SHOP TILL YOU DROP: HOLDING FAST TO THE GOSPEL IN A CONSUMERIST WORLD

By Prof. Ivan Khalil Descartin

Consumption, or in layman's term "shopping", is a slippery slope into which one can hopelessly fall. An innocent purchase or two wouldn't hurt, but once it snowballs into becoming a much bigger part of our lives than it has any right to be, then it becomes all-consuming.

If left unchecked, consumption can easily enter the realm of "materialism", or the relentless desire for, or pursuit of, material things. Even if unintentional, materialism can easily take hold of us without us knowing.

But to be fair, consumption is okay, especially if it is absolute necessities that we buy. It is also okay to buy nice things every now and then, provided that we don't make it our "be all end all" fixation. However, if consumption becomes our "center", then it can easily become all-consuming.

Keep this in mind: Just because we live in a capitalist society (i.e. a society that encourages free trade and the accumulation of possessions) doesn't mean that we can have to buy and buy and buy, especially as young Christian professionals.

Brothers and sisters, we may be in the world, but we are not, or will we ever be, of the world. In 1 John 2:16, it is written: "For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world."

"To consume with total abandon is to but openly declare our affinity with the easy virtues of the world. Practically, the key is to always think hardly and critically about our purchases, and always discern between our "wants" and "needs". But spiritually, it is humility, and gratefulness, and restful contentment in Christ."

In prosperity or in lack, may we be humbled always by the cross of Christ, that though we are meant for destruction, He instead saved us in full, and adopted us to Himself. As young professionals, we, more often than not, are bound to have enough resources to buy our "needs" and, every now and then, get some of our "wants". In all these, may we, however, have the wisdom to show restraint (Proverbs 23:4).

Christ said to his disciples, in Luke 12:22-23: “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing." In our constant fallenness to want things of the world outside of Christ, may we be shepherded back to Him, and ultimately need nothing more.

“Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” -John 14:8

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Professor Ivan Khalil Lijauco Descartin graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in Communication major in Multimedia Arts from Mapua Malayan Colleges Laguna, where he has been teaching communication, pop culture, and social science courses.

He also has writing credits as co-author for the textbooks entitled "Introspection: Understanding the Self", and "Ethics: Exploring Moral Philosophy".