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Having been exposed to the Southern Baptist tradition growing up, I repeatedly find myself returning to the question, "what would Jesus buy/drive/etc." It's a revealing question - not for any specific answer you can apply to your consumption patterns 2000 years later - but instead because it suggests that many Christians you meet have lost touch with the revolutionary nature and the spirit of Christ's message.
Christmas, which ironically started out as a pagan holiday, reveals its true materialistic splendor today. Regrettably, the emergence of what I call "Prosperity Gospel" (in the fashion self-help gurus like Pastor Joel Osteen) further ingrains this consumerist worldview: God wants us to be wealthy.
Really? Do they get that from some apocryphal book that's not in the standard New Testament, or do they just fail to read the New Testament in the first place?
If "the Book" isn't your cup of tea, it turns out there is a movie on this very topic, What Would Jesus Buy. http://wwjbmovie.com/ The trailer looks like it might be worth a view.
What a great concept, and great question to ask one another. If we are celebrating the birth of someone who told us "blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth" and "it's easier for a camel to walk through eye of a needle than for rich man to enter heaven," we ought to stand outside ourselves and critically view our own culture, especially those who profess to walk in Jesus' path. For those who still use the occasion to celebrate Jesus' birth, why is consumption and acquisition favored over volunteerism and charity for the vast majority of followers?
Of course, we all want a full stocking and a well-stocked tree, but maybe - given the collision course we are on with ecological reality - it's time to either apply the lessons of the past or develop a more sustainable vision of the future. Although I believe this can come from various faith and non-faith traditions, I don't want to throw the baby out with the holy water. In fact, all I want for Christmas is for "Christians" to turn off their TV and read the New Testament and the lessons it offers on humility and minimalism. Start with the Sermon on the Mount: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sermon_on_the_Mount
But, for the rest of us, rather than degrade and dilute the revolutionary, non-materialistic message of Jesus Christ that both believers and non-believers alike can find wisdom in, let's just call Christmas by what it has become: Winter Solstice.
© Bjorn Beer, 2008
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3 comments:
What an excellent point. Considering our current economic situation it is an important one to make. It is as if you have to buy gifts for others just to keep up with the gifts you are receiving. A culture of keeping up with the joneses! The culture of materialism is far more rampant than any of us realize. You don't even hear the adjective "materialistic" anymore. It is interesting how so many of Jesus' lessons have been adjusted over the years to suit our fancies, with the current message being that he wants Christians to be rich and materialistic. How did such a thing happen? By being passed down and twisted by humans with humanistic desires. The only way we can stop the cycle is by doing it ourselves.
I will be purchasing either local gifts to help local craftsman or gifts of donation this year! Thanks for the pertinent post.
Do Not Covet Thy Neighbor's Charge Card
I fully agree, let us give love and car to each other this year. Let us take the holiday (and not the season as Bjorn has pointed out) to reflect a little on those wise teachings of JC.
This year, give outside the box.
Amen Brother! You want to preach at my church next sunday? Thanks for the challenge!
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