Holiday Shopping Sprees
Biblical?
Q. Do you think Christians should be involved in holiday shopping sprees? We used to enjoy it but we really can’t afford it anymore. Besides, I’m having second thoughts about it. I’m wondering if it’s something Christians should do anyway.
Answer:
No…not anymore. But, first let me explain:
Neighborly Competition
In our culture parents and children are under relentless pressure and intense competition to buy things during Christmas, Easter, Halloween, and other holidays.
Try to picture this scenario:
The next door neighbor parks his new Beamer next to your old, clunky Ford. His kids flash their new electronic gizmos in your children’s faces. The wife shows off her new gleaming granite countertops to your wife while complaining about her new maid service.
All of this puts pressure on families to compete and consume although it was more common back in 2005 or 2006.
Global Economy – Transnationals & Elitists
Christian families must understand that we live in a global economy run by transnational-corporations headed by elitists who decide the rules of this new economic world order.
It is an evil, satanic, globalist worldview. It will ultimately end badly with a global government, one-world currency, and the antichrist ruling over everything. We see this unfolding more and more in late 2010 onward.
What Happened to Sweatshops?
Consider this: As recently as the 1990s we used to be warned against buying things made by 3rd World sweatshops and slave labor. What changed? What changed is that the money-hungry CEOs had become rich elitists who decided they could make more profit from slave labor factories in China, South America, and India.
But, to succeed at this they had to make sure WE bought the goods. They did this by creating a culture of greed through relentless advertising on TV, the internet, and radio.
Now most of us are broke!
Who Controls our Greed?
By the way, who do you think controls the air waves that bring us messages of greed? Who is the prince of the “power of the air?” In other words, who controls all of this carnal advertising? See Ephesians 2:2 for the answer. Satan!
Consumer Clones & Debt Junkies
These advertising moguls and evil spiritual forces want you and your families to be consumer clones and debt junkies. Never mind that the Bible warns that the rich rules over the poor and the borrower is the slave of the lender (Proverbs 22:7).
Never mind that we are told to be content with just having food and clothing (1 Timothy 6:8) or that we should be free from the love of money and be content with what we have (Hebrews 13:5).
Indebted & Enslaved
Corporate elitists fill the air waves with relentless ads encouraging people to behave in selfish, base ways – literally fighting each other to grab toys for the kids. They want all of us indebted and enslaved. A prophet put it this way:
Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins? …Consider how things are going for you! You have planted much but harvested little. You have food to eat, but not enough to fill you up. You have wine to drink, but not enough to satisfy your thirst. You have clothing to wear, but not enough to keep you warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes! (Haggai 1:4-6, NLT)
We are never satisfied. There is never enough, and inflation eats away at our purchasing power.
Prophetic Warnings
– Exodus 23:2 tells us plainly NOT to join a crowd in doing evil. Ezekiel 16:49 tells us that Sodom’s sins were pride, laziness, and gluttony while the poor and needy suffered outside the doors.
– Deuteronomy 5:21 tells us NOT to want what our neighbor’s have.
– Isaiah 5:8 warns us not to buy up property on great estates so others have no place to live. The prophet warns that these homes will be empty with the owners dead or gone.
– He places his woes on those who have drunken parties filled with music (Isa. 5:8-12).
– 1 John 2:15 tells us to STOP loving this evil world because it offers only lust for physical pleasure, lust for things, and pride in what we have. All of it will be gone in no time.
Rotted Wealth & Flesh in Hell
James warns,
Look here, you rich people, weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. Your wealth is rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags. Your gold and silver have become worthless. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh in hell. This treasure you have accumulated will stand as evidence against you on the day of judgment (James 5:1-3, NLT).
The Apostle John warns Christians,
But if anyone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need and refuses to help – how can God’s love be in that person? (1 John 3:17, NLT).
Judah Partying on Rooftops
In 2005 and 2006 we Americans were like the nation of Judah partying on the patio-rooftops while the enemy is descending upon us.
You don’t think so?
Consider what we were doing then and now. We consume and buy, rack up credit card debt and show-off our wealth while our jobs are being outsourced to other nations and our porous borders are crossed by Babylonian enemies who want to kill us! (Don’t forget that Babylon existed in present day Iraq)! We have even mortgaged off our precious homes to buy things.
COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST, AND BE SEPARATE, SAYS THE LORD
(2 Corinthians 6:17, Isaiah 52:11, and Revelation 18:4, NASB).
Starting today let’s find alternative things to do with our holidays in the coming years!
________________________
Sources Cited:
New American Standard Updated. 1995. Chicago: Moody.
New Living Translation, Holy bible. 1996. Wheaton, ILL: Tyndale.
Author Valorie Mays Emilio holds an MA in History from UCLA focusing upon early church history, and a V.O.M. Certificate in Persecuted Church Ministries from Oklahoma Wesleyan University.