The Middle Class disease
I am middle class. I have a nice house, a nice car, an iPod and a nice set of golf clubs. I am also suffering from Comfortitis: the number one disease amongst the middle class.
Comfortitis can cause severe bouts of ambivalence which eventually results in the sufferer doing very little for anyone other than themselves and their immediate network.
But most serious is a range of delusions that plague the individual. The first is the ‘philanthropy delusion’. This is where the person believes that a small donation to a needy cause once in a while precludes them from really getting involved.
The second is the ’satisfaction delusion’ were the person is convinced that purchasing the latest gadget will satisfy them. ‘Once I have a whatever I will be just fine’.
The third is known as the ‘hording delusion’. This manifests as the belief that having lots of houses, lots of money, lots of possessions generally will provide a secure future.
The fourth and final delusion is the ‘identity delusion’ where the hapless victim confuses their possessions with who they are. So they see their fine home or their cool car as an extension of themselves.
Most concerning is how it affects Christians. It causes what is known as ‘Bible blindness’ where they read certain parts of Scripture and are able to totally ignore it. In extreme cases the Christian suffering from Comfortitis will avoid the Bible altogether.
Luke 9:1-4 reads,
Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money - not even an extra tunic.”
How do we cure Comfortitis?
The first and most important therapy is known as the ‘God’s Stuff Technique’. In short, the Christian over a period of time, comes to realise that everything they have is God’s stuff and not theirs. They see that it is to be used for His pleasure not their own. They start to look at how what they have can serve others.
The second therapeutic technique is known as, ‘What Do I Seriously Really Need Therapy’. This involves the Christian sitting down and listing the essentials that are required for living. They then review the list, asking ‘Do I really need this item?’ Results show that this approach eventually promotes a simpler way of life.
My name is Mark and I have Comfortitis.
Are you a sufferer as well?
Filed under Creativity, Personal, Self Care | |
3 Responses to “The Middle Class disease”
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My name is James, I don’t have comfortitis but I know if I get myself a new macbook to go with my ipod then I will finally be satisfied…
mmm maybe I do have slight comfortitis
Comfortitis doesn’t afflict me at all. I gave $2.00 to the Comfortitis Research Fund last year, and that has absolved me of any need to worry about the disease.
I have comfortitis. I see it all around me and it freaks me out. I have just started reading the book “Irresistable Revolution” by Shayne Clayborne. His sotry so far and conversations I have been haviing with people have really been challenging me about how genuine I am about follow Jesus and His Word fully. I work in a church full-time and it is hard to convince our church that in order for young families to come to know Jesus, we need to go OUTside the church, build relationships and genuinely show them God’s love. It is as if we have dumbed down the definition of God’s Love because we really aren’t living it out…especially when we are comfortable . I want to really follow Jesus into the dark places of the world, but I feel trapped in a way to do so even within my position in the church. Something’s not right with that. Lord, help me to lead people into your ways, change me first.