Religious Slacktivism -- FPC sermon excerpt
Slacktivism.
This is a word I recently heard for the first time. It begins with the term for a person who avoids work — a slacker. It ends with the word for intentional action to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change — activism.
Slacker. Activism. Put the two together, and you get slacktivism.
So what does it mean? Slacktivism is sending a text message in support of a project. It is going on Facebook and joining Causes.com. It is clicking your computer mouse as an expression of support. It is making a $2 contribution toward global health after buying a plane ticket through Travelocity. It is adding a dollar to your grocery bill to fight prostate cancer.
Are these bad things? No, not at all. Causes.com claims to have raised $27 million for 27,000 non-profits. But if you do the math, you find that this averages out to $1,000 per non-profit. That’s not much. It costs $2,500 per day to run the mission and ministry of Fairfax Presbyterian Church.
The problem with slacktivism is that is a low-commitment, low-impact activity.
Nancy Lublin, writing in Fast Company magazine (May 1, 2010), says that “it refers to doing good without having to do much at all. It’s inch-deep activism that you can do from the comfort of your own couch, whether that’s clicking for good or texting to save the world. One of the earliest forms of slacktivism was wearing one of those rubber [Livestrong] wristbands … doesn’t cost much money and takes even less effort.”
To be called a slacktivist is definitely not a compliment.
Problem is, there is an equally troubling trend in the church that I would call religious slacktivism. There are people in every congregation who are chronically needy, even though they have the means and the capacity to be self-sufficient. Others are “C and E Christians” — Christmas and Easter only. They show up twice a year, but expect the church to respond immediately when they need a baptism, wedding, or funeral. Still others sit back and complain about things that bother them — the sermons, the music, the children’s programs, the mission outreach activities. They have strong opinions, but little energy to make things better.
Slacktivism.
In today’s passage of Scripture, the apostle Paul commands the Christians of Thessalonica to “keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us” (2 Thessalonians 3:6). Paul wants the Thessalonians to stay away from slackers, and follow the example that he and his colleagues have set. And what was it that they did? They were not idle when they were in Thessalonica, and they did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it. They worked night and day so that they would not be a burden to anyone (vv. 7-8).
Paul and his colleagues were religious activists, not slacktivists.
Paul goes on to say, “For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right” (vv. 11-13). Paul wants the Thessalonians to get off the couch and get to work.
What’s interesting about this command is that it is not a call to serve the church. Paul is not saying: Volunteer to teach the children in Storytime … sign up for the hypothermia program … fill a Christmas stocking for the poor … bring some canned goods to the food pantry … join the Youth Fellowship kitchen team … sign up to greet church visitors through the Advent season … give an hour a week to serving the homeless at the Lamb Center.
No, Paul is simply saying, “do not be weary in doing what is right.” He seems to know that enthusiastic service is good for us, regardless of the particular activity. Active involvement turns us into better people, better followers of Christ.
This is a word I recently heard for the first time. It begins with the term for a person who avoids work — a slacker. It ends with the word for intentional action to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change — activism.
Slacker. Activism. Put the two together, and you get slacktivism.
So what does it mean? Slacktivism is sending a text message in support of a project. It is going on Facebook and joining Causes.com. It is clicking your computer mouse as an expression of support. It is making a $2 contribution toward global health after buying a plane ticket through Travelocity. It is adding a dollar to your grocery bill to fight prostate cancer.
Are these bad things? No, not at all. Causes.com claims to have raised $27 million for 27,000 non-profits. But if you do the math, you find that this averages out to $1,000 per non-profit. That’s not much. It costs $2,500 per day to run the mission and ministry of Fairfax Presbyterian Church.
The problem with slacktivism is that is a low-commitment, low-impact activity.
Nancy Lublin, writing in Fast Company magazine (May 1, 2010), says that “it refers to doing good without having to do much at all. It’s inch-deep activism that you can do from the comfort of your own couch, whether that’s clicking for good or texting to save the world. One of the earliest forms of slacktivism was wearing one of those rubber [Livestrong] wristbands … doesn’t cost much money and takes even less effort.”
To be called a slacktivist is definitely not a compliment.
Problem is, there is an equally troubling trend in the church that I would call religious slacktivism. There are people in every congregation who are chronically needy, even though they have the means and the capacity to be self-sufficient. Others are “C and E Christians” — Christmas and Easter only. They show up twice a year, but expect the church to respond immediately when they need a baptism, wedding, or funeral. Still others sit back and complain about things that bother them — the sermons, the music, the children’s programs, the mission outreach activities. They have strong opinions, but little energy to make things better.
Slacktivism.
In today’s passage of Scripture, the apostle Paul commands the Christians of Thessalonica to “keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us” (2 Thessalonians 3:6). Paul wants the Thessalonians to stay away from slackers, and follow the example that he and his colleagues have set. And what was it that they did? They were not idle when they were in Thessalonica, and they did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it. They worked night and day so that they would not be a burden to anyone (vv. 7-8).
Paul and his colleagues were religious activists, not slacktivists.
Paul goes on to say, “For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right” (vv. 11-13). Paul wants the Thessalonians to get off the couch and get to work.
What’s interesting about this command is that it is not a call to serve the church. Paul is not saying: Volunteer to teach the children in Storytime … sign up for the hypothermia program … fill a Christmas stocking for the poor … bring some canned goods to the food pantry … join the Youth Fellowship kitchen team … sign up to greet church visitors through the Advent season … give an hour a week to serving the homeless at the Lamb Center.
No, Paul is simply saying, “do not be weary in doing what is right.” He seems to know that enthusiastic service is good for us, regardless of the particular activity. Active involvement turns us into better people, better followers of Christ.
posted by Henry Brinton | 8:24 AM
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