40 Days 40 Gifts Day 33

Day 4 of the quest for simplicity and a deeper commitment to giving. The fourth outward expression of simplicity is to "refuse to be propagandised by the custodians of modern gadgetry." I love this one. If you've taken the time to watch the short movie I referred you to in earlier blogs (http://www.storyofstuff.com/) you will have come accross the terms planned and perceived obsolescence.



This is a marketer's dream - basically stuff is made to break in a certain number of years (planned obsolescence) so that you will have to buy a new one. Of course, it can't be done in too short a space of time, otherwise you will undermine the consumer's loyalty to the manufacturer. You know how the washing machine always breaks a couple of weeks after its warranty has expired? That's planned obsolescence.



Then there is perceived obsolesence. This is when marketer's tell you that what you own is not good enough because the latest version has more buttons, is faster, makes ice, or generally makes your life a whole lot easier, simpler, sexier or faster. Same goes for fashion - this style of jacket is in this season, that one is in next season.



Planned and perceived obsolesence drive capital accumulation - the accumulation of more and more wealth. They also drive environmental degradation - where do you think that cell phone (not to mention all of its accessories that don't fit your new model) go to? That's right - into the rubbish dump. And are they biodegradable? Most certainly not!



So not lusting after that new phone, TV, sound system, PVR, HDTV, 3DTV, HDDVD or ABXYZ (?) is as much about our own spiritual freedom as it is about making sure that we care for our environment.



The other thing about planned and perceived obsolescence is that it drives inequality. By buying into the need to buy some new gadget or fashion accessory everytime a new one comes out, we are focusing on what we want and not on what other people in the world need.

And this brings me to the fact that today is the second tithe before easter for me - it's payday again (yippee!) and I promised to look at the social implications of tithing. As I said on day 8, tithing asks us to step out of what we need and want and to give a portion of our income to what others need.

On Day 8 I looked at the personal reasons behind tithing. Today I want to look at the social implications. In this day and age of accumulation where we are constantly feeding our own securities with new stuff tithing sharlply focuses our attention on the broader social world and what God desires for his kingdom (that's us, not what happens when we die).

You see, prosperity theology teaches that if we give we will be blessed and the more we give the more we will be blessed. I have already talked about my problems with how this has been interprested (see Day 8). But from a social perspective this makes perfect sense.

It's not about God blessing only those who give (horrible theology that as far as I am concerned undermines our understanding of God's goodness). It's about the fact that giving allows God's will to be done on earth. You see, IF we all gave what we could afford to give and IF the church used it as God intended (i.e. not on fancy cars and buildings) then we immediately free up money from our own (usually selfish) will to be used as God will. Imagine a world where every person gave something of what they earned with the intention that it should make the world a better and more equitable place. And imagine a world where the church was fully committed to that same ideal. I believe that if we got that right then we wouldn't have nearly as much inequality and poverty. We wouldn't be faced with beggars on the side of the road. We wouldn't be faced with feelings of guilt as we turn our eyes away from them. Because there would be enough money to go around to look after ALL of God's children.

Lesson 33: So you see prosperity theology does work, but in a very different way to how we've come to think it works. God doesn't bless only those who give. God blesses all of us because when we give we are providing the means to for God's will to be done.

So do you really need that new HDTV or that new pair of boots. Or do you need to see God's will be done. How you answer that question might affect how much you put in the offetory bag this week. So be careful...