I'll hit you with two quick things today and then I'll go back to slinging drugs.
It may be too late for you today, but the good folks at Adbusters have declared today "Buy Nothing Day". You should go and check out their website , but here's a snippet if you're too busy to click on the link:
Suddenly, we ran out of money and, to avoid collapse, we quickly pumped liquidity back into the system. But behind our financial crisis a much more ominous crisis looms: we are running out of nature… fish, forests, fresh water, minerals, soil. What are we going to do when supplies of these vital resources run low?
There’s only one way to avoid the collapse of this human experiment of ours on Planet Earth: we have to consume less.
It will take a massive mindshift. You can start the ball rolling by buying nothing on November 28th. Then celebrate Christmas differently this year, and make a New Year’s resolution to change your lifestyle in 2009.Who can blame them. The lines, the stampedes, the aggression, and the mindless consumerism of "Black Friday" glorifies Jesus ZERO percent. If we're all lining up to kick off Christmas shopping, shouldn't we do it in a way that glorifies the Christ?
The other thing that I've been thinking about is that sad story from up in New York where a man was trampled to death and a pregnant woman was hurt and likely miscarried because of people rushing into a Walmart for Black Friday sales. Good grief! It seems like theres a story like this every year. Can we just cut this all out already? Its just so sad how people can act when they're whipped into a mob mentality by super deals on limited supply items.
4 comments:
That story is terrible. I know it's an isolated incident, but it really puts a bad taste in my mouth when it comes to going "Christmas shopping". I'm just really glad no one is expecting me to go shopping this year.
"Who can blame them. The lines, the stampedes, the aggression, and the mindless consumerism of "Black Friday" glorifies Jesus ZERO percent. If we're all lining up to kick off Christmas shopping, shouldn't we do it in a way that glorifies the Christ?"
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Glorifying Jesus isn't really something you can "just" do. It's something you do through an activity. Plenty of people on Friday portrayed their relationship to Jesus while they were shopping. You're giving off the impression that you believe that "shopping on Black Friday" and "being a Christian" are mutually exclusive. I doubt that is your heart's intent. But it comes off that way.
To anonymous, I think the "activity" that Jason and I have chosen as our means of glorifying Christ is abstaining from "traditional" pre-Christmas consumerism. It's tough for me to exactly tease out from the original post what it is that bothers you about the part you quoted. I guess the problem is that Jason just sort of "emptied his mind" on the blog in a short post of things he's been thinking about, without a lot of background or context.
First, he's citing an article discussing the effects of rampant consumerism on our physical environment. Then, he shifts completely to talk about some of the examples of really violent mob behavior that can ensue during the shopping season.
I think these are both aspects of shopping that can be out of line with Christianity. After all, we are called to be good stewards and to love our neighbors. However, I think that our heart on this issue is just a hope that people will think about what they are doing as they prepare for their celebrations of Christmas. Ultimately, the way that we are able to ensure that our activities glorify Jesus is by thinking about those activities in advance. We are trying to share some of our thoughts on Christmas preparation with others. Of course, our thoughts are not always easy to communicate.
Sure, there are plenty of Christians who went shopping on Black Friday. In no way are we doubting their salvation. We are just two followers of Jesus who intentionally did not go shopping on Friday- and we're looking to tell other folks why.
I hope that clears some stuff up ;)
Of course I would never speak in absolutely like that. As Obi-Wan Kenobi said; "Only a Sith speaks in absolutes!" (j/k)
I never said that shopping on black Friday is anti-Christian or that the people who are shopping aren't Christians. What I am saying is that the spirit behind rampant consumerism is very un-Christian.
Remember Jesus is the Lord who told us to sell all our possessions and give to the poor to be perfect. The spirit of consumerism tells us to buy buy buy to find fulfillment.
We've all been out shopping on black friday before and we've seen people pushing, shoving, and fighting for parking spaces. Then we have that terrible story of that person getting trampled. None of those people were reflecting Christ as they stepped past a severely injured man. They were chasing after the god of consumerism. Thats the spirit we need to fight and guard against at Christmastime.
I hope that helps clear up my position for you :)
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