Review of What Would Jesus Buy? (2007) by Andy S — 21 Jul 2008

There is an "atheism" that is closer at hand and more dangerous to our church. It is the atheism of capitalism, in which material possessions are set up as idols and take God's place. Here, in a capitalism that idolizes money and "human goods", is a danger for us as serious as the other, and perhaps more than the other, which gets the blame for all evils. Which is more serious: to deny God out of a false idea of human liberation, or to deny him out of selfishness raised to the level of idolatry? - Archbishop Oscar Romero.

This is a very provocative and convicting film that questions our habits of consumerism in a way that is both entertaining and challenging. The message, to limit the amount of shopping we do, and try to spend our money in ways that benefits the people and environmental resources that make and sell it, is very important for our time, and this move does it's job really effective. Please do not let Rev. Billy's outlandish performances that some could perceived as a mocking of Christians, (a kind of over-the-top mock-Pentecostal preacher who acts like a combination of Abbie Hoffeman, Steven Colbert, and St. Sabina's Father Pflager on mushrooms) distract you from the ways in which this film is communicating a message totally in line with a Christian world-view.

Before we can "put Christ back into Christmas," we must (as Rev. Billy would say) "exorcise" the holiday of everything that is not like Him.