fall sunday evening summer sermon series

Materialism vs. Asceticism Apr 20, 2023


Fall Sunday Evening Summer Sermon Series

Materialism

and

Asceticism

Materialism vs. Asceticism 10/23/2010

YOUR FINANCIAL TOOL SHED

• Oct. 24 - The Biblical Financial Tool Shed

• Oct. 31 - Materialism and Asceticism

• Nov. 7 - Why Bother with Finances?

• Nov. 21 - The Treasure Principle


Materialism and Asceticism• 1. The weakness of Asceticism

• 2. The nature of Materialism

• 3. Materialism Brings Ruin

• 4. Materialism in the Church

Fill in the Blanks!Fill in the Blanks!


AsceticismAsceticism“A way of thinking that sees money as evil. To be ascetic, the less you own, the more spiritual you are. If

something isn’t essential, you shouldn’t have it.” – Randy Alcorn

Ascetic “A person who renounces material comforts and leads a life of austere self-discipline, especially as

an act of religious devotion.” – American Heritage Dictionary

“A way of thinking that sees money as evil. To be ascetic, the less you own, the more spiritual you are. If

something isn’t essential, you shouldn’t have it.” – Randy Alcorn

Ascetic “A person who renounces material comforts and leads a life of austere self-discipline, especially as

an act of religious devotion.” – American Heritage Dictionary


1. The weakness of Asceticism

• a. The Two Faces of Money

• b. Two Responses to Money

• c. Examples of Asceticism

• d. The inadequacies of Asceticism


1.a. The Two Faces of Money (p.17

MP&E)

• The Nature of Money– No inherent value

• Created for convenience (Money Minute #38)

– God encouraged Israel to take advantage of money• (Deuteronomy 14:24-26): Carrying sacrifices long distances

• The Two Faces of Money– Money can be used for Good or for Evil

• Like other gifts from God (Fire, Water, etc.)– Good (Luke 16:9) Make friends

– Evil (1 Tim 6:9-10)


1.b. Two Responses to Money (p.19

MP&E)

• God is our master, not money– Don’t buy something because you have the

money– Don’t fail to do God’s will, if you don’t have

money

• Balance is key– Financial self-control as a spiritual discipline is

good• Asceticism is self-denial taken to extreme

– Enjoying God’s financial and physical blessing is good• Materialism is self-indulgence taken to extreme

“Humanity is like a drunkard who falls off his horse toThe right, then gets back on and falls off to the left.”

- Martin Luther

“Humanity is like a drunkard who falls off his horse toThe right, then gets back on and falls off to the left.”

- Martin Luther


1.c. Examples of Asceticism (p.22 MP&E)

• Essences:– Sect of Jews just before and during the 1st century that

believed the physical world was evil

• St. Francis– He and his followers loved life with humor & humanity

• Mother Teresa of Calcutta & the Missionaries of Charity– Models of servanthood– “Downgrading of a modest facility” example (p. 22)

• Amish– Electricity vs. Gas Engines, pulleys, wheels, etc.– “Is an oil lamp more spiritual than an electric light?

• Pure asceticism logically leads to suicide and masochism

Don’t dismiss the lessons learned from ascetics in church history. Materialism has led more to darkness than asceticism.

Don’t dismiss the lessons learned from ascetics in church history. Materialism has led more to darkness than asceticism.


1.d. The Inadequacies of Asceticism (p.23 MP&E)

• Poverty is not Piety (1 Sam 2:7, Prov. 30:8-9)

• Spirituality is in the heart, not in your wallet– Ascetics may trust in their self-denial (not Christ)

• Trying to win favor with God or people– Christ condemned self-denial for appearance sake (Matt 6:1-18)

• Unfair condemnation of different lifestyles

• Modern Conveniences free up time for ministry


1.d. The Inadequacies of Asceticism (p.26 MP&E)

• Disaster if all Christians stopped making money

• Asceticism not conducive to evangelism– Many Ascetics withdraw from society

• Asceticism doesn’t deliver what it promises (1

Tim 4:1-5)

• Our Lord lived simply, but was not ascetic– He was accused of associating with gluttons and

drunkards (Matt 11:19)


Materialism and Asceticism

• 1. The weakness of Asceticism





2. The nature of Materialism

• a. A Study in Materialism

• b. What is Materialism?

• c. Warnings from the Word

• d. The Reversal Doctrine

• e. Recognizing Materialism


2.a. A Study in Materialism (p.30 MP&E)

• Forbes surveys in 1955 & 1980 reveal materialism trend– The 25 year old of 1980 revealed much greater

trend toward materialism• Money, children, church

• Recent backlash trend– Documentaries on “Afluenza”

• Roots of materialism: The garden of Eden


2.b. What is Materialism? (p.32 MP&E)

• Definitions– A theory that the physical world is all that matters– Preoccupation with material things

• rather than intellectual or spiritual things

• God made us to use things and love people– Materialists love things and use people– e.g. Marketing regardless of harm to consumer

• Who is driven by materialism?– Not just the “bad apples”– Best and brightest– Even those in the church

• Results from a failure to realize we are designed for one person (Jesus) and one place (heaven)

• Materialists come in all flavors!


2.c. Warnings from the Word

• Achan (Joshua 7)• Delilah (Judges 16) 1100 pieces of silver

• Solomon (Deuteronomy 17:16-17)– Horses, Wives, and Gold

• Gehazi (2 Kings 5:20-27)– 2 talents of silver & 2 changes of garments

• Judas (Matthew 26: 14-16) 30 pieces of silver

• Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11) • Simon the Magician (Acts 8:18-21)• Jesus Warning (Luke 12:15)

– Well-marked land mines don’t cost soldiers their legs

• One who is greedy an IDOLATOR (Col. 3:5)• It’s not simply wrong, it’s stupid (Matt 16:26)


2.d. The Reversal Doctrine

• Lazarus and the Rich Man (Luke 16: 19-31)– In eternity, many will be in an opposite condition

• Mary: (Luke 1:53))– “Filled the hungry, sent the rich away empty”

• “Blessed are the poor” and “Woe to the rich” (Luke 6:20, 25)

• Temporal sacrifices pay off in Eternity– Temporal indulgences will cost us in eternity

• The church thrives under persecution– God blesses us with cursings– America is cursed by its blessing

“Adrian Rogers”


Recognizing Materialism“Wherever true Christianity spreads, it must

cause diligence and frugality, which, in the natural course of things, must beget riches!

And riches naturally beget pride, love of the world, and every temper that is

destructive of Christianity. Now if there be no way to prevent this, Christianity is inconsistent with itself and […] cannot

continue long among any people; since, wherever it generally prevails, it saps its

own foundation.”John Wesley

“Materialism is stupid; in fact materialism is insaneEven if it did bring happiness in this life, it leaves us unprepared for the next.

“Materialism is stupid; in fact materialism is insaneEven if it did bring happiness in this life, it leaves us unprepared for the next.


Materialism and Asceticism• 1. The weakness of Asceticism





3. Materialism Brings Us To Ruin

• a. Materialism prevents/destroys spiritual life• b. Materialism blinds us to the curses of wealth• c. Materialism brings us unhappiness and

anxiety– Rockefeller: I’ve made millions that have brought

me no happiness– Vanderbilt: The care of $200M is enough to kill

anyone. There is no pleasure in it.– Ford: I was happier when doing a mechanic’s job– Carnegie: Millionaires seldom smile– One of 15 major risk factors

for suicide is “financial resources”


3. Materialism Brings Us To Ruin (p.58)

• Materialism ends in ultimate futility• Materialism obscures many of the best things in

life, which are free – including salvation• Materialism spawns independence and self-

sufficiency, which are deadly to faith• Materialism leads to pride and elitism• Materialism promotes injustice and exploitation• Materialism fosters immorality and

deterioration of the family• Materialism distracts us from

our central purpose

Frozen bodies lying on a huge pile of goldFrozen bodies lying on a huge pile of gold


Materialism and Asceticism

• 1. The weakness of Asceticism





Materialism in the Church

• a. Religious Materialism Today

• b. Materialism and the Christian Leader

• c. Multi-level Materialism

• d. Modern Money Changers and an angry carpenter

• e. Prosperity, the Church, and its Leaders

• f. How did we get here?


4.a. Religious Materialism Today (p.61)

• Flood of Christian trinkets– Prayer of Jabez jewlery

• Money pleading mailings– Labeled “personal and confidential” but posted

with bulk mail– No return address– Look like checks or the IRS– One asked for $27 promising to pray over

checks• Then he requested $48 to pay for TV bills• For $100, embroider name on his pillow

– “personal” letter: God brought her face to mind

• TV & Radio shows sell stuff for $25 and up


4.b. Materialism & the Christian Leader• Can become a “ministry” for <$200• Unaccredited mail-order seminaries• Some pastors exaggerate attendance• Measure themselves by the size of their following or

buildings• Some put large portraits of themselves and put their

name in large print on all publications• Shake hands with anyone who gave $100• Satan ‘s delight

– Pastors underpaid and under appreciated– Pastors overpaid and over appreciated

• Negotiations when pastor needs family time or pastor refuses a call

• BE CAREFUL OF THE LOG IN OUR OWN EYE


4.c. Multi-level Materialism• Many multi-level marketing businesses can

foster materialism– Not just with bigger houses and cars– Sometimes with dream of being able to “give” more– People become not only potential customers, but

potential distributors• (How interested are they after I say, “no”?)

• Often tout making extravagant income– <1% make a profit– <0.1% make the significant income they claim are

available to all– The few who succeed often pay a terrible personal

and relational price

• Church is ideal climate because of the trust• Those who see no danger in this are living

proof of how dangerous it really is


4.d. Modern Money Changers and an angry carpenter• Moral scandals of the 1980s and 1990s• PTL – Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker

– Evangelical message in a Hollywood lifestyle

• Jimmy Swaggart– The pot calling the kettle black– Martin Gorman and the private eye

• Oral Roberts– God would take his life unless he raised $8 million for a

medical scholarship fund– On nearly the last day, the final $1.3M came from a wealthy

dog racer who told press Oral needed psychiatric help.– A year later he cancelled the medical scholarship– Announced God had called 80K followers to give $100/year– Eventually had to sell $3.25 million Beverly Hills mansion

Results predictable: Human depravity + staggering incomes + no accountability = Temptation which leads to disaster

Results predictable: Human depravity + staggering incomes + no accountability = Temptation which leads to disaster


4.e. Prosperity, the Church, and its Leaders

• Many who preach against materialism fuel it in subtle ways– Expensive events for donors– Luxury cruises

• Goal is to raise funds for ministry; but is a luxury setting the most God honoring?

– Conferences at luxury resorts

• Some are attracted to financial ministries to foster their goal to get rich


4.f. How did we get here?

• Is the church really different than the world?– We have philanthropists – so do they– We have charities & relief funds – so do they

• Why does today’s church look so different from the 1st century?– Not because we don’t teach on money anymore– Some are teaching their followers to be short-term

thinking rich fools!


Questions to Consider (p.27 MP&E)

• Asceticism– Can we learn from ascetics?– Can we follow examples of a simpler less

cluttered life?– Would we consider giving up some of our things?– Can we “use” money and not “serve“ it?– Is it possible to live in a materialistic

society without getting tainted by materialism?

• Materialism– Can a materialistic world be won to Christ

by a materialistic church?– How much of the materialistic world has

crept into me and my family?

fall sunday evening summer sermon series

Documents