Turning the tables on commercialism

This year the calendar allows for the first Sunday in December to be the first Sunday in Advent, the church’s official celebration of the birth of Jesus and the church’s anticipatory reflection of the coming again of Jesus — that time which will be the culmination of time and history, according to Christian doctrine.

Advent means simply the coming. Advent should be observed with all kinds of festive events. Traditionally, the church has presented its special music, plays, and even benevolent emphasis during the season. It’s one of the most wonderful times of the year.

The church often scowls at the secular and commercial activities of Christmas with the obvious focus on materialism. We of the church have pronounced that “Jesus is the reason” for the season. We have a tendency to disdain the commercial aspects of Christmas. Retailers, the church often reasons, don’t give a flip about Jesus or the true reason for the season.

And that’s exactly the kind of attitude and approach that was disgusting to Jesus. If Jesus were to walk into Best Buy during the Christmas season, he would not be self-pontificating, but meeting the folks and delighting in their buying such gifts for special people in their lives.

The church needs to re-think its criticism of commercialism of the birth of Jesus. Were it not for the birth of Jesus in little lowly Bethlehem a couple of millennia ago, the cash registers would not be ringing at Best Buy or Wal-Mart.

So as I go about my merry way on the clogged highways, I think that it was the birth of Jesus that brought the cars out of their garages and onto the roads. As I walk around the department stores and get in line to make payment, I think it was a relatively unknown birth in Palestine that prompted the sales of diamonds and gold and silver.

Church, don’t get the hiccups or have a coronary because the world wants to get in on the giving. Just remember and think that it all — and I mean all — started with Jesus. Saks and Macys and whoever may wish you a “Happy Holiday,” but you and I know that it all started with a holy day and we call it Christmas.