In the overly branded culture we live in, the days leading up to Christmas, once called Advent, now is full of various days all containing their own little nuance, which supposably prepares people to celebrate Christmas. From Black Friday, to Small Business Saturday, to Cyber Monday, capitalism has created all sorts of holidays (holy-days) for people to celebrate (worship?). Today, which is no longer the Tuesday after the 1st Week of Advent (way too wordy). It is now “Giving Tuesday”, which is the non-profit world’s response to those other high holy days. This brand was birthed just a couple of years ago, but has some major supports and partners. Giving Tuesday’s website state that the day exists to have a day to ” kick off the giving season”. This seems to be a very good organization who simply wants to help out 501(c)3’s do their thing, and I get that. I’m a part of an organization that relies upon a boost in giving at the end of the year to try and make budget. Their goal is quite helpful to many amazing non-profits and even a bit refreshing amidst the constant barrage of messages telling us to buy/consume during this season.
But as helpful as it is, and as much as I have love for the non-profit world out there, I think that Giving Tuesday reflects something quite disturbing about our culture. Apparently, the only day of the year when we can get behind generosity is after we’e kept our capitalistic structure in tact by spending money we don’t even have on things that we’ll just throw away in a year (or less). It’s like telling my kids that they can have dinner after I eat all of my food, borrow some food from next door on credit, and if I have a few crumbs left over…it’s all there’s. Then we’ll throw a party, get a hashtag trending about it, and have plenty of celebrities endorse me, and call it #GenerousDadDay.
It’s almost silly if it wasn’t so sad.
The only reason I bring this up, is certainly not to take money away from worthy organizations (please give!). Rather, I bring this up, because Giving Tuesday is fine, but it isn’t generosity, because it’s not sacrificial…it’s leftovers…table scraps, and that’s how we tend to treat those in need. We set aside a day to give to those who don’t have but only after we’ve taken care of our own. Jesus taught about our wealth in a number of ways, but the most profound and simplest was this “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Luke 12:33-34)
As a culture (for those in and outside of God’s Kingdom), one of our biggest struggles is that our treasure is here on this earth, and that is evident in when this day takes place. If it took place before Thanksgiving/Black Friday/Cyber Monday, it probably wouldn’t have gained any momentum because we crave stuff…we’re addicted to it. Granted, we claim that the things purchased during this past weekend we’re mostly presents for others, but I’d argue back that they were almost entirely a pursuit of things that “moth and rust destroy” and had little to do with generosity and more about building up our personal earthly kingdoms.
So, here’s where I offer a totally different alternative to Giving Tuesday, right? No. I have no website, hashtag, picket sign, petition, or celebrity to help me out nor do I plan on enlisting any of those tools. Instead, I say, give to a worthy organization today. The only thing I ask is that you prayerfully examine your own heart and ask why the “season of giving” has to come after the “season of buying”. The answer is found in what this season is all about…the coming of the Christ child (the Advent of our Lord)…the one who defined generosity at the cross.
Great people to give money to:
Lutheran World Relief
Food For The Poor
or you can just give to your local church who is looking to make an eternal difference in your community
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