The Spawn of Satan Embodied in Versatile Solutions for Modern Living (Or Why I’m Saving My Money For Real Wood Furniture to the Glory of God)

Isn’t it a shame that they stopped making post-1980s cars out of real metal? I’d love to drive me a chromed-out mid 1960s land yacht. And what’s the deal with Ikea furniture anyway? It doesn’t even come assembled. Consider yourself lucky if your new coffee table survives the move to your new
apartment. And one other thing…it’s a cliché at my church home, Mars Hill, in Seattle but what’s the deal with domestic, lite lager beers?! If I wanted sparkling water or soda-pop, I’d just drink that! As a
good buddy so aptly puts it, “let’s go drink some bread!”

What do gripes about the quality of common consumer goods have to do with theology and culture you may ask? Well, a lot actually. Sort of…allow me to unpack a few ideas first. Though it’s basic doctrinal stuff, I’m really appreciating afresh that Christians serve a God that enters human history. Consider for a moment that if you or I could have been present at the crucifixion, we could have reached out and gotten a splinter by touching His cross. After the resurrection, like Thomas, we could have felt the wound in His side. The real to life distinction here is important as it sets Orthodox Christian belief apart from other errant theologies. And as the Apostle Paul said, in 1 Cor 15, without the resurrection, our faith is in vain.

What does any of this have to do with stuff? Simply speaking, a general “lightness of being” permeates our culture. Just look down your street sometime and observe the quickly erected, easily disposed of cheap tract home neighborhoods. Even the church growth movement has jettisoned the idea of architectural awe in places of worship for living room familiarity. Why be committed to anything heavy right? In reality, most people would much rather own consumer goods that are convenient, economical and utilitarian.

To give this a practical spin, I’ll tell you a story about my own life and how I’ve been working out these ideas in my own head. By the kindness of God my wife and I have recently moved into our new home. A little updating was in order and some furniture needed to be purchased so that when you come over, you’ll have somewhere to sit. Considering our limited budget, I’d thought about installing Pergo flooring and buying a few pre-fabricated Target/Ikea type pieces of furniture. There was a battle in my mind between filling up the empty rooms with cheap yet stylish veneered furniture or settling for just a few solid, real wood pieces that wouldn’t really remedy the emptiness of the space.

There’s no doubt laminate flooring and Ikea wares were more economical. But something in me really wanted to hear the creeks in the wood when I got up to fetch a glass of water in the middle of the night. What I really wanted was to sit on furniture that I wasn’t in a hurry to rearrange anytime soon. Well, our living room might be a little bare, but I’m glad we didn’t fall for cheap imitations.

According to the Lord’s leading, we’ll live in our new home for a while because God wants us to grow some roots and love our neighbors. When friends come over, they’ll sit on familiar furniture. When our future kids (Lord willing) grown up and move out on their own, maybe I’ll give them a piece of that same furniture. And when they come over for the holidays, I’ll be walking across that same real wood floor to greet them. The same floor that they played on and spilled milk all over when they were little.

One of my favorite activities in my new house involves studying in my new living room chair. And one of the theological themes that really struck me recently is Jonathan Edwards’ exegetical work of the Greek word “doxa”. In the biblical sense the word implies weight, greatness and abundance. To summarize Edwards, God’s glory spontaneously flows out of Him in creation and redemption which is
meant to prompt praise in us through the Holy Spirit. And in the Spirit-lead glorification of Himself, he achieves in us His eternal intention, the glorification of Himself.

So it might seem like a stretch—and I can’t really afford the gas—but I’d like to think there’s something deeper going on with my land yacht preference. And that maybe the “real deal” home improvements have something to do with my own sanctification. God cares about matter, about craftsmanship, quality and a sense of permanence. If one owns something of quality, one is more likely to have a relationship with it since it will require care and or upkeep. In my mind, it’s this sense of permanence, weightiness and greatness that lends itself toward an attitude of reverence and thankfulness.

Don’t get me wrong. We’re to store up our treasures in heaven, not in things that moth and rust will eventually destroy. Conversely, this conversation of “stuff” doesn’t have anything to do with crappy prosperity theology. I’m just talking about basic life. I’m talking about a chair and a quality beverage to drink while sitting in the chair. His gifts are meant to be enjoyed—they shouldn’t be disposable junk.

Of course there are no guarantees but should the Lord tarry and if the plague doesn’t wipe us out first, there’s a good chance many of us are going to be around for a while. That’s why lite beer is out. I want to taste what I’m drinking with a thankful heart. That’s why Ikea is out. I’m going to stick around and be content with what the Lord has provided.

Spend the extra buck for one flavorful brew instead of two lite ones. Take the time to enjoy a nice juicy steak at home once in a while instead of eating a burger in your car. And if you’re choosing between a room full of pressboard, veneer finished furniture or an empty room and a singular leather couch, to the glory of God, go with the leather.

- Copyright Matt Johnson | Doxologist

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This article was inspired by an article written by Michael Horton (that I can't remember the name of), by reading Jonathan Edwards’ commentaries, The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Wikipedia the way mass rad free online encyclopedia, Moose Drool Nut Brown Ale and my
new living room chair.

Comments

[Jason]

I agree that "God cares about matter, about craftsmanship, quality and a sense of permanence", but don't you think something bigger is at stake when you opt to "spend the extra buck"? I especially cringe when I think about having a young family and not being a good steward of what I've been given, and buying the latest and greatest instead of seeing how many opportunities there are out there to invest in expanding God's kingdom. I think the bigger thing at stake is the risk of making your "relationship" with your stuff more important than your relationship with anyone else, as if in order to have a good relationship with God or your family, you must have nicer stuff. Or as if they may not think as highly of "your" (though it's not yours) provision if you didn't get a solid wood chair. I still fail to see how God gets more glory by you getting a leather chair than you getting an (expensive I might add) Ikea chair (far from "disposable junk").

Maybe your intentions were okay, but I might respectfully suggest you remember how powerful the dollar is. Blow this off if you wish, but as you said, I'm just talking about "basic life", and how easy it is to feel entitled to things. Go ahead and get your quality drink and your quality chair, but I would hope you are not choosing that over something family related (like paying off debt) or even giving freely to the Lord's work (remember the poor woman in the temple who gave "everything").

Now, you summarized Edwards by saying that "God's glory spontaneously flows out of Him in creation and redemption" and then said that your preference for the "land yacht" has something to do with your sanctification as if God caused this desire for something you don't have, or could have if you only spent the extra buck. It kinda sounds like coveting.

I've seen too many good people go into debt up to their eyeballs because they told themselves a few too many times that "God cares about matter, about craftsmanship, quality and a sense of permanence". As you stated, none of that stuff will last.

One final thought. Were some of the patriarchs in the Bible less-than because they didn't have more "permanent" things? Abraham was a nomad and God made him the father of His people.

One final, final thought, by the way...you have no idea how much I make.