Rob Witham

An idea that might be worth considering while trying to rediscover Christmas is to celebrate a non-commercial Christmas. Celebrating a non-commercial or gift-free Christmas would arguably remove a lot of the distractions that surround Christmas in America. Christmas is an overly commercialized holiday by any account. No, I am not suggesting all Christians should boycott Christmas to send a message to the evil corporate world the way some groups suggest boycotting Disney, for example. I am not suggesting we all walk around imitating or acting like Scrooge or the Grinch.

What I am proposing is actually something of a fast: Abstaining from a certain excessive indulgence for a limited period of time to allow for greater spiritual reflection. Fasting does not involve abstaining from things that are evil (we should do that all of the time); fasting involves abstaining from things that are good (like food). Fasting allows us to refocus on God, the giver of all good things. If a family were to fast from “stuff” for one Christmas they could focus on God during that season without the usual distractions that shopping and debt bring about.

What would a Christmas like this look like? One thing it should not look like is suffering. Remember that Jesus taught us to fast without making a big deal of it. It might actually end up being your most joyous Christmas ever. I’ve compiled a few ideas of how this Christmas could look for your consideration. Please comment and add your own ideas as well.

• Consider donating the money you would have spent shopping to your favorite charity or mission organization.
• Consider shopping but donating the gifts that you purchase to another needy family or to a mission that can distribute them to those in need.
• Consider donating your time on Christmas: volunteer at a rescue mission or nursing home. But you may want to consider making a long-term commitment if you go this route. Most missions and nursing homes love volunteers but wish they would return after the holiday. Your interest in the people you are serving may seem more genuine if you return. Remember, Jesus taught that those who are his true disciples will be known by their works like visiting the sick, visiting prisoners, feeding the hungry and clothing the poor.
• Consider bringing your family on a short-term missions trip at Christmas. Many mission boards now run short-term trips where you can get involved with people in another culture. This is guaranteed to be an eye-opening Christmas your family will never forget.

There are many ways we can celebrate Christmas while fasting from the commercialism that is so integrated with the holiday in our culture. Christmas is about giving but it is not about giving “stuff.” Christmas is about giving the gift of life. Jesus emptied himself, left his home and his glory, so that he might be obedient to death on a cross. If we follow Jesus then Christmas is about giving of ourselves so that others (even our enemies) may have life.