is a positive venture.  I pray that Christ himself will touch hearts, unlock ears and open eyes so that every person in their own time and way will draw closer to the one true God.

I have made it my mission to stay as positive as I can, being human.  I pray that all Christians will band together.  We get clubbed hard enough from those that we are trying to reach.

AMEN!  I think McManus hit the nail on the head.  Our church has recently gone through a split and a newer crowd is coming in and as I observe them during worship, many of them are very lackluster.  Something is definitely missing.  The preaching is good (many people have commented on how they love our new pastor’s sermons), the music is good, we have tons of ministries where people can plug in and yet I feels this sense of apathy.  I don’t know what the answer is.  I guess we just continue to weather the storm and seek God’s face for direction.  It seems there are always seasons in the life of the church and you simply plug away until the tide turns again.