A Compelling Testimony: Maintaining a Disciplined Walk, Christlike Character, and Godly Relationships as God's Servant

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A Compe l l i ng Tes t imony

A. The kinds of problems we face

We have been told repeatedly that ours is a secular society, shot through with materialism and hedonism. “The standard of living is the god of twentieth-century America and Europe and the adman is its prophet,” writes Ronald J. Sider of Messiah College. The evidences are overwhelming. The underlying secularism breaks out in ethical relativism, irresponsible individualism, and social rootlessness. There is a shocking lack of personal integrity and, equally, of a sense of community. The hedonism is seen in the “fun” mentality and the constant accent on “escape” – from the kitchen, family, the job, the four walls. The current drug mania is a mark of that irresponsibility. The rootlessness is seen in our shortcuts and quickie attachments, and our ephemeral fads which rise and fall with our moods.”

~ Richard S. Taylor. The Disciplined Lifestyle . Minneapolis: Bethany Fellowship, 1973. pp. 30-31.

1. The plague of “Affluenza”: we live in a completely materialistic culture which esteems abundance but lacks the necessary judgment and wisdom to use it for godly purposes.

a. The endorsement without critique of the goodness of greed and acquisition (“Greed is good.” – Mogul on the movie Wall Street)

b. Waste as an acceptable norm in many venues (i.e., education, government, military, etc.)

c. Rank hedonism : consumption of wealth upon pleasure, extravagance, and selfishness

d. Relegating generosity and hospitality to the last priority of responsible financial planning (e.g., Y2K and the Christian community)