A Christmas Confession

I have a confession.

I am a Christmas scrooge. While hearing that first Christmas song on the radio brings a smile and joy into the hearts of some, it has the polar (ha) opposite effect on me. If I wasn’t married to a wonderful woman who loves Christmas, and if I didn’t have kids that would be disappointed, I wouldn’t have a Christmas tree, I wouldn’t have lights, and “Christmas music” would only tickle my ears between the dates of December 24^th and 25^th.

But that’s all superficial. When I see the rampant consumerism that is “Christmas” it kind of makes me sick—especially when I take time to recognize that I’ve bought into it myself.

And then there is my utter disgust and frustration with certain groups (such as the AFA) that like to rally well-meaning people around a misguided cause under the banner of Christianity, and then asks for donations to help them continue their “Godly” crusade. I’m sorry (not really), but using the name of Jesus to market products should be what is offensive, not someone’s use of the word “holiday”. And if I really want people to know who Jesus is, I’m not going to wear pins or put bumper stickers on my car that tell people they are evil or stupid because they are trying to deny Jesus by writing ‘X-mas’ on their ‘holiday’ cards (by the way, the use of the letter ‘X’ to reference Christ goes back to at least the 16^th century).

Lately, I’ve even become annoyed with the way the nativity is most often represented…

But that is not my confession. Many people could have told you I’m a scrooge, and my wife certainly could tell you about my annoyance and frustration with the things Christians seem to get caught up in around Christmas.

My confession is that I have let all of this become a distraction away from what really matters in remembering the birth of the Christ, Jesus.

More about the nativity. I don’t know why, but I had never really taken time to consider the reality of the whole of the nativity scenario before. Let me describe it to you in a way that recently occurred to me: Imagine walking/riding a donkey for 90 miles on dusty roads (9 months pregnant, no less), only to find out there was no decently clean room for you to rest in when you arrive. Instead, you find yourself in a dirty stable, smelling of animals and manure—and then you start to give birth. For those who have experienced it, you know that process involved in giving birth is not a neat and clean one even when you are in a clean and sterile hospital environment—I don’t think I will need to elaborate, but you can think about that for a moment…

And then a bunch of shepherds show up and there’s no one to tell them it’s not visitation time. Now, I know there was probably some clean-up done, but they came within the day Jesus was born, and it was still a stable. What I’m getting at is that it is not a picture that would inspire me to write poetry and beautiful music. Actually, I would probably feel a little uncomfortable and sad.

However, there is something about it that brings amazing, unspeakable joy, and that is hard even now to grasp.

God.

God Almighty, the creator of the universe, the mustard seed, and of the human race is there. He humbled himself to not just show up in the world in the image of the created, but to enter into the world the same way every single other human being has entered into the world—and in a situation that I can look at and honestly call disgusting.

THAT makes me want to sing “JOY to the World!”

Most all of Jesus’ ministry was done among the “least of these”; the outcasts, the crippled and diseased. The majority of those in prominent positions were opposed and turned off by Jesus. His entry into the world was no different: born in a dirty, stinky animal stable and celebrated by shepherds (pretty low on the societal totem-pole)…then when some of apparent prominence did show up a few years later (the wise men), they were foreigners, representing ungodly peoples. Nothing about Jesus appears to be worth celebrating, and certainly his position is not one that would naturally lead many people to admire, let alone worship him.

But yet, here is our God. The one by whom and for whom all things were created (Colossians 1), the great “I am” (John 8:58), the fullness of God in bodily form (Colossians 2:9). He not only came to minister to the “least,” he humbly came among least, proclaiming with authority freedom and reconciliation (Luke 4:18-21), and offering the right to become children of God (John 1).

Is that what the Shepherds saw when they entered the filth of the stable and gazed upon the infant only a few hours old? In as much as they could understand, I think so. They did have the benefit of a host of angels appearing to them immediately prior.

Is that what I see when the kids get dressed up in cute little angel and sheep costumes, and a shy blonde-haired girl holds a cabbage patch doll in a cardboard manger?

It’s sad that the birth of Jesus is relegated as a topic of remembrance for a single time of year (try telling the story in July and see how many people ask you why you’re talking about Christmas in July), but the reality of God incarnate is a joyous realization any time of the year.

So, in light of this confession, my repentance (change in mind & direction) is this: to be less scrooge-like and less focused on the things that distract from the Good News, and to allow myself to be overwhelmed by the beauty and mystery of God entering the world in such a low state to reveal the fullness of himself to all people.

Praise God!

Are You a Minister or Entertainer?

I had saved a copy of this article on my computer after I first saw it several years ago. Then I burned it onto a disc. We had a garage sale this weekend which prompted me to go through a bunch of stuff that I hadn't looked at in a while, including going through all my old CD-Rs to see if there was anything of relevance to be found on them.

There was.

I re-read the article and was able to find it posted online (it's from 2002 originally). I recommend it, it's a good read and it's written by a guy who knows what he's talking about - Steve Taylor.

Enjoy:

http://www.youthspecialties.com/articles/are-you-a-minister-or-entertainer/

Who is Jesus, pt 2

This is a follow up to yesterday’s post (two in a row…woohoo!).

So, I realize that if you are a Christian who is part of the church in the US, you probably fit into one of three categories in regards to what I posted yesterday:

1. You know exactly what I’m talking about. Most likely you have experienced it first hand and are able to recognize it. Perhaps you are familiar with people who have been talking or writing about the issue (there are several).

2. You are intrigued. You’re not quite sure you buy it, but for some reason it piques your interest.

3. You really have no idea what I’m talking about. You either feel completely lost as to what my point is, or else you think it is way off-base.

For the record my story goes in the following order: 3, 2, 1. This has been my personal experience, and I have conversations almost weekly with people who have grown up in the church and struggle with who Jesus is.

I have been at every stage, and for the record this is NOT a commentary on “who are the ‘real Christians’”. I do hope that everyone who considers themselves a Christian will be able to eventually recognize what I’m writing about, but if it doesn’t make sense at this point, that’s okay. In all honesty these posts are written for people who find themselves at #2.

The struggle is to keep these posts short and still make sense of it all. Also, I hope to ask questions that might challenge us to be more open to the work of the Spirit of God in our lives, questions that might lead to God opening our eyes a little wider to see more of who He is. I want to ask questions more than give answers, but if you want to know something, just ask.

That being said, the short thought for today has to do with the Life of Jesus. At one point in my journey I openly said to myself: “why Jesus? Jesus doesn’t make sense.” Recently I was conversing with someone (a Christian)who said the exact same thing, and that is what prompted me to write.

There are a few things all Christians can tell you about Jesus:

1. He was born of a virgin, Mary

2. He died on the cross for our sins

These two factoids can be found in most church’s/ministry’s Statements of Faith (aka “what we believe”), and we teach them to our children first thing. They are true and they are important (especially the second one, hallelujah!), but they say nothing about the Life of Jesus; what happened between (pardon the phrase) the cradle and the grave.

Think about it for a minute, what was the “point” of the Life Jesus lived? Did He do everything He did for the singular purpose of proving Himself to be the Son of God? Why are there so many interactions with people recorded in the gospels?

For many, it is hard to have a meaningful conversation about the Life of Jesus. Even with “mature,” knowledgeable Christians, it is easier to discus Romans and Galatians, and theological issues like predestination and eternal security, than it is to discuss the Life of Jesus. This might say something about how we think about “maturity” as a Christians within the church, but that’s for another post.

Who is Jesus?

I was reminded once again of a regrettable trend in the contemporary church. Of course I am generalizing when I talk about “the church,” but unfortunately from observation and experience it seems to me that this “thing” is fairly standard, regardless of denominational background or theological bent (I am limiting this, however, to the American church, though perhaps it extends beyond that).

It comes down to this: the church seems to do a decent job of teaching what Jesus DID, but does a horrible job of communicating WHO Jesus is.

Who is Jesus? Anyone who has been exposed to church would of course answer: “the Son of God.” They would be right (Hallelujah!), but simply giving a “right answer” is not what I’m talking about, what we need, or what God desires.

Who is Jesus? What is his character, what did he care about, how did he relate/interact with people?

It matters.

Walking with Jesus defined what it would later mean to live life as a Christian—to live for Jesus—for the disciples. Of course they often didn’t understand everything at the time, but Jesus promised them that everything they had learned and experienced would be made clear through the Holy Spirit after Jesus left and the Spirit came (John 14:26). 1 John 4 says that we “have confidence on the day of judgment because in this world we are like him” (v17 NIV). How can we be “like him” if we do not know what he was like?

Consider Matthew 8 where, after coming down from the sermon on the mount, a leprous man comes amidst the crowd and kneels down at Jesus’ feet (dangerous!). What is Jesus’ reaction? He reaches out and touches the unclean man who had, because of the law, been w/out physical contact from others since he showed signs of the disease. Then Jesus heals him.

First, spend time thinking about what Jesus did. It’s amazing! But don’t stop there.

What does this say about WHO Jesus is? That he would touch the man?

When we begin to understand Who Jesus is, it changes for us what it means for us to be Like him, and our eyes are opened a little more to be able to see the world through the eyes of Jesus.

New "Preacher"

So, the university campus on which I work has a few individuals that like to come stand outside of the student union and "preach" to anyone who will pay attention (and sometimes degrading those who walk by without giving their attention). There is one person in particular who is a regular, and whom becomes somewhat of a sideshow as students gather around to hear some of the ridiculous twisting of scripture he spews.

Today, there is a new "preacher," one I've never seen or heard before. So far, in the 15 minutes I've listened to him, he hasn't wondered from scripture, which is good. However, I can't help but wonder (based on what he has been sharing) if he (like many such "preachers") does not do what he does so much out of hearing a calling from God, and having a love for the students, as he does to somehow "sure up" his salvation. In other words, he preaches not for God, or for the sake of those whom might here, but for himself, reasoning that by doing so he is fulfilling some directive of God and putting himself in better standing.

Such "preaching" does not benefit the kingdom of God, or glorify God, but rather distracts and bears false witness.

This time he had to cease, because the campus police came and apparently he does not have the proper permission. But I'll have to pay close attention when and if he returns.