Giving and the Advent
Andrew Jones just posted an entry that has got me thinking about this question:
What sort-of giving is appropriate in response to the incarnation of Jesus? (The incarnation being the thing - in concept at least - that we celebrate at Christmastime).
Jones has offered, I think, a pretty good answer, taken from Luke 3:10-11 (though he apparently mis-cited this as John 1:10-11). John the Baptist, preparing people for the arrival of Jesus (sound like what we do as we prepare for Christmas?) had these words to say:
The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.
Perhaps, rather than giving more and more to those who already have (and receiving when we already have), John's ethic for the advent call on those who "have" to account for what they have in excess and give it to those who have none. It isn't a call to live in poverty per se, but it is a call to avoid the extravagant and share that which is excessive.
This seems to be a more appropriate way to prepare for the arrival of Jesus and God's kingdom on Christmas day. But, of course, it is also counter to the consumeristic impulses that drive the McCulture.
I'm wondering: what if, as a part of our Christmas celebration, our families took the time to look around our homes, find things that we possess in over-abundance (especially - in our case - clothes and toys), and give them away at the local Salvation Army? Just a thought.
Technorati Tags: Advent, Christmas, Giving, Andrew Jones, Discipleship, McCulture
What sort-of giving is appropriate in response to the incarnation of Jesus? (The incarnation being the thing - in concept at least - that we celebrate at Christmastime).
Jones has offered, I think, a pretty good answer, taken from Luke 3:10-11 (though he apparently mis-cited this as John 1:10-11). John the Baptist, preparing people for the arrival of Jesus (sound like what we do as we prepare for Christmas?) had these words to say:
The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.
Perhaps, rather than giving more and more to those who already have (and receiving when we already have), John's ethic for the advent call on those who "have" to account for what they have in excess and give it to those who have none. It isn't a call to live in poverty per se, but it is a call to avoid the extravagant and share that which is excessive.
This seems to be a more appropriate way to prepare for the arrival of Jesus and God's kingdom on Christmas day. But, of course, it is also counter to the consumeristic impulses that drive the McCulture.
I'm wondering: what if, as a part of our Christmas celebration, our families took the time to look around our homes, find things that we possess in over-abundance (especially - in our case - clothes and toys), and give them away at the local Salvation Army? Just a thought.
Technorati Tags: Advent, Christmas, Giving, Andrew Jones, Discipleship, McCulture
posted by Matt at Sunday, November 27, 2005
1 Comments:
Matt,
I couldn't agree more! I've always thought that all of the extravegent gift giving takes our minds away from the true spirit of Christmas, but I've never been able to put it into as good of words as you have here. Not only do I feel that it is the right thing to do, but it can also be some relief to those who might not be able to afford to buy all of those "must haves" for the people on their lists.
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