EDITORIAL: Conflicted by commercialization?

Editor Marv Knox

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Do you feel conflicted this time of year?

We can recite a ream of reasons why Thanksgiving/Advent/Christmas makes people feel rotten. It’s the most overly romanticized season, and reality rarely reaches expectations. We remember loved ones who are not here to celebrate with us. The stress of myriad events, shopping, paying for the shopping, planning get-togethers and so much family time drives folks to distraction. You can think up a list of causes for Christmas anxiety that could stretch from Nazareth to Bethlehem and back.

But I’ve been thinking about how often we feel conflicted about giving gifts at Christmas.

Editor Marv Knox

The tradition of Christmas gift-giving began with the magi. They brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the young Jesus, expressing their adoration with luxuries far beyond the means of a first-century carpenter’s family. Gift-giving also traces its roots to our hearts. We’re wired to show our love by lavishing new things upon the objects of our affection. If you’re like most people, you get thrilled watching your spouse or children or special other open that well-thought-out gift far more than you enjoy opening your own gifts. We’re gift-givers by nature, and when we follow that nature, our motives are pure.

Unfortunately, the genesis of much of the world’s evil is corruption of the pure. And so it is with Christmas gifts. History does not record the first time someone spoiled Christmas gift-giving. Maybe it was a merchant who convinced people the only way to demonstrate their true love was by buying and then giving whatever he was selling. Or perhaps it was a peddler who assured people the secret to pure bliss was receiving what she was pushing. And it could have been the very first occasion when someone thought, “Well, I better give her a gift, because I know she’ll give me one.” Somewhere along the way, we corrupted Christmas gift-giving and lost control of our celebration.

We think these thoughts this time of year, especially when someone laments the “commercialization of Christmas.” The easy answer, which some propose, is to quit buying gifts. Of course, that’s too simplistic. A significant portion of our economy depends upon the steady ringing of cash registers between Thanksgiving and Christmas. If everyone stopped buying gifts, businesses would fail and thousands would suffer. So, what can we do? Some ideas:

Shop thoughtfully. A studiously selected gift—based upon close observation borne of love—reflects a level of care and emotional intimacy in short supply today. If you give thoughtfully, the people you love will appreciate the “fit” of their gifts, but more than that, they will be delighted by the love, attention and intention those gifts represent.

Benefit others. The primary package in this edition of the Baptist Standard focuses on fair trade practices. If we think and plan in time, we can purchase gifts that help support some of the world’s under-privileged artisans, farmers and micro-entrepreneurs.

Give yourself. Time is a precious commodity. The busy-ness of life may be pulling you away from the people you love most. So, how about giving the people you love the gift of your time. Make a coupon book filled with gifts of time—a long walk, a trip to the lake/woods/park, 30 minutes on the porch swing, an evening without distractions.

Put yourself into it. If you’re crafty, or a cook, or good with almost any skill, turn it into a cornucopia of hand-made gifts. The people you love will love having a piece of you.

Multiply ministry. This time of year, Christians collect offerings to support missions and ministries. Think about how you can give the gift of faith, food, healing and mercy by participating in and supporting missions and ministries. What would happen if we all matched what we spend for gifts in contributions to missions and ministries? The world—or at least our corner of it—could be changed.

Marv Knox is editor of the Baptist Standard. Visit his FaithWorks Blog.

 

 


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