What Would Jesus Buy? (W.W.J.B.)
Everybody is out buying this and that for their kids, aunts, uncles, parents and other loved ones in preparation for the big event, Christmas.
Christmas in America has become a time of greed, and the ever inevitable arrogant assumption that all should celebrate by buying gifts. If you tell someone that you do not participate in gift exchanging at Christmas, they attempt to label you as cheapskate or an interplanetary alien.
Christmas has become big business and many a corporation’s future depends on the bottom line on December 24th when they close their doors.
I find it interesting that many folks defend their buying sprees by using terms like “goodwill” and “Christmas spirit”. Many of the gifts bought are electronic or other trendy items that most stores cannot keep in stock due to the high demand. People actually “campout” outside electronics stores in hopes of buying a Nintendo Wii while the unfortunate, homeless are forced to live in public parks and streets. Many of the missions/shelters are fully occupied and strictly budgeted due to the lack of donations and public funds.
We live in a country where “under God” is in our Pledge of Allegiance and “In God We Trust” is on our currency. We live in a nation that claims there is a war on Christmas, but yet cannot wager against a war on homelessness, and in some cases malnutrition due to the lack of food.
These are people of greed:
These are people of need:
So, my question to you Christians is…did you pray for a new Nintendo Wii this season?
What would Jesus buy???
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Sorry to jump off topic Mark, but have you seen the link to this site from a religious wing-nut on the RRMB? It’s comment #26 on the “Christians…Pray for the Rapture, Please!!” forum.
Again, so sorry to post off topic.
I don’t do the Christmas thing. I stopped christmas shopping years ago when I was let go from my job because of NAFTA and went on unemployment and back to school. That was in 02. I tell people up front that I dont’ do christimas, and no one has given me any guilt trip over it. I get the feeling that most of them wish they were as obstinate as me when to comes to holiday shopping. Oh, excuse me, I meant CHRISTMAS shopping. Don’t want to offend Bill O’Reilly.
With grown children, Grandchildren and extended family it’s tough not to come into contact with some form of related Xmas activity. I just keep reminding myself that it’s the Winter Solstice, give Solstice cards, Solstice gifts and make sure that I gather as many people as possible to be together and also recognize/celebrate the changing of the season and the darkest day of the year.
I don’t “do” Christmas either except family members under 18 get presents for the Solstice.
I stopped it in 1994 when I told all family members to count me out. They didn’t believe me at first until I told them that I would deliver any Christmas presents (unopened) that I received to a homeless shelter. It was a huge unburdening and I no longer financially dread the season.
I have a Festivus Party schedule this year for friends on December 23rd.
“Festivus for the Restofus.”
Nope, I don’t do Christmas either. Of course, not having a family makes it easier to do that than it would be for many people.
I just quit, some years ago when, in the supermarket, I saw people whom I saw most weeks shopping sensibly, at Christmas carting off multiple trolleys filled to absurd levels with enough food to keep a small African village fed for a few weeks – for a 2-day holiday. It’s obscene – not so much the season of conspicuous consumption, but over-consumption and waste.
Have fun, by all means – indulge yourselves, get drunk, get laid, whatever. Hell, life’s too short not to, but don’t go so far over the top that a lot of the food you buy ends up in landfill. It’s not hard – you know how much you can eat and drink, and what visitors you can expect to feed and water, so cater for that. You can buy a little extra so you’re not caught out, just don’t buy half a hundredweight of food “just in case” when you have a sneaking feeling, when you’re paying for it, that it’ll most likely never get eaten.
I don’t, for the most part, send Christmas cards, either. These were originally intended for people you wouldn’t be seeing at Christmas, so sending one to, say, the guy you’re going to be in the bar with, or the person at the next desk, is a bit futile. When I worked (I’m disabled), I would come home with maybe 300 cards (which I’d reciprocated, of course), all from people I saw pretty much every day, and with whom I later exchanged slightly blurred season’s greetings with in person at the office party, rendering the not inconsiderable expense of the cards a little pointless.
Ah well, I’ve got a bag of humbugs somewhere…
I wonder what the warning label underneath jeezus says..lol
@ Josh..
I think it says “Not recommended for children under 1 year of age”
I am a Catholic, but I don’t do presents either. Many Catholics are actually appalled by the amount of consumerism there is in this country.
To tell you the truth, Jesus would not only buy nothing, he would sell everything and give the money to the poor, as he said in Luke 18:22, after being asked by a ruler what he needed to do to go to heaven: “When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”"
Christmas by many Americans is viewed in a way contrary to how it began, as a way celebrate God, Jesus, charity, and love. Today it is full of useless spending that helps no one.
I also don’t do gifts for people outside my family. It is a waste in my opinion.
Aw, you used the plain Jesus bobble-head, not the Buddy Christ one.
@ arensb
Thanks for the tip! I just used that pic for illustrative purposes.
I do like Christmas. BUT, I celebrate it just like I celebrate Halloween. I enjoy the tradition, I don’t actually believe in the religious part any more than I believe I’d be scaring ghosts and demons away on Halloween.
…PS: Yes, I understand that I (and others) are commenting without actually addressing your point by agreeing or disagreeing directly but …Hell, that happens sometimes, lol.
for christmas, I’m going to give a bunch of money to a variety of different charities. my family doesn’t need anymore dust-gatherers.
As an Atheist father of 7 “christian children” & married to a “Holy-Roller” I’ve set the rule more than 30 years ago: Thou shalt not BUY me a Christmas present, thy must make, create or find one that represents your love and or respect for me. If I’m was given something store bought I regifted it the following christmas back to the child that gave it to me. If they drew a picture, wrote a poem, hand tooled a wallet found a live butterfly crysalis, transposed B-flat music in to the key of for my Soprano bugle, I would brag about it for years. WHAT WOULD JESUS BUY FOR CHRISTMAS? If he ever existed he would most likely give of himself instead of buying anything. JIM
@ Jim Mull…
Very valid points made!
If Jesus did exist, he wouldn’t be buying a Wii for a greedy selfish 12 year old.
Great post. I am by no means an atheist but I agree with your assessment of Christmas.