More thoughts on consumerism
OK. So, this morning (Dan’s day off) we decided to take Jace to a local Christian bookstore for story hour. It was a fun time and I’m so thankful for an opportunity to get him out of the house and around other kids. HOWEVER I couldn’t help but notice something that really bothered me. The entire back of the store was completely marketed towards children. Christian children. Now I understand having Bibles and books that teach values and such. However- shoes? Stuffed animals? T-shirts? Tea sets? CANDY???? What are we teaching our Christian children? I am one who has been and still is trying so hard to teach my son differently. Differently than the traditional “Christian” way of pretty much being the same as the world only consuming things that are marketed with Jesus’ name. When we walk into a store I don’t want my son screaming b/c he can’t have something he sees. I try to teach him that there are people that go without the most basic of needs and the money we would spend frivolously on merchandise such as this could go to help those people instead. Even during story time which takes place back in this area of this particular store, almost every child ended up grabbing some toy they saw WHILE the nice lady was reading to us and playing with it instead of listening to what she had to say. You might be thinking, well that’s a lot to expect a child to not do that, but as parents we don’t have to allow that behavior (if it’s something you are convicted about). Sure Jace’s nature was to reach towards the toys that were eye level to him and try to get them but I wouldn’t allow it. That’s not why we were there. We were there to learn about God’s word and yet temptation surrounded us. Kind of ironic!
I just really wonder how we can be any different as Christians when we buy into this whole notion of pretty much having a Christian “Wal-Mart” type store. I want to stand for what Jesus would stand for. Would he stand for things being marketed in his name?? Or would he turn the tables over? Might sound corny, but what would Jesus do? Want his children to want want want more more more or want them to think about others 1st and ways we can show love and mercy to those in need?
Just wondering.
