Black Friday/Consumerism/Church/Black X-mas

I've been thinking a lot about the two subjects that are in my title. I think this year more than ever have I become more sickened with how much useless crap we buy. Sometime recently, maybe in the middle of summer, I began to try to find ways to live more simply. Its been an interesting trial. Although it feels like I've been able to lessen the amount of stuff I have. It still feels like I have too much.

In chapel last week, Francis Chan spoke about how with the Holy Spirit in our lives, we should look completely different. I would say the same thing. Its been something I tossed around in my mind for awhile now. He shared about a person at his church who now lives out of there car so they have more to give away. Some might here that and say it is extreme. I hear it and it inspires me to do the same thing. Maybe it is extreme, but maybe extreme is something we need. I guess I think the church is supposed to be a radical change agent.... maybe thats extreme?

Back to the subject at hand, this past week I heard multiple people talk as if like they've bought into black friday which, I would say, means they have bought into consumerism at some level or another. My own mom said some things that made me cringe. I just feel more and more that the church keeps allowing more and more of culture to seep into its thinking. I think trying to stay relevant with the world has become into something which makes us look more like the world. The way of the world has a set way of thinking. The world says we should buy as much as we can, have as much fun as we can, own as much stuff as we can, only love those who we are close to, think the homeless guy is up to no good with the $5 we gave him, have to make it on our own, and other absurd ideas. Jesus Christ, and the Church should as well, says the complete opposite of what the world says (which could be a completely different post). The Kingdom of God is completely upside down compared to the worlds standards. I think thats one of the things that makes it so beautiful.

In light of this way of thinking, how can those in the church think it alright to cooperate with the world in spending precious money which could be used to change so much? Its not just Black Friday. Its the whole season of Christmas. The world's idea of Christmas is to spend money on presents for those they feel need presents. Whatever. They're not held to the same standards as the Church nor do they feel the need to celebrate the true "reason for the season." By the way, thats a dumb/cliche saying/rhyme. For the Church, it should be a time of celebration because of the birth of Jesus Christ. What it feels like it is most of the time, however, is a lot of the world thinks Christmas is with a little bit of Jesus. Maybe thats a huge assumption. Thats just the way I see it. The way I think it should be (this should not be confused with the way it actually should be, which I'm not sure what that is) is the Church celebrating a lot, possibly spending little money on those around them, but giving a ton, with money and time. But not buying useless stuff. But meeting people's needs, true needs.

I think for too long the Church has allowed the culture around it to influence too much of the way it does things. For too long much of the Church has been fooled into thinking their consumerism is okay. But maybe I'm "off my rocker." Maybe my assumptions are too big. Maybe my theology on this topic is way off. I do not try to appear like I understand like I know how its done or should be done. I would hate it if that was the way it sounded. I only speak about it to further a conversation to make things better. To find a way become the Church God believes we can become.