Resisting McWorld
A couple of months ago, as I was preparing for the Mustard Seed versus McWorld class, I decided to order a study package from Sojourners Magazine called A Moral Response to Terrorism. The last article in the study guide included a piece titled: Resisting McWorld by assistant editor Rose Marie Berger, which includes many interesting ways for us to make a difference – in small ways and large. I found these suggestions to be inspiring and uplifting – a rewakening of part of my imagination, if you will.
As our class goes into the final few weeks, our activities are geared towards applied studies instead of purely lecture format (which we said would be insulting to your intelligence, anyways). Perhaps many of you have given considerable thought about what your life and lifestyle will resemble given your active choices and the Biblical call toward full-life discipleship. Of course any passive choices (i.e. non-choices or choosing not to choose) will greatly influence the path you will take.
We see that these choices are going to be tough. But one of the key messages in the Bible is hope. Jesus give us a hope and reason to live as disciples in all that we are and all that we do.
Try a few of the following strategies that demonstrate that resistance isn’t futile.
- Decentralize economics. Buy from, invest in, and eat at locally owned businesses, especially those that reinvest in the community. Eat locally grown food. Barter services – trade child-care for car repair. Give stuff away. Tithe. Have a clothing, book, or music exchange.
- Battle Branding. Drink water – it makes you less susceptible to advertising. Buy clothes second hand. look for the union label. Unless the brand is paying you to advertise for them, take the logo off. Between kids and parents, review your favourite TV shows, movies, or music. Discuss the difference between what’s good and what’s popular. Teach deconstructing advertising in your church or fellowships.
- Follow the money. Credit cards? Cut them up. Trace your paycheque – are you paid at the expense of others? Invest your retirement in socially responsible funds. Can your church start a local credit union? Be a conscious shareholder.
- Localize media, information, and entertainment. Use the public library. Buy books and music second-hand. Supoort alternative news sources. Patronize independent bookstores. Celebrate silence. Start your own record label. Support local music. Go to craft festivals. Start a neighbourhood newsletter.
- Protect values. Live locally, but carry a global passport. Learn a language. Put your children in a language immersion school. Get books on other cultures from those cultures. Think of people first, then science, machines, and corporations. Make your church a safe space for those in need. Disable the automatic cookie acceptance on your Web browser. Ask local retailers for their factory’s code of conduct ensuring just labour practices.
Stay tuned for more ideas.
Image © Sojourners Magazine, from www.sojo.net, URL: http://www.sojo.net/magazine/archives/soj0009/images/000912.jpg
Drink water? Ok… lemme choose… Dasani (Coca-Cola), Aberfoyle, Evian, Echo Springs, President’s Choice, World Youth Day water (yeah, I have a bottle left!) ….
I see this is a US-based tip sheet? ’cause i doubt a church in Canada can start a credit union, we have much stricter rules on banking institutions. Which is why you don’t see mom-n-pop banks in Canada.
BTW, visit Wachovia bank… (pronounced “Walk-over-ya”) or perhaps the Fifth Third Bank in Philly. I sure don’t wanna visit a bank that can’t even do fractions! LOL!