Re-thinking Christmas

Each year Americans spend billions of dollars on material items at Christmas. That is a pretty strange way to celebrate the birth of Jesus, who gave up all of his riches to save the world.

In 2006, three pastors had a vision to revitalize the celebration of Christmas in their churches. They found two other like-minded pastors, and, together with their congregations, conspired to restore the meaning of Christmas. Hence, the name: Advent Conspiracy.

The concept behind Advent Conspiracy is simple: Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, Love All.

To fulfill this concept, these pastors challenged their congregations to spend less on themselves that Christmas so that they could spend more on others. As a result, this coalition of churches was able to raise around half a million dollars–enough to fund the digging of a high-capacity well in Nicaragua, and 13 deep wells in Liberia.

But these “Advent Conspirators” don’t simply tell us what they’ve accomplished. They challenge us to go and do likewise.

At RethinkingChristmas.com, people who have joined the Advent Conspiracy share some practical suggestions on how to spend less money, yet give more love. One mother commented that she planned to make personalized cookbooks for her kids this Christmas. She scanned family recipes written in her handwriting and that of her mother’s, and placed them in a binder.

That’s a gift that her children will treasure for years, and hopefully pass on to their children. While this may not have cost much, it involved a wealth of time — something far more meaningful.

But our giving should not be limited to family and friends. This is the challenge of the Advent Conspiracy: “As poor people who have met with the righteous wealth of God, it is now our turn to model his generosity by sharing our wealth with those in need.”

So far, many participants in the Advent Conspiracy movement have opted to give the money they raise each year to Living Water International, a Christian ministry dedicated to providing access to clean water to people around the world.

But whoever we give to, the point is to get beyond ourselves and love the unloved in the name of Christ. As these pastors write, “When we show up and love in the name of God, God shows up. That’s part of the mystery of partnering with Jesus in the work he is still doing.”

During this past year of recession, it may be encouraging to remember that God doesn’t expect us to give what we don’t have. Those who have lost jobs may not be able to do much more than the poor widow in Luke 21. Though she only put in two small copper coins, Jesus commended her. While others gave out of their wealth, she gave out of her poverty and from her heart.

So this year, as you remember how, long ago, God’s people longed for the coming of the Messiah, and as you look forward to Christ’s coming again, make a change in how you spend. Perhaps this Christmas can be the advent of a deeper faith for you and your family.

(To see a video from Advent Conspiracy, click HERE.)

Ideas from RethinkingChristmas.com:

“Everyone I know already has tons of stuff, including stuff they don’t need. What I am doing for everyone this year is donating either clothing, household supplies, or my time to a homeless shelter in their honor. And I am writing everyone a letter telling them how much they mean to me and what I did in their name.”

“Last year for Christmas we gave my mother-in-law a ‘Meal of the Month’ coupon. Each month in 2009 we brought her homemade foods. I usually did 2-3 items and they included things like soups, muffins, desserts, casseroles, appetizers, etc. I just did an assortment of things throughout the year. She loved it! She has always loved my cooking and since it is just her, the things I made lasted a few mealtimes for her. It didn’t break our budget, it was something she could really use and enjoy and we enjoyed making the items for her.”

“A few years ago we decided that our three kids didn’t need more stuff. So, I really thought about what they did need and that was more time together as a family. In lieu of gifts for the kids we take a small two or three day vacation around Christmas. It can be as simple as renting a cabin and sledding or playing board games for a few days or taking in Christmas sights within a car trip of our home. Now instead of making a Christmas list they ask, ‘Where are we going this year?’”

“My mother in-law has boxes and boxes of photos (in no order, nor in albums — just thrown in boxes). We purchased a photo organization box for around $20 and we’ll be giving her a gift certificate for our time to help her organize the photos. Not only will it be productive, but an activity where we can reminisce about the past and spend time with my mother in-law.”

“This year I am giving a present to my mother and my daughter of a regular weekly letter/card.  I live in Belgium, my mother lives in England, and my daughter is at university in Spain.  We email and phone occasionally, but I know that it would mean a great deal to both of them to have something that they could hold in their hands in my handwriting and reread.  Both of them are big writers themselves: my mother carries on correspondence with hundreds of people around the world, and my daughter has journaled every day since she was 10 years old.  I have been a horrible correspondent, but this year I want to give this gift not because I feel guilty, but because I know how much it would mean to each of them.”

“Write out 52 Bible verses, quotes, and/or words of encouragement for a friend on small sheets of paper. Fold the paper in half and place all of the blessings in a box, jar or book. Encourage your friend to open one a week for the next year!”

(www.RethinkingChristmas.com)