Conspiracy

“Did you get everything you wanted?” “I hope you got everything you wanted this Christmas.” These comments greeted me in the opening of two separate messages on the Sunday after Christmas 2007 and a third one at the first meeting of a group in 2008. It is a common question in casual conversation. Usually it is directed toward children, youth, or a casual acquaintance as an icebreaker question. However, in Christendom where “the true meaning of Christmas” is highly emphasized, it seems to be an odd question and peculiar hope to present to an adult congregation of professed believers. It left me slightly unsettled and saddened.

What is it we try to instill into the young minds under our charge? “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” “We give presents at Christmas to remember what God has given to us.” So, why do we follow-up the Christmas season with questions about getting?

Could it be that we have more of a consumer mentality than we want to admit? Could it be that we have more of a consumer mentality than we are even aware? Could it be that we have actually bought in to the world’s commercial version of Christmas on a deeper level than we want to own up to?

Perhaps the follow-up question we should ask is, “Did you give everything you wanted to?” If we keep this end question in mind, our attitude toward receiving, as well as giving, will likely change. There is no sin in gratefully receiving and enjoying a gift, and I don’t want to discourage giving traditional Christmas gifts. What if, though, our Christmas celebration included celebrating Communion and giving us time and space to reflect upon, receive again, and further our enjoyment of the greatest Gift we could never deserve. This gratefulness ought to be reflected in our response to the gifts we receive from others.

I enjoy stories with unpredictable plots, so I was immediately drawn to the concept behind Advent Conspiracy, an international movement to recover the scandal of Christmas. It promotes the joy of giving through compassion rather than consumption. It suggests giving time and honor rather than miscellaneous material objects. It encourages creativity and thoughtfulness in our giving. It remembers the heart of the original Christmas gift.

As we deepen our appreciation for such a lavish Gift, allowing it to change our hearts, souls, and minds, it is quite possible that our conversations about Christmas gifts will naturally turn toward what we had the pleasure of giving. Rather than comparing gifts received, we can “spur one another on toward love and good deeds”¹ as we share the ways we have given to our hearts’ content.

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasures for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.  1 Timothy 6.17-19

1. Hebrews 10.24 [↩]