Stuff Is Not Bad – A Christmas Admonition
For some time I have wanted to write on the topic, “Stuff is not bad.” It is an important topic. To me, it seems especially important for those of us who promote simplicity, to temper our polemic against consumerism with an acknowledgement that material possessions are not inherently bad. In fact, the things that people create are often amazing. Owning those things is often a joy.
In my religious tradition, Christianity, there was a second-century aberration from orthodox belief known as Gnosticism. The Gnostics had many beliefs that differed from Christians. One of the most egregious was the belief that the material world was bad and only the spiritual realm was good. Of course, this is a fundamental departure from the Christian view of things. In the first few pages of the Christian scriptures, God pronounces creation “good.” Even though the next few pages of the Christian scriptures describe “the fall,” orthodox theology teaches that sin exposes material things to corruption. It does not teach that sin makes material things bad.
I mention this because, whether Christian or not, a person needs some kind of framework by which to judge the goodness or badness of things. My opinion by itself does not make much of a framework. We all must believe. For thousands of years most humans have found it best to believe in more that the self as the judge of things. It is good to involve others in our beliefs, including our beliefs about material possessions.
It seems to me that those of us who promote simplicity have an opportunity around Christmas time. We can humble ourselves among our families and friends and communities, receive material gifts and even give some material gifts. We can acknowledge that “stuff is not bad,” even as we preach that the excesses of consumerism have been bad. Perhaps through moderation and the celebration of the human creativity that produces many material things that are amazing, we can show a way to appreciate things without becoming consumed by things.
This is my admonition to myself and to others who love simplicity: be gracious to humans bearing gifts this Christmas.
Comments
If God is the source of all things, then from where does corruption come?
David, good question. It’s not an easy one to answer, though. Here are few quick thoughts.
Most theologians would say that God is the source of all “good” things and that corruption does not originate from God. This brings up two questions: 1) then how does corruption come about? and 2) why would God permit corruption?
One way to think about this is to consider what it would mean if God didn’t permit corruption. It seems that would require that God determine that there be no chance of corruption. Consider what this means. It does not just mean that there would be no evil people killing innocent people. It does not just mean that there would be no earthquakes and disease. It means more.
It means that God would not permit humans to be jealous. It means that God would not permit humans to hold a grudge. No pouting. No greed. No lust. No selfishness. It means scary things like this:
If I say to my lover, “I love you,” it means that she could *only* say back, “I love you, too.” She would not have a choice. It would be determined that she could not be corrupt. She could not say, “I have chosen not to love you because I am selfish and falling for another guy.” Do we really want that kind of “love?”
We do not like that there are bad things in the world. But really there are only two options. Either there is no God and bad things are just what random chance serves up. Or there is a God who has not determined our every step. If the later, we must hope that God is merciful. And I think, especially at Christmas time, that there is reason to believe he is.
I have a particularly hard time with this. So often, the things I’m given I do not want, and just get rid of right away. Thankfully, my family understands my dislike of stuff, and they’ve been heading that way, too. No one gives much, and it’s usually used. We’re less stressed out, and can simply enjoy each other’s company.
I have a friend whose parents go absolutely crazy giving the grandkids gifts (an iPad for each, plus a bunch of other things). She does not want her kids to receive so much, and especially not electronics, yet, instead of insisting they not do so (they haven’t listened to her gentle admonitions), it happens year after year. I do think there is a time and place to refuse gifts (before they’re given, preferably), and a time to tell children they can’t keep all the gifts. There’s being gracious, but there’s also a responsibility to the giver to listen to the wishes of the parents.
Evil comes from separating oneself from God, and being disobedient to his will for us. Yes, we have a choice, and that is a wonderful thing, because it means we are not slaves to our Master, but heirs to his kingdom, like sons and daughters. Choosing something other than God means withdrawing yourself from his presence, and all good things. It like leaving light and walking into darkness. Darkness is the absence of light. Evil is the absence of goodness.
Laura, it’s really true. There definitely need to be boundaries. It seems that, for whatever reason, many boomers just cannot give with moderation. Perhaps that is changing now that many of them are in financial difficulty.
It is weird when someone insists on “spoiling” a grandchild. Really it’s just selfish. Why would you want to lead a child down the path of greed and irresponsibility and selfishness?
That said, I think sometimes I have overreacted. There definitely is a balance between setting boundaries and being gracious.
Teri, for what it is worth, most orthodoxy Christian theologians do not teach that evil is the absence of good. Rather, evil is always a privation of good. That is, there is nothing that is 100% evil. So while God is 100% good, there is no thing that is 100% bad.
We have friends whose parents would spoil their grandchildren too and while they asked their parents not too, they persisted. Our friends decided to only put a couple of presents under the tree and save the others for a later time. The grandchildren are older now and the giving has changed. One child is away at college and so the grandparents go for visit, take him out for dinner and then to Costco to buy him a lot of food! Be patient, grandparents may “get it”, in time.