"What do we call this spade?"

Let's call a spade a spade, shall we?

I worked in retail for about 7 years, a couple of those in a shift manager-type position. I know that the Christmas season is the bread and butter of the retail industry. Managers will be wringing their hands until Christmas Eve, hoping that the numbers will propel them to exist another year.

What's also true about the commercialism of Christmastime is that it is a well-crafted lie. Whereas the hymn says, "The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight," the surrounding world says "The hopes and fears of all the years are on sale tonight." Materialistic Commercialism tells us that our hopes are made true and our fears can be satisfied by the acquisition of goods and services. It is also the hope of our economy and the hope of our nation- only by spending ourselves into debt can we keep our economy afloat and our nation in prominent standing in the world. Don't believe me? Watch the news in a week.

Let's call a spade a spade, shall we?

The celebration of Christmastime in the United States is idolatry.

Idols are gods who cannot live without our active participation. Consider 1 Samuel 5, where the priests of Dagon continue to prop up an idol that is defenseless against God's holiness. Or Isaiah 57:13 "When you cry out for help, let your collection of idols save you! The wind will carry all of them off, a mere breath will blow them away."

I recognize that, if we altered our patterns and rejected the consumerism, it would cost people their jobs. I recognize that our fragile retail economy rests on the fear of commercial apocalypse. I also recognize that we are being sold a false bill of goods which we know is false. But we are afraid to do anything different because of the very real impact.

So let's at least admit it. Let's admit that we are being sold oceanfront property in Montana (that is, we are being sold a lie). Let's admit that we are spending ourselves into oblivion and depression. Let's admit that the fear of living differently drives us. Let's call a spade a spade.

Then... let's dream of something different.