Counteracting Consumerism

So obvious, but needs to be said. How weird to celebrate Someone’s birthday by doing what they wouldn’t want you to do!!

· Overspend (spend the wrong amount).

· Spend the right amount on wrong things: things with little to no real value - or wrong value!

· Indulge selfishly.

· Over-indulge in any way.

All because, “It’s Christmas!”

Special time set aside to honour and celebrate the birth of Christ.

Ask these questions:

“Does this honour the Lord?” If not, why not?"

"What do I need to do to change that?”

“What can I do that will honour Him more / most?”

Settle something :Jesus was not born on 25 Dec. We don’t know with Biblical certainty - not there.

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Exact day of the Birth of Christ? Purposefully ambiguous.

Romans 14.

Some things God wants us to KNOW – no excuse.

Other things, He wants us to work through – not out.

When a tradition has lost its original purpose it runs the risk of having the opposite effect - negative instead of positive.

Have a look at the traditions you hold on to:

1. Find original purpose - valid/not valid.

2. Keep it, re-invent it or lose it.

3. Create new traditions.

Odd place to be: To feel the need to convince Christians to keep Christ in this own holiday. Shows the subtlety and power of consumerism.

Thoughtful - individual - personal.

Not expensive.

Not “fashionable” – which by it’s very definition / description / DNA – not going to last!

The One who did it all - created all - did virtually nothing – especially on the very first Christmas!

He came to those He created, not to SPOIL them, but to SAVE them; not to be LIKED by them, but to LOVE them; not to give them THINGS, but to give HIMSELF!

- More value; less things.

- More time; less shortcuts.

- More giving; less receiving.

- More Christ; less Christmas.

Find ways to make Christmas special, personal.

Find ways to make it thoughtful and God-honouring!