On the day after U.S. Americans give thanks, the world seems to lunge headlong into a kind of ritualized chaos: doors fly open before dawn, crowds press and shout, hearts race not with wonder but with want. The savagery of Black Friday, with its tug-of-war over things that never satisfy, stands in jarring contrast to the quiet, upside-down kingdom Jesus announces. While shoppers trample toward the next bargain, Christ kneels to wash feet. While advertisements shout “more,” he whispers, “Leave all your possessions and follow me.” In a culture hungry for accumulation, his message cuts through the noise with a gentler, truer invitation: Life is not found in the frenzy, but in the One who calls us to rest, surrender, and love. I (Alisha) challenge you, dear reader, to consider these five things as a contrast of Christ with today’s tradition, which simply gives me the Black Friday blues.

1. Consumption vs. communion

Jesus would likely see Black Friday as a moment when consumption eclipses connection. He reminds us that life does not consist in the abundance of possessions (Luke 12:15), but in a kingdom built on communion with God and neighbor, not on cart totals and doorbusters. When we choose presence over products, we live into the table-shaped life he modeled (Acts 2:42-47). The Acts 2 church demonstrates a body sharing and holding its things in common, a disposition that ensures all are cared for before we consume.

2. Idolatry of possessions

Black Friday can nurture a subtle idolatry: believing satisfaction is one purchase away. Jesus warns that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21). He urges us to turn from the pull of possessions toward the freedom of a single-hearted life. Chasing deals can distract us from the One who calls us to love him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30).

3. Justice, margin, and the least among us

Jesus pays attention to how systems impact the vulnerable. He teaches that our treatment of “the least of these” is a treatment of him (Matthew 25:40). Black Friday’s supply chains, labor practices and economic pressures often hide the human cost (and abuse) behind low prices. Scripture insists that the people of God defend the oppressed and uphold justice (Isaiah 1:17; Amos 5:24). Simplicity is not just a lifestyle . . . … It is solidarity.

4. Nonconformity and kingdom witness

Paul teaches, “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your minds” (Romans 12:2). Anabaptist tradition echoes this call to a counter-cultural witness. Resisting the frenzy of Black Friday becomes a quiet proclamation that we cannot serve both God and mammon (Matthew 6:24). Jesus shows us a kingdom where worth is not measured by what we own, but by whom we follow.

5. Redemption of our practices

Jesus doesn’t just critique; he redeems. Even our habits around buying and selling can be reshaped by his love. He calls his followers to give, expecting nothing in return (Luke 6:35) and to do good to all people (Galatians 6:10). A redeemed Black Friday might look like ethical spending via vendors like Ten Thousand Villages, second-hand gifting from places like MCC Thrift Stores, seeking out a nearby Really Really Free Market, shopping local to support our neighbors . . . … or simply rest as resistance. In Christ, even days shaped by marketing calendars can become markers of grace.

In conclusion, Black Friday can be a mirror, revealing what holds our hearts. Jesus invites us into a better story: one where freedom, simplicity, hospitality, justice and love take priority over accumulation. His kingdom offers a kind of richness no sale can match.