Black Friday. The day Americans find the best deals at the lowest prices. It's the time of year everyone camps out in front of Best Buy and eagerly stampedes Wal-Mart's doors at midnight. I know for me personally I enjoy making my Christmas shopping list and taking part in the holiday savings. Year after year I've done this without a thought about how I should treat Black Friday as a Christian...until last week. Nagging at the door of my heart there is this notion that something is missing in our treatment of consumerism in America.
Here are some radical questions for you to ponder: Does mainstream Christianity treat Black Friday from a cultural perspective or a Biblical perspective? Is the American dream for more dictating our "needs vs. wants"? How should the Christian treat Black Friday shopping?
Is There Anything WRONG with Black Friday?
I've brought up these questions for discussion and I've discovered something; most people become very defensive! I never said that I believe Black Friday shopping is wrong nor have I said that spending money, buying gifts and having fun staying up all night in front of your favorite store is a sin. In fact, if you are shopping in the Tampa area on Friday you may run into me!
But keep this in mind, when Jesus called others to follow Him it was radical, it was different and it required giving up everything. "'If you want to be perfect, go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.' But when the young man heard this, he went sadly away because he had many possessions." (Matthew 19:21-22)
“It is a constant battle to resist the temptation to have more luxuries, to acquire more stuff, and to live more comfortably.” (David Platt, Radical)
We don't need the latest iPhone, the biggest flatscreen TV, the newest car on the market or the biggest house on the block. What we need is a radically changed life that draws others to know our Jesus. The radicalness of the God we serve requires us to live a life through the perspective lens of eternity. With this in mind I want you to ponder these "what if" questions.
In Comparison to Black Friday, What if...
- We had the same urgency for a lost soul as we do a "good deal"?
- We had the same investment of time, energy and money in changing this world for eternity?
- We had the same attitude to give to church as we spend at the stores on Friday?
- We had the same excitement for discipling others as we do shopping with our friends?
- We had the perspective that our bank account was actually God's personal account?
We are called to be set apart for the Kingdom and to have Christ's mindset as our guide: "And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice -- the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is." (Romans 12:1-2)
You see, we shouldn't be questioning what is wrong with Black Friday but rather testing our priorities and perspectives on why we do what we do and whether it is making a lasting difference. If Christ were to come back the Saturday after Thanksgiving, how would this change our perspective on Friday?
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this! Please comment below or you are welcome to contact me directly. You can either email me or leave me a voicemail or text my google number: 646-504-626
7 comments:
Good post Laurie! I think it all comes down to the idols thing: if you can't be content and joyful without what you want, you've got yourself a problem.
Agreed. It's about the priorities and perspective from eternity.
With regards to consumerism in general, the question is always asked: how much is too much? I believe it's whatever amount puts you in a place where you no longer trust in Him. For some it's $100,000 and a car, while for others it might be only $100 and a watch. It was never about the amount, but always about the relationship. Faith is the expression of our trust.
Thanks for your comments! Both of you had really good points to make. :)
Absolutely. I couldn't help but feel this nagging sense of sadness all day when I heard about friends and fellow Christians getting wrapped up in black Friday. While nothing in and of itself is wrong with the day, the aura that surrounds it tends to conflict with so much of what it is to be Godly. Lovely article, well said. :)
I did go shopping today, and I agree with you Laurie. There is a spirit of conflict that can go along with the mentality of "give-me, give-me, give-me." I even noticed myself being very irritated with my sister after we got home. [Not that she wasn't being irritating, but that's beside the point.]
Thanks for your post Laurie! If I knew how to post it to my blog, I would!!!
Tiffany, thanks for your comments! I think it is definitely more of a struggle for our generation to do deal with because we've had it so "easy" growing up in the USA and not really have to taste the realities of life and the culture of countries less fortunate than us. Thanks for sharing!
Elizabeth, I have found the same irritating feeling well up in me. Irritated with the busy traffic. Irritated with shoppers bumping into me. Impatient with long lines. There is a spirit of greed in the air. Again, I don't condemn this day but encourage a change of heart and perspective on how we handle it. I'm not sure how to add the reposting feature to my blog. If you have any tips on how to do this, feel free to let me know! Thank you so much for adding your comments!
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