"Tis the season to be jolly...fa, la, la, la, la, la - la, la...blaahhh..."
Not all of us are feeling all that jolly this time of year, are we? Frankly many of us who hold strong convictions about being true to what God's Word teaches find much in this season about which to be downright cynical.
The empty hype, the commercialism, the rituals and timing of the season adopted so blatantly and obviously from ancient pagan rituals; all of it has many of us muttering a collective "bah-humbug".
It's very easy this time of year to wear our cynicism on our sleeve and to feel, well, somewhat smug in our spiritual correctness, isn't it?
Could it be that, while sulking in our cynical smugness, we actually miss opportunities to witness the true gospel of Jesus Christ?
"Now wait just a doggone minute! You're not suggesting that we start erecting Christmas trees in our living rooms or singing Christmas carols around the neighborhood are you?!"
Absolutely not.
In Jeremiah 10 God commands us to "learn not the way of the heathen." God hates the worship of pagan idols. God detests all things pagan, and we should as well.
So, you're not about to see a tree in my window or a glowing plastic Santa anywhere on my property.
But, having said that, there is a way of approaching this season that, while not compromising our conviction against participating in it's pagan practices, allows us to use the core intent of the season to advance the truth of the gospel.
In Acts 17:22-23 is the recounting of Paul's preaching on Mars Hill.
"Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus..."
Here he was, standing among carved idols in the midst of a city wholly given over to pagan worship. Now, Paul had some choices didn't he? I'm sure that as he stood there next to that pagan idol his bah-hum bug meter was off the charts. He could have easily let his disgust for all that is pagan take over.
Instead, he chose to take a decidedly different approach.
"...and [Paul] said, 'Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription:
TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.
Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you:'"
Rather than launch into a full frontal assault on the evils of idolatry, Paul made a conscious decision to focus on what he was for, rather than on what he was against. He dialed down his bah-hum bug meter and used the opportunity the moment presented to witness to the Gospel.
His example is instructive for you and I.
In Luke 2:10 we read, "Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."
If you're like me, when you read this passage, especially during this season, your "bah-hum-bug" meter elevates a little. If it weren't for the fact that it's...uh...in the Bible, it might be tempting to reject it outright as just more Protestant Christmas drivel. But it really is a very meaningful, powerful passage. And, if we choose to tone down our "bah-hum-bug" meters just a little, we might even see our way to actually use this passage as our own Mars Hill moment.
How?
Most Christians during this season focus on the baby in the manger, don't they? They read passages like this one see only the "there is born to you this day...a Savior" part while overlooking or downplaying the meaning of the powerful words that follow which declare Him as "Jesus Christ the Lord."
And really, that is much of the problem with modern Christianities approach to the gospel. Focusing only on the loving, merciful, accepting and forgiving aspect of the gospel but failing to acknowledge Him as Lord of their lives. For many of our Christian brothers and sisters, the concepts of obedience, striving to overcome our sinful natures, preparing for His second coming as Lord of Lords and King of Kings is just not part of the lexicon of this season, let alone the rest of the year for that matter.
And therein lies our greatest opportunity for sharing the gospel. In that omission lies our Mars Hill moment.
Who knows if, rather than turning others off by our sour demeanor and cynical attitude, we might be used as tools in God's hands this season to bring tidings of even greater joy to someone whose eyes God might be opening to understand His plan as revealed in the full Gospel.
It's possible, but only if we make the conscious decision to take advantage of the Mars Hill moments this season may provide. Only if we determine to, ever so slightly, dial down our bah-humbug meter.
Small Choices, Big Consequences
I faced a moral conundrum while standing in front of the pop machine at work the other day.
Now, I know there may be some health purists who would argue that the act of standing in front of a pop machine is evidence of moral failing, in and of itself. Let's set that issue aside for the moment.
This particular pop machine has one quirky, some would say delightful, feature. Upon depositing your money and pressing the button, the drink you selected will be delivered. However, if you quickly follow your first press with a second, there's about a 50% chance you'll be rewarded with a second drink, gratis.
Throughout the day, my fellow employees make their way to the break room with the same anticipation one would display entering a Vegas casino. It's not uncommon to hear exclamations of "SWEEET!!" and "BONUS!!" emanating from behind the break room door.
While this machine offers a little excitement and diversion during an otherwise hum drum work day, for me, it presents a spiritual dilemma. It's that dilemma I found myself contemplating as I stood before it with my finger on the button. Would pressing it a second time, with full knowledge of what might occur, constitute a clear breaking of the command not to steal? Or, is fretting about such minor matters really being too trivial...even Pharisaical?
I believe a reading of James 2:10 provides the answer, "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point,he is guilty of all."
There are a multitude of small moral choices that you and I make every day of our lives. If we really stop to consider how often we fail in these small moral choices, I think we'd be overwhelmed with the degree of our shortcomings. We are all "guilty of all" aren't we? Hence the need for a Savior.
We typically associate the defining moments that shape our character with life's large trials and obstacles-- a financial crisis, the onset of illness, or a disability. What I believe this passage in James 2 tells us is that its the little choices we make, each and every day, that either help or hurt our ability to meet and overcome the bigger challenges and trials we face.
That's really the lesson of so many of the moral failings we read of in God's Word, isn't it?
Eve wouldn't have eaten the apple had she not wandered too close to the tree.
Esau may not have sold his birthright had he not given in to the grumbling in his stomach.
David wouldn't have killed Uriah had he not dwelt too long on the balcony.
Sadly, none of these examples crossed my mind as I stood in front of our break room "slot machine" that afternoon. If they had, perhaps I wouldn't have so quickly pushed the button a second time. If you had been in my office at that moment, you would have been witness to the resounding testimony of my moral failing emanating through the break room door....."SWEEEET!!".
But then, suddenly stricken with the sinfulness of my action, I was faced with yet another vexing spiritual dilemma. Should I now enjoy the spoils of my ill gotten gain or donate it to someone else? But oh.....how cold and refreshing that drink looked there in my hand....
Arrrgh...O wretched man that I am!
Now, I know there may be some health purists who would argue that the act of standing in front of a pop machine is evidence of moral failing, in and of itself. Let's set that issue aside for the moment.
This particular pop machine has one quirky, some would say delightful, feature. Upon depositing your money and pressing the button, the drink you selected will be delivered. However, if you quickly follow your first press with a second, there's about a 50% chance you'll be rewarded with a second drink, gratis.
Throughout the day, my fellow employees make their way to the break room with the same anticipation one would display entering a Vegas casino. It's not uncommon to hear exclamations of "SWEEET!!" and "BONUS!!" emanating from behind the break room door.
While this machine offers a little excitement and diversion during an otherwise hum drum work day, for me, it presents a spiritual dilemma. It's that dilemma I found myself contemplating as I stood before it with my finger on the button. Would pressing it a second time, with full knowledge of what might occur, constitute a clear breaking of the command not to steal? Or, is fretting about such minor matters really being too trivial...even Pharisaical?
I believe a reading of James 2:10 provides the answer, "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point,he is guilty of all."
There are a multitude of small moral choices that you and I make every day of our lives. If we really stop to consider how often we fail in these small moral choices, I think we'd be overwhelmed with the degree of our shortcomings. We are all "guilty of all" aren't we? Hence the need for a Savior.
We typically associate the defining moments that shape our character with life's large trials and obstacles-- a financial crisis, the onset of illness, or a disability. What I believe this passage in James 2 tells us is that its the little choices we make, each and every day, that either help or hurt our ability to meet and overcome the bigger challenges and trials we face.
That's really the lesson of so many of the moral failings we read of in God's Word, isn't it?
Eve wouldn't have eaten the apple had she not wandered too close to the tree.
Esau may not have sold his birthright had he not given in to the grumbling in his stomach.
David wouldn't have killed Uriah had he not dwelt too long on the balcony.
Sadly, none of these examples crossed my mind as I stood in front of our break room "slot machine" that afternoon. If they had, perhaps I wouldn't have so quickly pushed the button a second time. If you had been in my office at that moment, you would have been witness to the resounding testimony of my moral failing emanating through the break room door....."SWEEEET!!".
But then, suddenly stricken with the sinfulness of my action, I was faced with yet another vexing spiritual dilemma. Should I now enjoy the spoils of my ill gotten gain or donate it to someone else? But oh.....how cold and refreshing that drink looked there in my hand....
Arrrgh...O wretched man that I am!
Victory Through Surrender
There was a time when, as a Christian, new in the faith, reading parts of God's Word was sometimes, well, discouraging.
Sure, there are the encouraging parts. The "God so loved the world" parts, and the "He who has made us to our God Kings and Priests" parts.
But then there are those other parts, the laundry lists of things to overcome, stuff to do, exhortations to change. It's difficult for a new Christian to read these parts of scripture without sometimes feeling a little defeated and discouraged.
Take I Thessalonians 5 for example.
Picking it up in verse 14, "And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive...". Okay, don't be idle or disruptive. Get to work and don't make waves. I can do that.
Sure, there are the encouraging parts. The "God so loved the world" parts, and the "He who has made us to our God Kings and Priests" parts.
But then there are those other parts, the laundry lists of things to overcome, stuff to do, exhortations to change. It's difficult for a new Christian to read these parts of scripture without sometimes feeling a little defeated and discouraged.
Take I Thessalonians 5 for example.
Picking it up in verse 14, "And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive...". Okay, don't be idle or disruptive. Get to work and don't make waves. I can do that.
"...encourage the disheartened," - okay, got that.
"...help the weak," - I think I can do that.
"...be patient with everyone." - with everyone? Hmm...getting harder.
"...make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and everyone else."
"...Rejoice always,"
"...pray continually,"
"...give thanks in all circumstances".
Okay, really?! Always?! In all circumstances?! How can anyone do all of this stuff!?
And that's the point really, isn't it? We can't. Years of frustration and discouragement...trying and failing, trying and failing, feeling defeated. I just can't. No one can.
If only I had realized earlier that God never expected that I would be capable of doing all of these things. If only I had kept reading to the end of the passage, I would have read four short words that make all the difference.
Verse 24. "The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it."
Huh? What do you mean "He will do it?"
In Colossians 1:27 we read "To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
Galatians 2:20 tells us, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Christ in me is my hope. It's not I who live, but Christ who lives within me.
So then, in I Thessalonians Paul means exactly what he says. That list of overwhelming do's and don'ts and must becomes? Christ, through His Spirit that lives in you...He will do it.
Living victoriously as a Christian is not about checking off a list of fifty must do's or have to becomes. "Check got that one." "Check, another one." "Oops, that's ones back again...knock it back down, check." Hey, where that one come from?! Thought I'd gotten that a long time ago...arghh!" This approach to our Christian walk is a sure recipe, not for victory, but for discouragement and burnout.
So, the recipe for victory over sin in the Christian walk? It's about one thing: Jesus Christ living His life in you through His Holy Spirit.
Victory in our walk is less about us climbing a mountain of do's and don'ts than about getting out of the His way. It's less about conquering and more about surrendering. It's less about what we do, and more about what He is doing in us.
Ephesians 4:30 tells us to "grieve not the Spirit." When His Spirit in us tells us, "No, we don't do that" or, "that's not the right way to go," we stop resisting and surrender to let it change our hearts and minds.
I Thessalonians 5:19 says to "quench not the Spirit." When His Spirit within us prompts us to sacrifice for a brother or use the gifts we have been given, we stop resisting and surrender to let it bear it's fruit within us.
The list of things we are to become doesn't get any shorter. But as we focus on submitting and surrendering to the leading and directing of His Spirit, moment by moment, every day of our Christian lives, those long, daunting lists simply take care of themselves.
Discouragement?
"...help the weak," - I think I can do that.
"...be patient with everyone." - with everyone? Hmm...getting harder.
"...make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and everyone else."
"...Rejoice always,"
"...pray continually,"
"...give thanks in all circumstances".
Okay, really?! Always?! In all circumstances?! How can anyone do all of this stuff!?
And that's the point really, isn't it? We can't. Years of frustration and discouragement...trying and failing, trying and failing, feeling defeated. I just can't. No one can.
If only I had realized earlier that God never expected that I would be capable of doing all of these things. If only I had kept reading to the end of the passage, I would have read four short words that make all the difference.
Verse 24. "The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it."
Huh? What do you mean "He will do it?"
In Colossians 1:27 we read "To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
Galatians 2:20 tells us, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Christ in me is my hope. It's not I who live, but Christ who lives within me.
So then, in I Thessalonians Paul means exactly what he says. That list of overwhelming do's and don'ts and must becomes? Christ, through His Spirit that lives in you...He will do it.
Living victoriously as a Christian is not about checking off a list of fifty must do's or have to becomes. "Check got that one." "Check, another one." "Oops, that's ones back again...knock it back down, check." Hey, where that one come from?! Thought I'd gotten that a long time ago...arghh!" This approach to our Christian walk is a sure recipe, not for victory, but for discouragement and burnout.
So, the recipe for victory over sin in the Christian walk? It's about one thing: Jesus Christ living His life in you through His Holy Spirit.
Victory in our walk is less about us climbing a mountain of do's and don'ts than about getting out of the His way. It's less about conquering and more about surrendering. It's less about what we do, and more about what He is doing in us.
Ephesians 4:30 tells us to "grieve not the Spirit." When His Spirit in us tells us, "No, we don't do that" or, "that's not the right way to go," we stop resisting and surrender to let it change our hearts and minds.
I Thessalonians 5:19 says to "quench not the Spirit." When His Spirit within us prompts us to sacrifice for a brother or use the gifts we have been given, we stop resisting and surrender to let it bear it's fruit within us.
The list of things we are to become doesn't get any shorter. But as we focus on submitting and surrendering to the leading and directing of His Spirit, moment by moment, every day of our Christian lives, those long, daunting lists simply take care of themselves.
Discouragement?
Replaced by the confidence that "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6
Burnout?
Burnout?
Replaced by understanding fully what Jesus meant when He said, "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." I John 4:4
For the Christian, ultimate victory can come only through complete surrender.
And in complete surrender, we will never experience defeat.
"Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
I Corinthians 15:57
For the Christian, ultimate victory can come only through complete surrender.
And in complete surrender, we will never experience defeat.
"Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
I Corinthians 15:57
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