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Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Christmas Moronism

So there I am at lunch waiting for a few coworkers when I overhear a woman on a cell phone explaining her Christmas buying decisions:

“Well, I got my mom that CD player.  I put it on my credit card and now I’m tapped out because I had to buy that part for my truck.  Next week, I’m getting the rug and the I-POD for my dad.  I’ll have to see what happens the week after.  I might have to wrap an IOU to my brother and see if he’ll let me take him shopping the week after Christmas.”

At that point, I had to leave, but I was surprised at the ire roused in my chest. 

This woman, who is obviously living paycheck to paycheck, would squander her earnings on lavish gifts for her kin in the name of a holiday created to commemorate the birth of Christ.  She, like so many others, seems to think that the celebration is about the gifts that she provides to others.  It’s not.

The Christmas holiday is about celebrating the gift Christ gave.  It’s about celebrating life.  It’s about relationships.  Baubles and trinkets cheapen the intent of the celebration, and pulling valuable resources to buy fickle material items misses the point, entirely.

If she’s maxed out her credit card, then she is already over-extended beyond her means.  She is borrowing from others to generate her gifts.

I’m no expert on the matter, but Christ espoused charity and, as far as I know, decried stupidity. 
Charity is giving of what you have.  If you have to borrow to give, then you’re not being charitable or smart.

Comments

Avatar for HG

Charity is giving of what you have.

2 Corinthians 8:12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

Excellent post Seth.

HG on December 12, 2007 at 11:53 am

Go to this link and find an excellent song/story about Christ being the first Christmas gift, it is quite nice.

http://www.andiesisle.com/thefirstchristmasgift.hs.html

It all gets out of hand and loses its focus, the idea of giving to others was a way to stir up the godly gift of giving within us all for us all. When I was young some new undershirts/pants and maybe a toy or older gift in my teen years and it was always a sacrifice which made each gift so special.

Today, if we don’t spend a few hundred dollars on each of our children or grandchildren and Christmas was not very good.


No matter the age or state of health, for a military man it is always glorious to tilt at windmills, rescue a fair Dulcinea and be a gallant knight in armor in a glorious cause.

Neiman on December 12, 2007 at 12:03 pm

CHRISTMAS IS SPIRITUAL BEHAVIOR - NOT ECONOMIC.

MORONISM IS MANIFEST BE THE INABILITY TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN SPIRITUAL PROBLEMS AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS.

GRATITOUS INSULTING BEHAVIOR IS MORE HARMFUL TO THE REPUTATIONS OF THOSE WHO PRACTICE IT; THAN IT IS TO THOSE WHO ARE ASSAULTED BY IT.

Jeugenen on December 12, 2007 at 03:07 pm

CHRISTMAS IS SPIRITUAL BEHAVIOR - NOT ECONOMIC.

Well it’s supposed to be a spiritual event, not an economic one, and that’s my point.

Thanks HG

Seth Yantiss on December 12, 2007 at 04:15 pm
Avatar for jaxddt

Christmas should not even involve gifts to any one other than children, but they should understand Christ was only given 3 simple gifts. I’m surprised Christians even go spend money these days when you can’t even keep Christ in his own birthday celebration. Sad, people feel “bad” for not going into debt to keep corps in business. If everyone boycotted the holiday one year you would see the wor Christmas in big bold lights the next year with huge manger sceens!!!

jaxddt on December 14, 2007 at 06:17 am
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