What does my money support?
We spent our day off today on an “artists’ date” - recharging our artistic batteries. We went to explore antique shops up by the Illinois/Wisconsin border. The first shop we went to was run by a talkative middle-aged man who actually lived in the 1860s house that was his antiques showroom. Only his bedroom was off-limits.
We found a little amber glass bottle that was labeled “poison” and almost bought it to display in the glass bottle collection we’re about to start collecting. We balked at his $20 price for the 3″ bottle even though he said it was from an estate sale in tony Lake Forest.
Back in the car, I said, “We’re really not antiquers. You know if we bought that bottle, every time we looked at it, we wouldn’t see how cool it was.”
Joe said, “Yeah, we’d be thinking, there’s that bottle that we spent twenty bucks on.”
“Unless someone came over who really did know about antiques, and they’d say, ‘Wow, look at that great piece. It’s worth $60!’ Then we’d feel all proud about it.”
We were really out to enjoy beauty and take photos, and we did both of those things. We saw some furniture that we would have dearly loved if we had any more money in our furniture budget. In fact, all we bought was some organic cat food and some sandalwood incense.
We went into a store called Sacred Earth and soon realized it was a wiccan store. Joe was wearing his wooden cross necklace and we both felt a little out of place there. I bought my incense and we quickly left. Back on the street, Joe said, “I feel uncomfortable spending my money in stores that support witchcraft.”
I hadn’t even thought of it that way. As a Christian, naturally I want to support Christianity, but I hadn’t thought so specifically about what my money supports. Sometimes I forget that in every action I should honor God. Though in my slightly lame defense I would have to say that we behaved politely and respectfully to the store owner who likely had a radically different spiritual view than we did.
What do you think? Would this pose an ethical dilemma for you? Do you think that carefully about what your money supports?
Published by angelawd on February 29th, 2008 tagged Life With the Big Guy, What Do You Think?
February 29th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Well, upon further reflection of my comment I’m feeling a little ashamed of it. Granted a purchase from this store helped the profitability of a witch-related enterprise, but it did show to them that we can still be Christian (publicly) and also want to explore and meet other people. We did act respectful and kind. I am kicking myself that I didn’t ask the clerk more about himself and his very interesting look, and cetainly unusual store. Next time I need to have the courage to say ‘Hi’ and find out more about someone I don’t know!
February 29th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
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March 1st, 2008 at 12:00 am
I found your site on technorati and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. I just added your RSS feed to my Google News Reader. Looking forward to reading more from you.
Eric Hundin
March 1st, 2008 at 4:55 am
Oh, goody, a question about ethical dilemmas! Right up my alley!
I do think about what my money supports, though it isn’t necessarily going to determine my choice. On one end of the spectrum, I would go hungry before supporting an enterprise I considered evil. (I doubt I would starve to death…or even more so, let my children starve.) On the other end, if the purchase is purely discretionary, I’ll let the perceived worthiness of the enterprise determine. For example: If I’m going to buy gas, and I’m near the state line, I’ll buy my gas in Alabama so that the taxes I pay benefit my own state instead of another one. But if my “empty” light is on, then I’ll buy gas wherever I can find it, even if I think the proceeds would go to support a drug-dealing brothel-keeper.
But then, I’m not a consequentialist (someone who determines rightness or wrongness of an act on the basis of its consequences; as in, “The end justifies the means”). If I were, the kind of institution I’m supporting, and how much difference my support makes to the enterprise’s continued survival and success, would make all the difference in the world.
P.S. Wherever I am, I would try to comport myself with dignity and kindness. Y’all get the nod of philosophical approval for doing that in the witch shop
March 1st, 2008 at 11:34 pm
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March 3rd, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Kalynne, you have certainly thought about this more than I have. For example, I also live within and hour’s drive of two other states and never think about things such as whether the sales tax benefits my own state.
In general, I don’t believe the end justifies the means, but I do believe we should consider the consequences before acting…that said, I haven’t been acting entirely according to my beliefs! Darn.
March 4th, 2008 at 1:47 am
Hello there. Ran across your piece about the antique store, and then read further about your visit to the wican store. Your writing style intrigued me, so I kept reading.
Also, glanced at your about page. Be encouraged. Psalm 37:4 says God gives us the desires of our hearts. This suggests that our fundamental desires come from God. So, if corporate life was hell, than it was not meant for you, and God has alternative ways for you to earn a living.
I also was not a corporate person, which is why I went from the corporate world to ministry.
As touching the question of what to support with our money.
I believe that when we have knowledge of who and what our purchases support, we should support people. businesses, causes, etc. that our in line with biblical purposes.
For example, a christian should not knowingly buy stolen merchandise; or purchase incense from Wicans, or pies from the nation of Islam.
This, I think, is a general rule. If we buy lamb from an Islamic farmer, and the farmer in turn patronizes my general merchandise store, well and good. But if, I learn, this farmer is supporting terrorism, I think it prudent to not buy from him.
In the end, we should live peaceably with all men, whenever possible; only withdrawing for the sake of righteousness or prudence.
March 4th, 2008 at 1:48 am
Unfortunately, finances tend to dictate where I spend my money. Those of us who don’t have a lot of money by neccessity often have to support businesses which in turn oppress people who don’t have a lot of money i.e. Walmart. If things were not so tight I would certainly choose to support businesses which reflected my own values,ie locally owned and produced, fair to workers, environmentally/socially conscious. I wouldn’t discriminate based on religion, because to me someone can be of another faith but still share my values.
Interesting post!
March 4th, 2008 at 1:49 am
My children’s youth pastor has been talking about this….I think someone’s trying to tell me something! Hmmm….good get the thinking cells going post!
March 4th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Eric, nice to meet you! Thanks for adding me to your reader.
C. Wyatt, glad you found me! I do believe that in some ways the Corporate life was very wrong for me, but I believe that God supported my family and gave me the skills I need through those corporate years. Glad you found your niche in ministry. I do agree with your ideas on what our money supports.
Jennifer, it is a sad reality that we can have trouble supporting good causes with our money because of our financial situation. But everything we can do to support our values helps the world.
March 4th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Stacey, I guess God is giving all kinds of people the same thought. My Big Guy is good at making me think practically about my faith. It must be his ministry director job.