At our most recent Synod Assembly, the ELCA was taking a survey. The first question asked of us was: What are the three most important factors in the larger society in the last three decades that continue to have the greatest impact on the ELCA as a whole?

Later that day, we received a report of our responses. The number one thing that rose to the surface was summed up in one word - consumerism.

There is little doubt that as human beings we have an age old struggle with Idolatry. It comes in many forms. But in the culture of America, it is easy to see that what we really worship is money and, in the words of George Carlin, "stuff." We are fascinated by getting our hands on quick, easy cash - hence, the increase in state and local lotteries and the explosion of gambling casinos.

We are equally mesmerized by possessing "stuff." We are a nation of debtors. It is a legacy we have passed on to our children. The average weekly expenditure of High School youth is $104. They spend most of that money on CD’s. The average yearly credit card debt of a college student has jumped to well over $2,000. This debt is for "stuff" not tuition or books. These numbers grow each year. It is our legacy to the next generation.

There is an old adage that still holds true. It says that if you open up a person’s checkbook you can quickly see who their God really is. We often place more trust in our money to save us than our God. I think it must have started in that Old Testament story of the Israelites. Moses was on the mountaintop receiving the commandments from God. The people below grew restless waiting for God. They quickly returned to something they knew - gold. They melted down their jewelry and built a golden calf to worship. And, so was born the first Idol.

People, including Christians, have strange views about money. We are miserly. We think it is something to be hoarded. We resent talk about money in church. God teaches something quite different. Jesus talks about money more than any other topic in scripture. All that we have is from God. God says keep ninety percent for yourselves and return ten percent to me. We hate that. We want control over our money. We want control over our God.

The dictionary defines an Idol as a person or object of intense admiration or love. Who do you worship? Do you turn your back on God by refusing to support God’s church? Are you grudgingly throwing in the same few dollars in the offering plate today as you did five years ago? What does your checkbook say about your faith life? Does this article irritate you? It is time - time for us all - to rethink our Idolatry of money and "stuff."