Mixing the Sacred Christmas Holiday with Secular Traditions

December 18, 2012 by Leave a Comment

A Fresh Approach to Christmas Giving through the Three Gifts

As Christmas fast approaches, your thoughts are probably turning to stocking up the pantry for holiday meals, scouting out the sales for your Christmas list and, most importantly, preparing to spend time with the ones you love the most. Christian parents in particular are thinking of ways to rejoice in the true meaning of Christmas by celebrating the birth of Christ with their children.

Some Christians take part in various holiday season traditions – setting up nativity scenes, watching re-enactments of the night the Savior was born or baking a birthday cake for Jesus – as a reminder about the true celebration of Christmas. Parents sometimes feel torn or frustrated with the gift lists and the secular emphasis on children to make Santa’s “nice list” in order to receive their favorite gift.

While trying to mix the sacred holiday with secular traditions, one Raleigh, N.C. family has found a way that works well for them. The Tillers discovered the art of limiting Christmas giving by going back to biblical text found in Matthew 2:11:  “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.” 

In this text, three gifts were given by the Magi to Jesus – gold, frankincense and myrrh. The Tiller family uses the three gifts as symbols when giving to each of their children: one to represent gold, one to represent frankincense and one to represent myrrh.

Jim and Sharon, his wife of 17 years, have eight- and ten-year-old-sons whose birthdays fall in November and December. Between birthday gifts and Christmas presents, gift excess was becoming an issue. They decided they wanted something different for a Christmas experience and wanted to set new traditions.

“At a young age, they were getting too much,” Jim explained. “We wanted to focus on Christmas as the time of celebrating Jesus’ birth rather than gifts focusing on the children.”

Three gifts were given by the Magi to Jesus – gold, frankincense and myrrh. The Tiller family uses the three gifts as symbols when giving to each of their children: one to represent gold, one to represent frankincense and one to represent myrrh.

Three gifts were given by the Magi to Jesus – gold, frankincense and myrrh. The Tiller family uses the three gifts as symbols when giving to each of their children: one to represent gold, one to represent frankincense and one to represent myrrh.

The Gift of Gold

The gift of gold focuses on the principle of great value and worth. When the Wise Men presented gold to Jesus, it was a gift fit only for a King and held in great value – especially during that time. Parents can explain to their children the significance of this gift as a sacrifice, just as Jesus’ life was of great worth — ultimately costing His very own life for the sake of our souls.

With this gift, the Tiller family gives the largest and most expensive gift to each of their sons. Examples might include a basketball goal, a new bicycle or a video game. The Tillers also wrap the gifts with gold paper to reemphasize the meaning.  

The Gift of Frankincense

The gift of frankincense focuses on the inward being and spiritual growth. It is known for its healing power, curing everything from infections to headaches. In present times, it can act as an antiseptic or anti-inflammatory for medicinal purposes. Through the symbolism of the cleansing and purification to meet with Jesus, this gift relates to how Christians meet and grow closer with God.

The Tillers have given Bibles, worship CDs, and devotional books as past gifts. This gift can be wrapped with white paper as a reminder of the sacred white incense that Jesus received from the Wise Men.

The Gift of Myrrh

The gift of myrrh symbolizes the outward and aesthetic anointment to cleanse our bodies. Myrrh was used in historic times as a scent in oils, perfumes and embalming liquids. In present times, it still acts as a rich aroma in lotions, soaps and oils. Myrrh was used to anoint Jesus as part of his burial preparation, reminding people how He ultimately had to die for the world’s own purification and cleansing.

This gift is a great reminder to children that ultimately Jesus was sent to die for our sins even though He came to earth as a baby. The Tillers remind their boys about the sacrifice Christ made in order to restore right relationship with God and provide eternal life for us. Some gift ideas include body wash, hair products, towels and combs to represent the gift of myrrh. Wrap this gift in earth-toned paper to symbolize the dark color of this spice. 

The Ultimate Gift

The Tillers found great success in implementing this giving strategy during the Christmas season with their children. By focusing on the ultimate gift of the birth of Christ coming to save us from our sins, the Christmas season no longer centers on the selfish desires to gain all the gifts on a wish list.

“The best reason to do this is because it centers Christmas on the birth of Christ and takes what has now become a secular holiday back to a religious holiday,” Tiller said. “Many families have joined us in this giving concept and we hope that this will be passed along to future generations.”

For more information and tips on giving, contact the National Christian Foundation of Raleigh, e-mail the Raleigh office at raleigh@nationalchristian.com.

Article adapted and used with permission by the National Christian Foundation of Raleigh. 

Filed Under: Culture, Testimonial, Traditional Family Tagged With: , , , ,

JC Penney Sets Good Example on Black Friday, Appeals to Faith Driven Consumers

December 3, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Recent actions by the department store JC Penney haven’t always sat well with Faith Driven Consumers, but the retail giant recently took a step in the right direction with its Black Friday policy.

As retailers increasingly encroach on Thanksgiving by opening their stores earlier, JC Penney went the opposite direction, opening at 6 a.m. – two hours later than last year.  CEO Ron Johnson wrote this about his decision to open later on Black Friday:

“I know that some retailers are opening on Thanksgiving this year. But spending Thanksgiving with family is one of America’s greatest traditions. Since JC Penney was founded on the Golden Rule, I’m proud to honor this tradition by keeping our stores closed on this special day. I hope our customers and employees all enjoy a wonderful holiday with loved ones. And when we open at 6 a.m. the following day, we’ll be honoring another great American tradition — Black Friday — with our one big sale of the year.”

For many Americans, the jarring juxtaposition of a holiday devoted to gratefulness with jostling hordes of amped-up shoppers gunning to out-consume each other was too much to stomach. They see the ever-earlier store openings as a show of greed – with the Almighty Dollar trumping a day set aside for family and community.

Despite the criticism, Americans nevertheless hit the Black Friday-Turned-Thursday sales with gusto.

Given that the pressure is on retailers to increasingly encroach on Thanksgiving makes JC Penney’s decision all the more admirable. While other retailers try to gain a turkey leg up on the competition, JC Penney voluntarily took a hit to its profits and did the right thing.  For this, they are to be commended.

Thanksgiving isn’t traditionally a religious holiday with Christian roots like other holidays. But it does represent biblical values that Faith Driven Consumers hold dear – thankfulness, family, graciousness and kindness.  In an era of corporate ultra-competition, retailers that continue to set a day like Thanksgiving apart will increasingly resonate in the hearts and minds of Faith Driven Consumers.

Filed Under: Culture, Review Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Spending Recap and Starting the New Year with Faith Driven Consumer

January 4, 2012 by Leave a Comment

By Shea Northcut

As we begin a new year, it is important to take a moment to look at all God has given us in the past year as well as take a moment to reflect on goals for 2012.

Here at Faith Driven Consumer, we are excited this year as we will be producing new resources, company profiles, and further tools to help you, the consumer!

If you remember toward the end of the 2011, Faith Driven Consumer produced a Christmas Shopping Guide to highlight top retailers during the Christmas shopping season. With more than 300 downloads for our shopping guide, we are encouraged to prepare and share more guides for the future. We were also pleased to be featured by the American Family Association and the Family Research Council.

For a quick recap of Christmas sales, did you know that Christmas sales increased 15 percent during the same time period of 2010 between November 1, 2011 and December, 26, 2011? Sales online during that period were $35.3 billion, which is a huge increase from the past few years.  Also, in December, consumer spending increased 4.7 percent from the same period in 2010.

These numbers show that consumer spending is on the rise, especially as we enter into 2012. Faith Driven Consumer strongly encourages you to thoughtfully consider your spending decisions this year and support companies that are faith-friendly.

You can let us know what you would like to see from Faith Driven Consumer during 2012 and which companies you would like to have insight into before spending your money! Let us know by leaving a comment or contacting us by clicking here. Also be sure to subscribe to us to receive updates on new resources by clicking here.

We look forward to another year as we encourage consumers to consider their Biblical worldview when shopping and companies to listen to the needs, wants and preferences of these consumers.

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Testimonial: Remembering the Reason for Christmas

December 22, 2011 by 1 Comment

By Shea Northcut

As we approach the Christmas holiday (just three days away), it is important to remember the significance of wishing people a ‘Merry Christmas’ during this time. It is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season that we often times forget to take a moment to wish someone a Merry Christmas and to remember the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

In recent days as I have been working to finish up my Christmas shopping, it is becoming more evident to me how many people are replacing the traditional  ‘Merry Christmas’ with ‘Happy Holidays’ or other forms or fashions of greetings.  In recent news, Congressmen aren’t even allowed to say Merry Christmas in their mailings.

You may wonder what the big deal is when doing so.

Since Christmas revolves around the birth of Jesus more than 2000 years ago, it’s important to recognize the CHRIST in CHRISTmas. Many companies in their advertisements use Happy Holidays or take another twist at all of the different religious traditions happening around this time of the year. This is one of the biggest holidays for Christians to celebrate and praise God for sacrificing his Son to come to the Earth to us.

As Faith Driven Consumers, let’s take a moment from all of the busyness and find rest in the reason for this season. Yes, it is important to prepare for traveling, family gatherings, and the purchasing of last minute gifts—but also remember to take some time and remember what the true reason for this season is: Immanuel, God with us.

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Gifts that Give during the Christmas Season

December 15, 2011 by 1 Comment

By Adaline Haseltine

Christmas can be a very stressful time of the year. It seems that we get so caught up in buying everything on everyone’s list that we don’t stop to think about people who are in need.

There are several organizations that you can give to, especially during the Christmas season.

Although it is great to give during the Christmas season, it is important to consider the actual needs of communities. By actively serving in these communities and giving items that are actually needed, more benefits can come from your service.

New non-profit companies are redefining “giving” and using their profits to restore communities and help people find their talents:

  • Krochet Kids: Much like TOMS shoes, this non-profit is a retail distributor, but with a twist. Founders of the organization took their skills in crocheting and taught women in third-world countries how to crochet. Every time you buy a hat from Krochet Kids, the money is given to the woman who made the hat. The mission of the company is to “empower people to rise above poverty” with Jesus at the heart of everything they do.

Check out the company and buy hats here: http://www.krochetkids.org/

  • Hope International: This non-profit is a Christian faith-based organization “focused on alleviating physical and spiritual poverty through microenterprise development.” The company is focused on helping people rise from poverty through personal skill development. This Christmas, you can help Hope International and people around the world by purchasing specific items that will help with their specific skill Whether this is a hair dryer, used clothes, or woodworking tools, you are buying someone the ability to run a business.

Check out the company and donate here: http://www.hopeinternational.org/site/PageServer?pagename=impact_giftcatalog

  • Sevenly: Another non-profit that sells clothing to raise funds, Sevenly’s mission is to “raise awareness for the world’s greatest causes” with a purpose to “learn the issues that break God’s heart, engage with the people who are called to the issue, and create awareness and a funding movement that supports them in their efforts” and a vision to “see thousands of lives changed through the efforts [they] enable.” Every week, Sevenly sells a new shirt for a new organization with a goal to raise a set amount of money.

Check out how you can purchase one of the t-shirts here and find out more about the company: http://sevenly.org/

These are just a few non-profit organizations that are doing great things around the world in the name of Jesus. If you cannot give to these organizations, volunteer your time this Christmas season with Habitat for Humanity, Operation Christmas Child (Samaritan’s Purse), the local soup kitchen, Toys for Tots, or some other charitable endeavor.  As Christians, our hearts should ache for those who cannot provide for their families and we should have a longing to help those who cannot help themselves.

Faith Driven Consumer encourages consumer choices that benefit those in need.  This is consistent with our mission.

Let’s put Christ back in Christmas by showing love for our neighbor—even if they live half way around the world—and encourage organizations whose mission is to spread the gospel through giving in time, effort, money and love.

Filed Under: Philanthropy, Testimonial Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Pamela Anderson plays Virgin Mary during Christmas season

December 8, 2011 by 4 Comments

By Adaline Haseltine

This Christmas season, former Playboy Playmate, Pamela Anderson, will be featured on a Canadian Christmas special in which she will play the Virgin Mary.

The ‘ironic’ Christmas special aired this week on Dec. 1 with more than 2 million people tuning in to see her portray the Virgin Mary.

Though this Christmas special is aired only in Canada, Faith Driven Consumers should be very concerned about this nontraditional take on the story of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

The shows that currently air on American networks are already questionable enough, and a show that blasphemes the birth of Jesus is not what we want our families to see.

Faith Driven Consumers need to let television networks know that we do not want television shows which devalue the family and Christian morals. We want wholesome television. We want a truthful portrayal of the Christmas story.

Let’s congratulate networks that portray Christmas in a Biblical way. Further, let’s encourage networks to promote Christmas. ABC Family has its annual ’25 Days of Christmas’ celebrating Christmas with Christmas-themed movies and shows.

Be alert to the ‘Christmas’ shows your family watches this year and make sure that Christ stays at the heart of Christmas celebrations.

Filed Under: Culture, Entertainment Tagged With: , ,

Update: American Family Association features Faith Driven Consumer

December 5, 2011 by 7 Comments

The American Family Association (AFA) featured Faith Driven Consumer in a recent blog post titled, ‘Purchasing with Principle’.  The story is now live on the AFA OneNewsNow website and will air today on the radio as well.

You can listen to the interview by clicking on the link below. Faith Driven Consumer is excited and thankful for this opportunity.

Please share this with friends, family and your church!

Click here to listen to the interview

Click here to read the article.

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Showing Thankfulness during Thanksgiving

November 22, 2011 by 1 Comment

For more than two centuries, Americans have celebrated Thanksgiving in honor of the day the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag Indians shared a harvest feast together. The feast celebrated a successful corn harvest for the new colonists and a new allegiance with the Native Americans.

Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated by going to the store and buying a turkey with all of the dressings that go along with a typical Thanksgiving menu. Though our means of putting the harvest on the table vary, there is one thing that remains the same—we still gather around the table with family and friends to count our blessings in loving unity.

As Christians, Thanksgiving is a wonderful reminder of the blessings our great and mighty God has given us; and as Americans, God has blessed us greatly with freedom and vast resources to better ourselves and our families and contribute to others.

This Thanksgiving, spend some time with your family—whether your tradition is to play football, watch football or the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, or cook in the kitchen together—make sure to share the things you are thankful for with the people in your life. Pray together and share God’s goodness with your loved ones.

We also encourage you to serve others in your community on Thanksgiving. There are many opportunities like serving at soup kitchens, giving to canned food drives, or running in a local Turkey trot race to benefit the people in your community. Give and show others the love God has shown you.

In the classic hymn, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” the lyrics read ‘come thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace. Streams of mercy, never ceasing call for songs of loudest praise.’ During this Thanksgiving holiday, think about these words—we need to praise God for His blessings and mercy with ‘loudest praise.’

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Faith-friendly Shopping during Christmas Season

November 17, 2011 by 3 Comments

It is that time of the year again! Next Thursday, around the country, family and friends are joining together for a feast to give thanks for the many blessings God has given them this year. And like most holidays in America, the marketplace has found a way to commercialize the holiday with the infamous ‘Black Friday’ the following day.

By next Friday, consumers will be swarming stores in the early hours of the day to snag the best deals. Just this season alone is predicted to have consumer sales topping $466 billion. As Faith Driven Consumers, we need to be cautious of the stores we choose to shop at this Christmas season.

If you are participating in ‘Black Friday’ events this year, remember the companies in which you choose to invest your money  have motives to give money elsewhere or promote their products in a certain way. The places the companies give your money and the way the companies use your money to promote their products may not align with your values as a Christian.

Fortunately, Faith Driven Consumer is compiling a comprehensive Christmas guide for you this season, just in time for Black Friday.  The guide will show you which companies tend to lean toward or against a Biblical worldview, helping you make better choices about where you  shop this season.

Not only does Faith Driven Consumer have a service for you this season, but the American Family Association has put together a ‘Naughty or Nice’ list showing which companies are incorporating the word ‘Christmas’ in their advertisements.  Check out the list here.

Let’s use our money this Christmas to honor God in our purchasing decisions and make a change in the marketplace. Let’s put Christ back into our hearts and into Christmas.

 

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