Dialing Down Our Bah-hum-bug Meter

"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. 

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