SHATTERING THE GODS WITHIN
CHAPTER 5
"Materialism -- The Visible God"

Most of us in God's church have not really had this problem. :)  At least   
not in its overt forms.   When we use the word materialism, we tend to   
think of going shopping, collecting possessions, etc.  But Dr. Allen   
takes this a little deeper and lets us see the subtleties of worshipping   
material things.

"As Hebrew 11:1 states "Faith is the substance of things hoped for; the   
evidence of things unseen."  Materialism reverses the perspective and   
claims that seeing is believing."

"If we look deeper into our souls, we find that materialism is the   
tangible evidence that we use, at times, to replace the unseen, the   
intangible, the Holy God."  We begin to worship the temporal and ignore   
the invisible."

"Flip Wilson's comment "What you see is what you get" is more than a   
comical interlude.  It represents a way of life so basic to our culture   
that it denies the ambiguity of faith and reduces reality to that which   
can be seen, felt, or touched.  Denying the meaning of worship of God, we   
have allowed ourselves to be enslaved to our needs, possessions and   
ambitions.  We talk of our house,  job, and life as we wallow in a   
narcissism that speaks lustily but has no essence.  "A man's life does   
not consist in the abundance of possessions" (Luke 12:15 NIV)

"Materialism denies transcendence.  It leaves life devoid of hope for the   
hopeless and without faith for those in despair.  Is that another   
rationale for teenage suicides?  As one teen who killed himself wrote, "I   
have failed in school, I failed may parents. I failed." In other words,   
"I have no transcendence.  I have no faith.  I have no meaning.  And   
since I have failed, there is no hope, so why not kill myself?"

"Another variant of the pseudo god of materialism is the issue of power   
and control.  Feeling empty, inadequate, and insignificant, we seek not   
only material possessions but also power."

"True spirituality means being empowered from within." (COMMENT:  I   
believe  "being empowered from within" is Christ living in us). "A lust   
for power drives people to subdue others, steal, lie, cheat, and even   
kill.  Then when that power collapses, the individual is destroyed."

"How often in our hustle and bustle of daily life do we forget that we   
came into the world empty and naked?  That is exactly how we are going to   
leave.  It behooves us to not deny this reality, but instead to let it be   
the acid test of our values and activities."

"Another way the pseudo god of materialistic reductionism presents itself   
is in the repression of beauty.  Rushing along on our busy schedules, we   
find little time to appreciate the beauty around us.  Our blindness is   
compounded by the fact that the hurts stored in our hearts leave little   
space for beauty and love."

"As we go through life, we can allow ourselves to be influenced by the   
ugliness and the hurt thrown at us by the news media, by unpleasant   
conversations, and by shocking films, novels, and music.  I am convinced   
that it is possible for that negativism to fill our hearts and make it   
too difficult for us to appreciate love and beauty around us."

"The pseudo god of materialism is presented in the temptation of our Lord   
in the desert.  After fasting for forty days and therefore becoming open   
to matters of deep spirituality, Jesus was tempted to turn stones into   
bread.  He quickly answered the evil one who tempted Him, saying, "Man   
should not live by bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of   
the mouth of God"  (Math 4:4)"

"The temptation to turn stones into bread is a challenge to us throughout   
our lives.  The drive to get bread, to make bread, to provide material   
support and protection is an awesome force.  Assaulting us at the very   
heart of our insecurity and vulnerability, the need for security appeals   
to us deeply."

"The physical is so ever-present that we are unable to reflect on the   
deeper meaning of  life.  Sometimes it is difficult to perceive the   
spiritual meaning behind the physical reality we encounter every day.   
 When we work very hard and become burned out, we are more willing to bow   
at the shrine of materialism.  The problem is the more we bow at that   
shrine, the more we give ourselves to the physical and deny the   
spiritual."

The bible reminds us that the things which are seen are temporary and   
that which is unseen is eternal (Heb 11:1).  As we rush along denying   
values and the deeper attributes of life, we find ourselves disconnected   
from our spiritual reality and imprisoned in a deadening materialism."

"Suffering is another aspect of life that should be seen through   
spiritual eyes"
"When Thomas claimed he could not believe, our Lord asked him to touch   
His wounds.  That was a profound statement, that Christ carries His   
wounds to remind us that we can face our woundedness with courage and   
hope."

"As we suffer, we identify with our Lord, the One who suffered for us.   
 Through suffering we learn the deeper meaning of life.  We learn   
obedience.  We learn the importance of community.  We learn to trust God,   
because after the crucifixion comes the resurrection.  In our suffering   
we discover hope in spite of the pathos, pain, and disconnection."  In   
many cases, a person who has suffered comes to a deeper understanding of   
the spirituality of life than one who has not suffered."

____________________________

1. Are there areas in my life where materialism becomes more important   
than God.  Or where it at least takes precedent over spirituality?

2.  How much do I focus on things of a materialistic nature?  Where   
**are** my values.  A good way to determine what you value, is to make a   
list of the things you do everyday.  This list will let you know where   
your focus is.