Commercialized Christianty?

Who practices hospitality entertains God himself. ~Proverb

This was not the post I planned to write today, but then God often has His own plans...and when I am listening, I sometimes get the message. This is a topic more common at Christmas time, perhaps even Resurrection Day (notice I do not use the term "Easter"), but it is not limited any certain time of year.

I have just a few Christian touches in my home and wearable items also: prints of paintings and drawings, a small tapestry, crosses, plaques, figurines, music CD's, DVD's, screen printed T-shirts, jewelry, and so forth. Some of those things were gifts, but still as I look around, I wonder if all that money would have been better spent helping people somehow. Then, I often feel just guilty if I am shopping for a gift somewhere besides a Christian book and gift store, even though those stores are usually more expensive.

I remember when I lived in Florida, some years ago now, that there seemed to be a movement to get Christian women to consider a part of hospitality was to have lovely things in their homes to make people feel more welcome. We even had Christian women invited to our church to speak on how to decorate the home! It seemed to me that they were confusing hospitality with appearances and even commercialism.

I am not against all displays of Christianity; I think there is a balance. I readily admit that when I enter a home, I feel a connection when I see Christian "things" around and if it has nicer things, it seems more inviting, BUT...at the same time, if the children of that family are watching the Disney Channel, I cringe because of the overbearing secular commercialism of it. Perhaps, at this point of my life, I think I am less likely to appreciate the appearance of hospitality than I am the actual practice of it.

So ladies and gents, here are my questions:

• What are the purposes of the Christian "things" in your own home?
• Do you think Christians allow children to be too influenced by commercialization...perhaps adding to the debt problems of which many Christians have struggled even before the economy when bad?
• Do you feel that you purposely combat secular commercialism with the use of Christian commercialism?

I would really appreciate reading your thoughts either here or, if you have much to say on the subject, place a link in a comment to your blog post. Thank you!

~ My Lord, I know you have been showing a great deal about true hospitality through those who do it so well. May I put what I have learned into better practice. ~