As we begin to turn our sights on the Christmas season – and recover from the barrage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday emails that have wreaked havoc on our inboxes – many of us find ourselves in a familiar position: behind on our Christmas shopping. Now, to be clear, at Faith Driven Consumer™ (FDC), we believe that Christmas is about the birth of the Savior of the world in the person of Jesus Christ. And we simultaneously lament the overshadowing of this sacred holiday by commercialism and an obsession with buying and receiving stuff.

Indeed, as Christians, there is much to critique and be wary of concerning our participation with America’s consumeristic culture around Christmas. However, if we keep our focus on the proverbial reason for the season, there is nothing wrong with giving and receiving gifts to and from our loved ones this Christmas. So, with that in mind, FDC wants to enable you to Purchase with Purpose™ this holiday season.

Below, you will find various gift ideas or store recommendations that may help your Christmas shopping. More importantly, we have curated these selections specifically for you in two different categories. First, you will find a selection of businesses/services that are available on the FDC Marketplace. (If you have not yet signed up to become a Marketplace Member, you can do so here.) With these offers, you will be able to save money on discounted products and services from major brands, while also making a difference. If you’d like to know more about how we/you can make an impact through using the FDC Marketplace, click here to read this blog.

Second, you will find a list of brands that are Faith Compatible. The Faith Equality Index is our database of over one-thousand different businesses and brands and includes evaluations on how compatible the brands’ corporate actions are with our values as Faith Driven Consumers. As you consider where to spend your dollars and which businesses to support this Christmas season, we hope you will check out the recommendations below. And if you want to see more, head on over to our FEI and start exploring today!

FDC Marketplace Deals

Click here to find deals below.

1. Find big savings on electronics including Samsung and Apple products
2. Save money on purchases from 1-800-Flowers
3. Get 20% off on sports apparel and fan gear from Fanatics.com
4. Save 10% on purchases from Cost Plus World Market
5. Get Free Shipping or get steep discounts in select departments at Target.com
6. Receive 15% off your order when you spend $100 at Kohl’s.

Faith Compatible Brands and Stores

Click here to find out their FEI scores.

1. 1-800-Flowers/1-800-Baskets
2. Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s
3. Cost Plus World Market
4. Hobby Lobby
5. Lowe’s Home Improvement
6. Sunglass Hut
7. A Bank and Men’s Wearhouse

… and so many more!

Don’t see your favorite store or brand listed? Search the FEI or let us know if not found. We hope the advent season is off to a wonderful start for you and your family!

Thanksgiving is officially here, and Faith Driven Consumer™ is excited to celebrate with our members and consider how we might be thankful for all the blessings we have in Christ. As Christians, we can draw from an infinite well of things to be thankful for. What God has done for us in creating, saving and adopting us as sons and daughters into the family of God is something we should be thankful for each and every day, not just during this holiday season. Furthermore, we live in a country of incredible privilege and opportunity and experience many blessings as citizens of this great nation. With that in mind, we are going to consider seven blessings we have, first and foremost, as Christians and also as Americans, and explore some ways to take full advantage of this occasion to be grateful and thankful.

Life. If you are reading this, then there is at least one thing you can be thankful for no matter what other struggles you may be enduring: life. Life is a miracle and a privilege. It comes directly from God, who the Scriptures describe as a God of life. We were made in the image of God, not to be furniture for the universe or robotic slaves to do the Creator’s bidding, but to truly live and experience nature and relationships with one another and with our Heavenly Father. Life is a blessing, but it’s a privilege we should use to turn around and praise God. As living image-bearers, we should use our lives and whatever health we’ve been blessed with, to worship God in thankfulness and gratitude for who He is and what He has done.

Family. One of the beautiful features of God’s design for creation is family. The family is the mechanism by which we fulfill the creation mandate to be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth. As such, we should take seriously the relationships we have with our family members and understand that we have the family we have because of God’s sovereign plan. That doesn’t mean that they are perfect or that we have to like them 24/7, but it does mean that God has placed them centrally in our lives and we should be thankful for the ways in which our families have supported us or been there for us when we needed help. This Thanksgiving we should put on a kingdom lens and see our families, not as the world does, but instead, as the blessing from the Lord that they are.

Church. While many of us have families we should be thankful for, we’d be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge those who don’t have family. Whether because of death, abandonment or estrangement, many feel they have no family to cling to, rely on, enjoy or be thankful for. Fortunately, coming to faith isn’t just about going to heaven when you die; it’s also about being adopted into the family of God, becoming a son or daughter of the King, and joining with all believers as the bride of Christ. The church, as imperfect as it may be, is fundamentally a community, or, a family, of adopted sons and daughters who represent the body and bride of Christ. And whether you are a someone who has a loving and supportive family or are someone who doesn’t have a biological family, as Christians, we can be grateful for our spiritual family. We can take comfort in the fact that this family is everlasting and that our Father in Heaven will never leave us or forsake us.

Freedom. Freedom is something that we too often take for granted. But it’s something that we should understand is very rare, historically speaking. Statistically, most humans who have ever lived on earth have experienced oppression in one form or other. Living in a society where we have the freedoms outlined in our Constitution is a privilege we have grown so accustomed to, that we easily take it for granted. But we need to realize just how rare it is to live in a country that protects and defends these liberties. Most of our ancestors did not enjoy these same freedoms. But how often do we consider the freedom that we have and express our thankfulness and our gratitude for the liberty we enjoy in this country? How often do we thank those who have served or remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve it? This week let’s commit to pause and consider the blessings of freedoms we have in the U.S. and cherish it for the privilege it is, and the price paid for it.

Wealth. This one might be hard to swallow because you may be reading this article and not considered wealthy by American standards. However, chances are you live on more than ten dollars a day. And if so, then that is more than about half of the people around the world. The truth is that if you aren’t experiencing extreme poverty, then as an American, you are wealthy by global and historical standards. This Thanksgiving we should resist the temptation to give into of a commercialism that’s designed to get us to think about all the things we don’t have. Instead, we should consider our quality of life, the comforts we enjoy, and the quantity of stuff we already have and give God thanks for all that He has provided for us. How much thanksgiving would actually occur if we every time we saw a Black Friday advertisement, we stopped to thank God for all the things we already have? Let’s find out!

Food. This one’s easy. If your family is anything like mine, then you’ll all gather around a feast this Thursday that could feed an army. When you take a look around at all the turkey, stuffing, ham, biscuits, potatoes and various pies, take the time to thank God for the means to purchase the abundance of food before you. We should make sure to give thanks before the meal, but also maintain a posture of gratitude throughout the day as we try and put ourselves in the shoes of those who can’t afford such abundance or don’t have access to such nutritious and diverse foods.

Hope. But if you are someone who finds it difficult to turn your heart and your mind towards thankfulness because of the trials and struggles you are facing… And if you read the list above and don’t find many of these blessings familiar and, therefore, can’t resonate with them because life hasn’t been full of earthly blessings and comforts, then fix your eyes on the cross and the resurrection. If you can only be thankful for one thing this holiday season, let it be gratitude for the hope that we have in the Christ’s work on the cross, His victory over death in the resurrection, and His promise of restoration and redemption in eternity. We are not promised happy, healthy and comfortable lives here on earth. But we, as followers of Christ, ARE promised an inheritance and a place at the table in eternity with Him – as sons and daughters of the King. May we be thankful for all of the things God has given to us and done for us. But this Thanksgiving season, let us be thankful, above all else, for the hope that we have in Christ.

As we approach the Thanksgiving season, there is not a better psalm to have on our minds, our hearts, and our tongues than Psalm 34. We live in a crazy world full of conflict and turmoil, and it can be easy to forget that we have a God who is good and merciful and who loves us as a Father. We also live in a culture that desperately tries turn the Thanksgiving season into quite the opposite. With Black Friday and Cyber Monday around the corner, we’ll be bombarded with endless advertisements and commercials designed to tell us we don’t have enough and need more stuff. As Christians, and especially as Faith Driven Consumers, we should resist this temptation and instead, turn our eyes on Him who is enough.

The words of the Psalm below can help us keep our eyes not on the craziness of this world, or the material goods and endless stuff it has to offer, but on our loving Father. He is sovereign over the entire world and everything in it, and provides us with everything we need while He works all things for our good and His glory. Be encouraged and ponder the greatness of our God this week as we read this beautiful psalm of David:

            [1] I will bless the LORD at all times;

                        his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

            [2] My soul makes its boast in the LORD;

                        let the humble hear and be glad.

            [3] Oh, magnify the LORD with me,

                        and let us exalt his name together!

            [4] I sought the LORD, and he answered me

                        and delivered me from all my fears.

            [5] Those who look to him are radiant,

                        and their faces shall never be ashamed.

            [6] This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him

                        and saved him out of all his troubles.

            [7] The angel of the LORD encamps

                        around those who fear him, and delivers them.

            [8] Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!

                        Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

            [9] Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints,

                        for those who fear him have no lack!

            [10] The young lions suffer want and hunger;

                        but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

            [11] Come, O children, listen to me;

                        I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

            [12] What man is there who desires life

                        and loves many days, that he may see good?

            [13] Keep your tongue from evil

                        and your lips from speaking deceit.

            [14] Turn away from evil and do good;

                        seek peace and pursue it.

            [15] The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous

                        and his ears toward their cry.

            [16] The face of the LORD is against those who do evil,

                        to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

            [17] When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears

                        and delivers them out of all their troubles.

            [18] The LORD is near to the brokenhearted

                        and saves the crushed in spirit.

            [19] Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

                        but the LORD delivers him out of them all.

            [20] He keeps all his bones;

                        not one of them is broken.

            [21] Affliction will slay the wicked,

                        and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.

            [22] The LORD redeems the life of his servants;

                        none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. (ESV)

God is there for us in our times of trouble, and He promises to never forsake us. When we are downtrodden or weary, He comforts us and lifts us up. May we enter into this Thanksgiving season with gratitude for all that we have been given and praise our Father in heaven for His great works and His everlasting kindness toward us.

Veterans Day is only a few days away, and we at Faith Driven Consumer want to make sure we highlight its importance. As Americans, we owe a great debt to those servicemen and servicewomen who have served our country faithfully and have been willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to maintain our freedom and defend our values. Without their service, we would not have the prosperity we’ve enjoyed in this country for so long. However, honoring Veterans is not just something we should do as Americans, but it is also something that we as Christians are compelled to do because of our love for Christ and a desire to fulfil His mission in all the world. Service, sacrifice and suffering are not just nationalistic concepts, but we should understand and appreciate them as biblical and spiritual ones as well. And we should be motivated by the power of the Gospel and the love of Jesus to serve and sacrifice for this often-neglected community, and care for those who are suffering.

With this motivation, the FDC Team has come up with five ways to give back to our nation’s military veterans:

Get to know veterans in your community. Did you know that there are over 19 million military veterans in the United States? That means that wherever you live and whatever community you inhabit, there are certainly military vets near you. But unfortunately, many vets don’t have strong communities around them. Due to the high rates of PTSD among these former servicemen and servicewomen, and because of the difficulty transitioning from military life to civilian life, one of the worst problems in the veteran community is isolation. And while some of this stems from difficult psychological burdens that can’t be undone overnight, reaching out and maintaining a relationship can be invaluable in the lives of many vets who are experiencing isolation and the loss of a community and identity like the ones they had during their service. Taking the time to consider the veterans in your community and making a point to consistently reach out and spend time with them is one of the most effective and practical ways to serve this community.

Learn more about their service and their struggles. Another way in which you can give back is by equipping yourself to become more informed and better prepared to engage with veterans. Did you know that twenty-two veterans commit suicide in the U.S. every day? It’s a staggering statistic. For most of us, this is new and game-changing information. If this is true (and it is), then we as Christians should see this for the crisis that it is and become zealous for bringing the love of Jesus and the power of the Gospel to this heartbreaking issue in our nation. Learning more about what these men and women went through during service, and what struggles they commonly experience in transitioning back to civilian life can better equip us to serve, support and care for this neglected and struggling community.

Demonstrate your gratitude for their service. This one is as easy as it is obvious. Thank a veteran for his/her service. When is the last time you have thanked the veterans in your family or your community? When you pass by a vet wearing his black and gold “Vietnam Veteran” hat, are you intentional about thanking them for their service? It’s one of easiest ways to remind veterans that who they are what they did is appreciated and not forgotten. It means a lot to any of us, but especially to members of this specific community, to be given gratitude and honor for what they did and who they are. Let’s not neglect to simply say thank you more often.

Donate to veterans charities/ministries or meet practical needs. Whereas the last one was pretty easy, this one is a bit harder because it hits us where it hurts: our wallet. But as Faith Driven Consumers, we have committed to placing our finances under the lordship of Christ and not our own. So, one practical way to demonstrate this commitment is to our nation’s veterans who often struggle financially. Unfortunately, many of our nation’s veterans don’t receive sufficient financial support from our government. And, many have suffered physical injuries and developed psychological illnesses that prevent them from the same kind of employment opportunities the average civilian enjoys. All these factors contribute to a real and immediate financial need in the veteran community. As Faith Driven Consumers, we should be ready and willing to support these vets financially. This could be as simple as buying coffee or a meal for a vet, or as significant as helping out with rent or a mortgage payment. Or, you could simply donate to one of the many ministries or charities that are doing life-saving work in the veteran community. However you decide to give, and however much you give, you should consider financially supporting our veterans in this country.

Get involved with a veteran’s ministry. What if you don’t have much money to give but still want to be involved in caring for and supporting our vets? You should get involved with any of a number of ministries serving our veterans. There are many great ministries for veterans that you can involve yourself with, either locally or from afar. You only to seek them out. Chances are, there is a ministry near you where you can volunteer and find ways to get involved and make a difference. One such ministry that FDC has highlighted in the past is Fairways for Warriors. If you would like to learn more about this amazing ministry that uses golf to bring vets together and establish life-giving communities, then check out episode 9 – Faith and Veterans – on FDC’s Christians You Should Know podcast.

However you choose to honor and serve our vets this Veterans Day and beyond, we simply request that you do something. Our nation owes these brave men and women an enormous debt. And while a cup of coffee, a thank you, or a donation to a charity isn’t going to come close to repaying that debt, it can go a long way in demonstrating your gratitude for their service, while also opening up doors for sharing the love of Christ and the power of the Gospel. Let’s keep this important mission on our minds as we seek to honor, serve, support and care for our veterans this Veterans Day.

Less than a year ago, our team here at Faith Driven Consumer™ initiated an ambitious project as we developed the Faith Equality Index (FEI) and graded our very first brand. Our goal was to provide a large, and eventually comprehensive, database of all major brands and businesses, as well as their grade according to our objective criteria. Our team of researchers, employing the objective criteria of the FEI, sought to enable our members to become more informed and equipped to make faith driven buying decisions, use their dollars to purchase with a purpose, and make an impact on the marketplace, workplace and culture.

Just ten months later, we are thrilled to announce that we have reached more than ONE THOUSAND BRANDS on the FEI!

If you are someone who considers the spiritual and cultural implications of your dollars and their power in the marketplace, then you will benefit greatly from the FEI. The Faith Equality Index is now a significant tool in the arsenal of Faith Driven Consumers. Whether you are making decisions about which kind of automobile to buy, which internet provider to go with, or what toothpaste to switch to, the Faith Equality Index has the information to help you make the most faith driven decision.

All you have to do is take advantage of one of the many perks of being a Faith Driven Consumer: the FEI. Head on over to faithdrivenconsumer.com/fei and start exploring the more-than-one-thousand brands featured. You will be able to search by name, category, keyword (tag), or simply scroll through and find brands alphabetically. From there, you can find out whether they are compatible, acceptable or incompatible with the criteria representing our community’s values. You can also get a more detailed grade by scrolling over the brand’s card and discovering how they scored in each criterion. These objective criteria span across three categories: Marketplace, Workplace and Culture. They indicate how compatible with faith driven values a brand’s corporate actions have been in these respective areas.

The result of all of this research and information means one thing: Faith Driven Consumers are more informed and equipped to use their dollars to support businesses and brands that are willing to demonstrate a real commitment to our community and the values and beliefs we share. And the truly impactful part of the FEI is that it creates a positive feedback loop where businesses are incentivized to continue in faith driven corporate action while our community simultaneously maintains support for these brands and their in-kind actions. Together, with tools like the Faith Equality Index, we can affect change in our communities and make an impact for a more faith driven marketplace, workplace and culture.

Head on over to the Faith Equality Index to begin exploring and making a difference today!