This Friday, millions of Americans will hit the malls, superstores, and shops for the door-buster deals of Black Friday and then again on Cyber Monday. It’s the beginning of the $447 billion spending extravaganza this Christmas season.

Did you shop on Friday? Are you buying it all up on Monday?!

A few years ago, I saw this video clip at church from a provocative documentary called What Would Jesus Buy.  Take a 4-and-a-half minutes to take some of this in:

Now, not everyone acts this way when they are shopping for a deal, and I am as ready for a deal as the next person. The fact that all the stores offer great discounts on one particular day is nice for shoppers. But let’s not blame the stores for doing what they are in business to do: sell stuff to you and me.

Do you think Christians should shop on Black Friday and Cyber Monday?

I always cringe when I see the news clips (like the ones in the video) where people are trampling one another to save $100 on a camera or game console. It reminds me of Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Whether you brave the stores on Black Friday or stay home on Cyber Monday burning up the internet is your decision. I would encourage you to take Jesus with you to the mall and to the shopping cart. Are you storing up treasures here on earth and justifying it by the “great price” you got on Black Friday?

Now, some of you may decide to boycott Black Friday altogether, to take a stand to not participate at all in this part of the culture. And if you do make that choice, I would encourage you to share your decision on Facebook, Twitter, and even here as a comment.