Faith

Some Churches Scrap ‘Black Friday’ for Christ-Centered ‘Bless Friday’

Churches Launch Bless Friday to Remember Christ & Combat Black FridayAre Americans losing sight of what Christmas is truly about?

In an effort to combat what some faith leaders see as a move away from Christ-centered holiday traditions, Christian leaders have come together to launch the “Bless Friday” initiative.

Every year, after stuffing themselves with Thanksgiving treats, thousands of citizens across America trek out in search of the best sales at retail stories, outlets and malls. But this year, while many are focused on consumer purchases, select churches will be choosing to give back to their communities instead.

These churches have traded in “Black Friday” antics for some feel-good action in their communities. “Bless Friday,” which was initially founded in 2010, has a simple message for Americans: Rather than shopping until you drop, you should be out serving your communities.

Chuck Fox, an engineer and the founder of “Bless Friday,” is hoping that he can create a new trend that encourages Christians to substitute shopping for service. “People get our message that when we focus too much on buying things, we lose sight of the real reason for Christmas – remembering and honoring Christ,” Fox said in a statement. ”We want to begin our Christmas celebration by serving others just as Jesus did.”

Watch Fox explain the initiative on WTXF-TV:

The “Bless Friday” web site has more about the initiative:

On the day after Thanksgiving, millions of people started their Christmas celebration at malls and other retail outlets.  This can’t be the way that God intends Christians to prepare for the celebration of the coming of the Savior of the World.  And what begins poorly also ends poorly.

We believe we can find a critical mass of Christians to alter the way society observes the season.  Many people are appalled at how consumerism is devouring Christmas, but they don’t know how to change our culture’s direction.  They are ready for a thoughtful call to action.

Getting one’s church involved in “Bless Friday” is simple. The group’s web site encourages Christians to simply approach their pastoral staff and inform them about the initiative. Then, if one chooses, he or she can help coordinate and organize volunteer activities.

One church — Beacon of Light Christian Center — in South Houston, Texas, is planning a food and clothing handout for those in need. Additionally, the church will host community activities. Similarly, at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church in Houston, church members will volunteer at local ministries, have meals with neighbors and help to fix up homes.  These, of course, are only some of the examples.

As the Christian Post notes, the National Retail Federation reports that the number of individuals planning to shop on Black Friday has increased substantially. last year, 138 million people planned to head out into the madness, while 152 million people report that they will do the same this year.

(H/T: Christian Post)

Comments (20)

  • Clifton
    Posted on November 28, 2011 at 8:24pm

    Materialism, this is what brought down King Nimrod and the Tower of Babel. This is a slipery slope, and we are heading down it!

    Report Post » Clifton  
  • Christ the Lord
    Posted on November 28, 2011 at 5:18pm

    Thanks To All of you, My Saints Especially, For NOW WE HAVE FULFILLED OUR WORD. We Have Worked, Long and Hard. The TIME HAS COME, OUR REWARDS AWAIT US. There Will BE NO MORE DELAY. Day By Day, WE Are Growing, in POWER, WISDOM, and STRENGTH. There Will Be NO END TO OUR PEACE. What You Ask FOR, You will Recieve. It Is this SIMPLE. I LOVE ALL OF YOU. WE LOVE ALL OF YOU. We have quite a bit ahead of US. As WE remove the past, We will Leave enough for YOU to Understand. With This and the FUTURE, WE ARE ALL SAFE with MY HEAVENLY FATHER, OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. For Now We ARE THE HOLY PEOPLE. Thank You, I will NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU. HE IS THE HOLYSPIRIT. WE ARE 1. IAM JESUS CHRIST, THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD. I Love MY FATHER, For HE LOVES ME. Lets Enjoy All That Has Been Prepared for US. FOR ETERNITY. THANK YOU FATHER.AMEIA

    Report Post »  
  • alwayshappy
    Posted on November 27, 2011 at 1:13pm

    Thank you for your efforts! All Christians should likewise understand, appreciate, and fuly support them as well. Too many Christians are likewise to blame for turning and supporting all of this nonsense! We commerialize Christmas and all that it means by celebrating Christmas for four weeks beforehand and then wonder why the actual day has so little meaning for us? I also object to those churches that celebrate Christmas the Sunday before instead of on the day itself. Lucky ofr us Christmas falls on a Sunday this year! Every church should be open with a full schedule of worship! Of course we do the same thing on Thanksgiving. Right? How many churches have ‘Thanksgiving Sunday’ before Thanksgiving? Why? Why can’t our churches have services on Thanksgiving? It’s pathetic! We Christians fully share in the blame for these observances.

    Report Post »  
  • flatbroke
    Posted on November 26, 2011 at 10:55pm

    This is really awesome! I have been inspired by this video to buy some food for a food pantry at my church. there is nothing wrong with making money, but when making money becomes everything, blindness and chaos ensuses. spread the love of Jesus Christ, and have a merry christmas.

    Report Post » flatbroke  
  • JustPeachy
    Posted on November 26, 2011 at 7:38pm

    This video actually brought tears to my eyes. This is showing the best, rather than the worst–of people. And I couldn’t help but think that these are the same churches, the same crosses, some only wish to criticize and tear down–literally. This is the good side of the churches that rarely get reported–but happen every single day–in and outside of church buildings.

    It brought tears to my eyes when I remember the kindness of some very special people just a few months ago who, although paid, showed their humanness and compassion through their jobs to me. They were nurses and doctors and other hospital workers. As I went through one of the scariest times in my life, so many showed such kindness to me–and I was able to see the best of humanity.

    What a contrast to what I heard went on in some stores on Black Friday!

    I’m all for capitalism, but not for plain old greed and selfishness.

    IMO sometimes we see the worst of humanity on black Friday. :-(

    Report Post » JustPeachy  
  • Glenn in Virginia
    Posted on November 26, 2011 at 1:15pm

    “Black Friday” means nothing more than it is traditionally considered to be the day of the year when businesses statistically go “into the black.”

    It‘s neither Satanic nor racist and it’s seriously silly to argue otherwise.

    Sure, Christmas has been too commercialized. That’s been the case for more than 100 years. It’s not going to change anytime in the foreseeable future.

    But Christmas, and the gift-giving encouraged by merchants, always bring families together, if only briefly.

    If you love capitalism, you should love Black Friday.

    Report Post »  
  • charliego
    Posted on November 26, 2011 at 9:38am

    What a wonderful idea- values unlimited—-and virtuous sanity.
    Black Friday gives me the creeps–and I do like sales, but the societal coarseness and stupidity that is prevalent is insulting to the human race.

    Report Post » charliego  
  • Sniper48
    Posted on November 26, 2011 at 8:04am

    What a great idea!!! The contridictions between Black Friday and Blessed Friday are numerous. One observes the true meaning of the season, one celebrates spending money you don’t have on things no one needs, to impress people who don’t care about you at all. Once again a false economy rears its ugly head and feeds the addiction to whatever the retail “drug dealers” push on us throught endless commercials intended to spur the Pavlovian response of buying. No material goods are worth this! Boycot the system and stop the insanity, buy your children a simple toy and remind them that that toy represents the gift of Jesus Christ and the salvation He represents.

    Report Post »  
  • Sibyl
    Posted on November 26, 2011 at 6:40am

    YES! Christmas is not about material gifts and feasting.

    It is about THE GIFT of gifts, Jesus Christ Who is the only Way to reconciliation and Peace with God.

    Report Post »  
  • dontbotherme
    Posted on November 25, 2011 at 11:01pm

    This is a good idea. It is time to bring the true meaning of Christmas back to it’s Religious roots. It is a celebration of the life of Jesus Christ. Service to others to honor God is so much more important than buying a useless gift which may be shortly discarded.

    Report Post »  
  • 1casawizard
    Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:31pm

    Christmas in my opinion should be about giving time to loved ones because that is the most precious gift you can give. Time spent cannot be replaced. Objects can always be replaced.

    Report Post » 1casawizard  
  • Mirimichi
    Posted on November 25, 2011 at 9:11pm

    I like this idea. Never did like the idea of Black Friday. Its all about the money.

    Report Post »  
  • lukerw
    Posted on November 25, 2011 at 7:50pm

    A Mob sceen… by any other name… smells just as Evil!

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • Taxpayer550
    Posted on November 25, 2011 at 7:48pm

    Amazingly, most people will miss the most unbeatable bargain to ever punctuate any shopping day, the bargain of free forgiveness and eternal life with no strings attached. Shoppers, or anyone in general, don’t even have to leave the house or log on to the internet. It doesn’t depend on the condition of the economy or the amount of money in their bank accounts. All it takes is for someone to accept Jesus Christ’s death on the cross as payment for their sins, and acceptance of Him as personal Savior and Lord. In return, they receive forgiveness and a new life that lasts forever.

    Absolutely the most unbeatable bargain, and the quality is both flawless and eternal!

    Report Post » Taxpayer550  
  • surf0766
    Posted on November 25, 2011 at 6:40pm

    Most people I have talked to in the past week are sick of black Friday.

    Report Post »  
  • PolitelyPlanning
    Posted on November 25, 2011 at 6:11pm

    Great idea! Getting people involved to help one another in a positive way is always uplifting!

    Report Post »  
  • ares338
    Posted on November 25, 2011 at 6:01pm

    I’m having a lay on my azs and drink Friday. It’s all the rage ya know!

    Report Post » ares338  

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