Recently I was watching a brief segment on one of our few news channels that involved the topic of Who to buy for this Christmas... and What should you buy...
As I began to view this short piece of "news," I realized what was happening here. I was getting the privilege of hearing an "expert" on the issue of Christmas present purchasing!
How enthralling! (to be said in a sarcastic tone)
How enthralling! (to be said in a sarcastic tone)
What struck me is that now we actually have our culture letting us know who its appropriate to give gifts to this season (which apparently involves my babysitter, my mail-carrier, my beautician, my daycare person, and my office assistant) and also what gifts and dollar amounts are socially acceptable... We've really got this down to a science don't we?
So lets take a second and lift the veil to see the issues that are really behind this discussion:
- Christmas has become primarily about consumerism. I'm culturally obligated to give gifts to all these people, and i'm afraid that if I don't they will either be hurt or insulted etc.
- I'm not giving because of some overflowing affection toward these people, i'm giving perhaps then out of guilt, or manipulation, or some other false motive...
Recently, I had someone say to me how they are "so sick of the consumerism of Christmas."
The fact is, we all should be. It should make us sick. It's a sickening thing to think that Americans spend $450,000,000,000 (that's billion) on Christmas every year... and the estimated cost to give clean water to everyone in the world is $20 billion...
It should make us sick to think about children going to bed hungry while other kids are swimming in new toys. Something is disturbingly wrong here.
For too long, the only difference between those who claim to follow Jesus and those who don't during Christmas is that they go to church. This is ridiculous.
Christmas holds so much more hope than this! This season we participate in a story that involves the salvation of the world!
As followers of Jesus we are called to live a life that rescues the world, that brings healing and restoration... not to live in such a way that we consume, take, and fed ourselves with no consideration for our neighbor.
When it came down to it, Jesus gave Himself. This Christmas, lets do the same.
Instead of buying guilty presents this Christmas... or even presents for people you really want to give to. Instead give your time, give yourself. Be creative!
There is great work to be done this season... be part of God's work in the world this Christmas!
-Caleb
Co-Pastor at Kaleo Nashville
No comments:
Post a Comment