Consumption Is The Reason For The Season
Junk: 12.03.07 
Culture, War on Christmas
According to my friend Josh Harris, pastor, best selling author and ex Micheal Jackson impressionist(he does a great moon walk!), he will be promoting “the spirit of Christmas consumerism” by posting “gift ideas” on his popular blog. I am compelled, in this War on Christmas, to oppose his insistence that this spirit prevail. How would the Whos of Whoville come to know the meaning behind Christmas if it wasn’t for the Grinch’s “wonderful, awful” removal of consumerism? The Grinch had it right.
As we amass the troops for The War on Christmas and invade the territory of Christmas, we will swiftly remove consumerism from power. According to a reliable source (Forbes) here are some clear facts, proving that Christmas consumerism is an aggressive threat to us all:
- An Average of $795.86 will be spent on each person (up 5% from last year)
- $24.8 billion in gifts cards will be purchased (in the past 27% was not redeemed)
- Total spending this year will be a record $154 billion (up 8.1% from last year)
- 24% of gift receivers say they still won’t get what they want (I hope I DON’T get Josh’s gift suggestion)
How’s the title of this post for a great war-time bumper sticker?
8 comments ↓
In my opinion. Josh’s gift ideas actually help restore the meaning of Christmas. They are Christ-centered gifts that can be means to encourage fellow believers, not trinkets that feed a consumerist mindset and take the Christ out of Christmas. Additionally, his suggestion was meant as a gift for a mother of young children who would appreciate that type of music, not for everyone. Consumerism around Christmas time does get out of hand, but that’s because people misunderstand the *spirit* of giving, not because giving gifts at Christmas is wrong. We are called to be generous and to supply others needs–those needs are not just physical, but also spiritual.
1 Corinthians 9 says,
“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
As it is written,
‘He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.’ He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for all your generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!”
Thank you, Josh, for your Christ-centered gift ideas; hopefully I’ll be able to use some of them as I continue my Christmas shopping.
@Michelle, Thanks for your thoughtful comment.
I am being slightly facetious in going after Josh (it’s my strange sense of humor). I will say that I am for giving and believe it to be very valuable.
I was targeting Josh’s comment “the spirit of Christmas consumerism”… his own words, the use of which I believe was him being humorous. He didn’t say, “the spirit of Christmas giving”. I then, in a jovial way, thought I would offer my worthless thoughts on the topic of consumerism.
Thanks again for stopping by to read them (my worthless thoughts).
Hey Kerrin, people actually take you seriously!
@Kelley, As you can imagine this has been a longstanding dream of mine. Thanks for celebrating the moment with me!
Kierbo,
(Wow! How long has it been since that came out of my mouth!) Anyway, I amazingly got your sense of humor and laughed all the way through the post. I have to admit - I think I am on your side. And…people should never take you seriously!
@Jess, I think you probably understand (my humor) because you know me.
The best compliment I could receive.
People receive an average of $800 of gifts each? I think I’m owed something.
The Idea of Progress, Next year I think making a list with that statistic at the top should pay off nicely.
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