Hat tip to Mary Jo Lange for mentioning this at our Cor Group last night. It's something Imago Dei, a church in Portland, is a part of (sponsoring?). The name is Advent Conspiracy and the self-description is "Advent Conspiracy is an international movement restoring the scandal of Christmas by substituting compassion for consumption."
You can read more about it HERE.
Kenny C. earlier noted that the disregard of the global poor may be one of the great evils of America today which the church dismisses. Here's a way to try thinking outside of the plastic retail packaging this Christmas.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
10 comments:
Americans spend roughly $215 billion around Christmas.
40 percent of Americans claims to be Evangelical Christians.
40 percent of $215 billion, is $86 billion.
The annual budget for World Vision, the world's largest Christian humanitarian org is about $1 billion.
So, I know these numbers are loose, but you could run about 86 more World Visions for what Evangelical Christians spend at Christmas each year on gifts.
That's pretty crazy, and maybe a problem.
$86 billion is also more than the GDP of (total value of all goods and services produced in) over 70 countries just below Peru and just above Kuwait.
$215 billion falls between Ireland and Argentina, good for #31 on the list. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal))
40% of Americans sounds high to me, but the point is solid nevertheless - we spend a LOT on ourselves (and those close to us) while people die for lack of clean water, food, and shelter.
That's why I encourage everyone to actively ask people not to give them things for Christmas.
By and large, we have a "stuff" addiction. But there are people who need it more than us.
btw, I agree that 40% seems high, but it did come from a Barna study.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m4021/is_2_25/ai_97818956
But you got the point. Even 1/100 of the number I gave is $860 million. So, I really agree this is a cause worth pushing.
Maybe you can bring it up to your church in Nebraska?
I think there's value in Christians participating in something other Christians are doing, as a sense that we are one Body.
My hope is that this doesn't mean Christians simply spend more by adding charity to their mix of consumption (though charitable giving is a good thing), but that they choose to redirect their spending.
I did pass this information along to one of the elders in my church, so hopefully there will be some interest.
Tell me why you think it's important that this not be just further spending, but rather re-directed spending.
It's the over-spending. It's the gluttony that re-directed spending addresses. At least that's what it would do for me. Otherwise isn't charity just another product for me to purchase. It's just wrapped in an assuaged conscience instead of gift wrap.
Jose has the right idea, but let me break out the two main reasons why I think it's important:
1) Many people, most people, already go into debt with their Christmas giving. I don't want it to be an additional burden, a la "you mean I have to give X too?"
2) Part of the intent of this is to give sacrificially. I don't want Americans to be the rich Pharisee plunking his cash into the donation bin. I think there is benefit for us in giving up something in order to give. Granted, it's the recipients who gain less stuff... which is why I'm asking people to tell their friends to give, in lieu of giving them gifts.
As a society, we have too much stuff. We are enamored of stuff, and Christmas is an orgy of stuff-getting and giving.
Part of the effort is more awareness for the poor - and if that's all that happened and this just added to the spending, I'd live with knowing that was accomplished. But part of it is trying to break the association, at least in our own hearts and lives, of Christmas with stuff-getting. And I think only redirected spending, not additional spending, would accomplish that.
Jose, I think the first half of your comment is dead on, 'redirecting gluttony.'
But I don't see any problem with charity as another 'product.'
Jesus often talks about 'treasure in heaven,' so I don't think something being another product is the problem (Jesus is basically saying 'buy MY product, not the World's').
But your comment points out how there are two interrelated issues addressed by Advent Conspiracy: gluttony and world poverty. So, that's good.
Yeah, that makes sense, Dave.
Here's a further question. Personally, I really enjoy giving gifts to friends and family, and even to the extent possible spending relatively generously on them. Is that a problem under this framework?
(I know one distinction is that Dave is saying, ask others not to give to you...not 'don't give to others')
I'm glad you asked...
The site actively encourages giving to friends and family... but a different sort of giving.
Things like "Give your son a baseball bat, and take him to the batting cages." Or "Give your wife some hot chocolate and a night snuggling on the couch watching her favorite movie."
The idea is to give less with your wallet, and more with your time. Too often, we substitute one for the other.
Post a Comment