The Me Me Me Me Culture.

[evangelist6589]

We live in a ME Me Me culture, and one of self-entitlement, lazy work ethics, materialistic, and the like. Looking at what people do on FB and other social media today would have been frowned upon 20 years ago. People today think they are celebrities, the world revolves around them, and they post everything they do publicly as if everyone is interested. Most are not interested in deep study of the Bible just watching movies and amusing themselves to death. I cannot think of any books or podcasts on this topic, but I can think of 2 Tim 3 and what it says which is a self-fulfillingprophecy for the church today.

2 Tim 3 (NIV)
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

 

[JonC]

I cannot think of any books or podcasts on this topic,

Maybe "The Culture of Narcissism" by Christopher Lasch? (not about the church, but about our culture).

I think that this is also reflected in the way that we learn. We have generations addicted to entertainment and consumer mentality. Well, maybe addicted isn't the right word - entertainment and a consumer mentality is the language that they grew up speaking.

 

[exscentric]

My daughter and grand daughter are here for a week. Our place is small so I sit in the eating area due to lack of chairs. Several times I have looked to the living room - it is quiet, the grand daughter is on the cell phone surfing, daughter is on her kindle surfing, wife is on her netbook scrabbling on facebook. I shut my tablet off so I can be self righteous and say I am not like them. Kinda like that you talkin about

Having said that, all have a good spiritual life with daily devotions etc. so it may not be quite as bad as a surface look might make one think

As to facebook, that is the family news area since the family seldom emails anymore, not always a bad thing and yes, I am the center of the universe (Well maybe not.)

 

[Revmitchell]

http://www.worshiphousemedia.com/mini-movies/42/Mechurch

 

[Winman]

This thread gets my vote for #1 ironic thread of all time.

 

[JonC]

This thread gets my vote for #1 ironic thread of all time.

:laugh: now that's funny.

 

[evangelist6589]

This thread gets my vote for #1 ironic thread of all time.

Do you believe to be a good person? Have you kept the 10 commandments? If so which ones? Have you ever lied before and what does that make you? Have you ever stolen anything before and what does that make you? If God were to judge by the commandments would you be innocent or guilty? Where will you go when you die?

 

[evangelist6589]

Maybe "The Culture of Narcissism" by Christopher Lasch? (not about the church, but about our culture).

I think that this is also reflected in the way that we learn. We have generations addicted to entertainment and consumer mentality. Well, maybe addicted isn't the right word - entertainment and a consumer mentality is the language that they grew up speaking.

Written by an unbeliever it looks like.

 

[Winman]

Do you believe to be a good person?

Nope, I am a sinner.

Have you kept the 10 commandments?

Nope.

If so which ones?

None of them.

Have you ever lied before and what does that make you?

Yes, I've lied, and that makes me a liar.

Have you ever stolen anything before and what does that make you?

Yes, I have and that makes me a thief.

If God were to judge by the commandments would you be innocent or guilty?

Guilty.

Where will you go when you die?

Heaven, because I trusted Jesus Christ to forgive all my sins.

Now I will ask you a question, how do you know you are one of the elect?

 

[SolaSaint]

http://www.worshiphousemedia.com/mini-movies/42/Mechurch

Sorry REV but this sounds like what you would be OK with. If anyone posts something seeker friendly in here you jump on them. Not sure where you stand on these issues?

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

This thread gets my vote for #1 ironic thread of all time.

Second. Call the question ...

All in favor ...

 

[JonC]

Written by an unbeliever it looks like.

I don't know about Lasch's faith, but it is a very interesting book. The book isn't about the Church, but about American culture. If you are looking specifically of how this affects the church, then I’d recommend David Wells (No Place for Truth or God in the Wasteland).

Interestingly enough, I'm seeing a neurosurgeon in a few weeks - I doubt that I’d base my choice of doctors on their faith or theological persuasion. Although, now that I think about it, a Reformed doc may not be a good idea ... I want my doctor to think and work as if the outcome of my life is in his hands. :smilewinkgrin:

 

[evangelist6589]

I don't know about Lasch's faith, but it is a very interesting book. The book isn't about the Church, but about American culture. If you are looking specifically of how this affects the church, then I’d recommend David Wells (No Place for Truth or God in the Wasteland).

Interestingly enough, I'm seeing a neurosurgeon in a few weeks - I doubt that I’d base my choice of doctors on their faith or theological persuasion. Although, now that I think about it, a Reformed doc may not be a good idea ... I want my doctor to think and work as if the outcome of my life is in his hands. :smilewinkgrin:

I have NO Place for Truth but the writing was difficult as its a deep graduate level read. I might give it another shot or should I get the other book by the author instead? I also have a book by Francis Schaefer called How Shall we then live? Is that a good one?

 

[Revmitchell]

Sorry REV but this sounds like what you would be OK with. If anyone posts something seeker friendly in here you jump on them. Not sure where you stand on these issues?

I don't really understand what you are posting here.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

Do you believe to be a good person? Have you kept the 10 commandments? If so which ones? Have you ever lied before and what does that make you? Have you ever stolen anything before and what does that make you? If God were to judge by the commandments would you be innocent or guilty? Where will you go when you die?

Who cares? He is (and I am) covered by the blood of Jesus.

 

[JonC]

I have NO Place for Truth but the writing was difficult as its a deep graduate level read. I might give it another shot or should I get the other book by the author instead? I also have a book by Francis Schaefer called How Shall we then live? Is that a good one?

I think that you may find Well’s work to be more relevant than Schaefer’s, particularly on the effect of postmodernism on American society and the Church. The Culture of Narcissism is also interesting - but perhaps not if you are focusing on the “Me Me Me” culture as it pertains to the Church - and most of Lasch’s observations that are pertinent to the church have made their way into Well’s works anyway. Personally, I liked God in the Wasteland more than No Place for Truth. I know it is a continuation of the ideas set forth in the first book, but I found it to be more relevant (that is, more relevant to my interest at that time, anyway) and it certainly held my attention. But both No Place for Truth and God in the Wasteland would be my suggestion.

 

[DocTrinsoGrace]

I think that you may find Well’s work to be more relevant than Schaefer’s, particularly on the effect of postmodernism on American society and the Church.

Amen! Schaefer's works are a must read for any thinking believer.

 

[JonC]

Amen! Schaefer's works are a must read for any thinking believer.

I was re-reading How Should We then Live...but now I can't remember where I put the book :tear:. I hate it when that happens.

 

[evangelist6589]

I think that you may find Well’s work to be more relevant than Schaefer’s, particularly on the effect of postmodernism on American society and the Church. The Culture of Narcissism is also interesting - but perhaps not if you are focusing on the “Me Me Me” culture as it pertains to the Church - and most of Lasch’s observations that are pertinent to the church have made their way into Well’s works anyway. Personally, I liked God in the Wasteland more than No Place for Truth. I know it is a continuation of the ideas set forth in the first book, but I found it to be more relevant (that is, more relevant to my interest at that time, anyway) and it certainly held my attention. But both No Place for Truth and God in the Wasteland would be my suggestion.

Interesting... You know a book I read in school was called The Way of the (Modern) World: Or, Why It's Tempting to Live As If God Doesn't Exist and it was endorsed by Wells. Have you read it and does it follow this line of thought?

 

[evangelist6589]

Amen! Schaefer's works are a must read for any thinking believer.

How many Christians think these days?

Which book? I have How should we then live.