Dave Burchett's Blog, page 67

Gift Ideas For Jesus on His Birthday

Christmas shopping can be really difficult for my species. Many of us men give gifts to our significant others with fear and trembling. Humor writer Dave Barry relates the confusion most men deal with when giving a gift to their wife.

He could tell by her reaction to the gift that she had not been dreaming of getting an auto emergency kit, even though it was the deluxe model with booster cables and an air compressor. Clearly, this violated an important rule, but the man had idea what the rule was, and his wife was too upset to tell him.

Barry continues his thoughtful treatise…

So why is the Christmas season so difficult for men? There are many complex reasons, by which I mean: women. The problem goes back to the very first Christmas. We know from the Bible that the Wise Men showed up in Bethlehem and gave the baby Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Now Gold is always a nice gift, but frankincense and myrrh – at least according to my dictionary – are gum resins.

 Barry asks the vital question…

Who gives gum resins to a baby? The answer is…Men. The three wise men…being men, didn’t even start shopping for gifts until the last minute, when most of the stores in the greater Bethlehem area were closed for Christmas Eve. The only place still open was Big Stu’s House of Myrrh.

Even though Barry’s interpretation of the Gospels might be a little suspect…I do think he is correct about the difficulty in finding a gift for Jesus on His birthday.

On December 24th or 25th most of us will exchange gifts to celebrate the birth of Christ. Suppose you had a big party to celebrate my humble birthday this April. All of my close friends and acquaintances show up and exchange gifts. But there is nothing for me. Finally someone mentions how grateful they are for my birthday so we could all be together. I become hopeful. Then somebody yells that the refreshments are ready so everyone rolls into the kitchen and I am left sitting with no gifts on my birthday. I wonder if we don’t do that to Jesus. We put up a reason for the season signs and all of that. But it is so easy to get all caught up and not even think of a gift for the guest of honor at our Christmas celebrations.

So what can you give the Lord of the Universe? If you think your mother-in-law is tough to buy for what do buy for the Savior who has everything? I decided to go back to the Three Wise Men and see if there was more to their gifts than first appears. What was the meaning of the gifts presented by the Magi? The simplest meaning is that these men brought items which represented the greatest worth. All of these gifts were rare, precious and expensive. Whatever else we may learn from this story, we know that they gave their best in honor to the One they believed to be the King, the Messiah. It’s interesting that we don’t know the names of the Magi but we know what they gave. We don’t know where they came from but we know that they worshiped the  Christ child.

They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh. (Matthew 2:11, NLT)

The key fact for Nativity purists is the Magi did not visit the Baby Jesus in Bethlehem. So the typical Nativity scene on the mantle is chock full of Biblical errors. They showed up at the house, bowed down before Him and they offered Him gifts. What an amazing spirit that must have surrounded that child that caused men of importance, wealth and education to fall down before Him!

The first gift mentioned is gold. Gold has always held in extremely high value – as long ago as 2,500 BC, gold was especially prized, and used as a medium of exchange. Even today when investments get shaky you start hearing about buying gold as a hedge against economic downturns. The value of gold seems to be a constant in our civilization. In both the Old Testament Tabernacle and the Temple, gold was used plentifully and was clearly associated with worship.

So should we give Jesus gold on His birthday? Most of us have a rather limited supply of gold. I am going to suggest that we give Jesus a commodity that is as valuable in today’s culture as gold was in the time of the Magi.

That commodity of great value?

Time.

When I think of gifts that I can give to Jesus…is there anything more precious than my time?

When you love someone you want to spend time with them. If you say you love your wife but you go several days or weeks without talking to her she might be suspicious. When we say we love our children but we can’t work them into the schedule they begin to have doubts. When a young couple falls in love they want to spend every moment together. When they are apart they think of each other. As Percy Sledge famously sang that when a man loves a woman he can’t keep his mind on nothing else.

So we say we love Jesus. But we probably have little difficulty thinking of something or someone else. We tell others that He is the center of our universe…but we can’t carve out the time to spend with Jesus to develop that relationship. I am confessing here that I have been guilty of this far too often in my journey with Jesus. My lips confess my commitment to Him but my time with Him reveals my true priorities. The uncomfortable truth for me as a husband…as a father…and as a follower of Christ is that my calendar reveals my heart. I make time for the things that are most important to me.

Gift suggestion number one for Jesus on His birthday…give Him a little time. Sit down with Him…talk to Him…enjoy His company.

Stay tuned for another last minute gift idea for Jesus. Perhaps it is not that hard to give something to Christ this Christmas.

The Horror of War Paused by a Silent Night

One of my favorite Christmas stories happened during the horrors of war. The Christmas carol “Silent Night” was responsible for a wartime Christmas miracle.

The year was 1914 and soldiers were having to spend Christmas Eve night on the battlefields of France during World War I, the Great War, as it was called. After only four months of fighting, more than a million men had already perished in the bloody conflict. The bodies of dead soldiers were scattered between the trenches. Enemy troops were dug-in so close that they could easily exchange shouts.

On December 24, 1914, in the middle of a freezing battlefield in France, a miracle happened. The British troops watched in amazement as candle-lit Christmas trees began to appear above the German trenches. The glowing trees soon appeared along the length of the German front.  Henry Williamson, a young soldier with the London Regiment wrote in his diary: “From the German parapet, a rich baritone voice had begun to sing a song I remembered my German nurse singing to me…. The grave and tender voice rose out of the frozen mist. It was all so strange… like being in another world — to which one had come through a nightmare.”

Silent Night

Holy Night

All is calm

All is quiet

“They finished their carol and we thought that we ought to retaliate,” another British soldier wrote, “So we sang “The First Noël” and when we finished, they all began clapping. And they struck up “O Tannebaum” and on it went… until we started up “O Come All Ye Faithful” [and] the Germans immediately joined in …. this was really a most extraordinary thing — two nations both singing the same carol in the middle of a war.”It is recorded that enemy soldiers greeted each other in the no man’s land that was a killing zone the day before. The soldiers wished each other Merry Christmas and agreed not to fire their rifles on Christmas Day. The spontaneous cease-fire eventually embraced much of a 500-mile stretch of the Western Front. According to the reports of soldiers at the scene, hundreds of thousands of soldiers celebrated the birth of the Prince of Peace among the bodies of their dead.

Other soldiers told of how the “enemies” exchanged badges and buttons from their uniforms. Others shared photos of wives and children and some even exchanged addresses and promised to write after the war ended. The German troops rolled out barrels of dark beer and the British reciprocated with offerings of plum pudding. Some soldiers produced soccer balls and a spirited match broke out as fellow soldiers shouted encouragement.

At one location along the front the men who just the day before sought to kill one another now gathered together to bury their dead. Together, with heads uncovered, they held a service to memorialize their fallen comrades. A solitary voice began to sing Silent Night, in French. He was joined by another voice — this one singing in German — the words of a Christmas song known and beloved by all.

But the miracle of peace was temporary. Slowly, under threats from their officers, the troops returned to the trenches and the recoils of rifles split the temporary “Silent Night.” Some soldiers admitted aiming so their bullets flew well above the heads of the “enemy.”

Perhaps those of us who celebrate the birth of the Savior could learn a lesson from this Christmas miracle as we engage those who do not share our beliefs and faith in Jesus. Those on the other side of the cultural trenches are not unlike us. The message delivered in Bethlehem was peace and goodwill toward all men. When we fight the cultural war we need remember that the whole purpose of Jesus invading our space and time was to love and ultimately die for those on both sides of the battle.

But perhaps the biggest lesson is how the power of a unified focus on Jesus can unite even bitter enemies. My heart aches as I see Christians splitting ranks over things that don’t amount to a hill of beans on an eternal scale. I picture Jesus weeping over the churches of America like He wept over Jerusalem. I picture Him weeping over how Christians in this country divide over non-essentials and fail to communicate the joy and life-changing power of the good news of the Gospel. Jesus gave this final command to His followers…

“Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”  (Matthew 28,  The Message)

Pretty straight forward. Nothing in there about personal gain, power, or prestige. The power of what happened on that Silent Night united enemies centuries later on a French battlefield.  My Christmas prayer is that the miracle of God becoming man will unite you and me, His followers, to seek what actually matters. To really make it about Christ and not about us. To model His grace to a culture that desperately needs that grace. While we still have the chance.

(Note: There is a movie (Joyeux Noel), a DVD (The Christmas Truce), a children’s book (Christmas in the Trenches) and a historical book (Silent Night: The Story of the WW I Christmas Truce) about this event if you want to know more about the story.

Weekend Wildcard: Coming Attractions

Please take a moment to sign up to receive each new article as it is posted at Confessions of a Bad Christian. Next week I am posting an article about a World War I Christmas Miracle plus the first two parts of “A Gift List for Jesus on His Birthday”. Go to the front page by clicking here. Look to your right just below the smiling disembodied picture of yours truly and my well thought out mission statement.

“Bringing sporadic joy and intermittent wisdom to tens of readers several times a week.”

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Thursday Thought

“If we are going to grow in grace, we must stay aware of being both sinners and loved children in Christ.”

— Tim Keller Wisdom (@DailyKeller) February 12, 2014

Hump Day Hope: This Little Light of Mine

For some reason this song came to mind today.

This little light of mine,

I’m gonna let it shine.

The song was written by Moody Bible student Harry Dixon Loes as a children’s gospel tune. “This Little Light of Mine” also became a Civil Rights anthem in the 50’s and 60’s. Racial reconciliation is still an area that could use a lot of Gospel light.

I didn’t realize that the full lyrics included a bit of light for each day.

Monday gave me the gift of love,

Tuesday peace came from above,

Wednesday told me to have more faith,

Thursday gave me a little more grace,

Friday told me to watch and pray,

Saturday told me just what to say,

Sunday gave me the power divine,

Just to let my little light shine.

Wednesday is have more faith day. Regular readers know that I will love Thursday.

Jesus told His followers that we are to be a light to those around us.

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

I don’t know about you but those challenges from Jesus are daunting. Sometimes I don’t feel much like a light to the world. I feel more like the dimmest bulb in the Church Light Store. A quote from one of my favorite authors gave me hope.

“Imperfection is the only prerequisite for grace. Light only gets in through the cracks.”~ Philip Yancey

For years I tried to patch the cracks with new disciplines and phony masks. Now I own each and every flaw and crack that allows the light of the Gospel into the darkness of my soul. And when I am vulnerable to others they see that light shining right back through those same cracks of imperfection. And suddenly the command of Jesus is not so daunting because it has NOTHING to do with me. It is all about letting the light of the Gospel into my heart and sharing that light with others. Then good deeds flow out of gratitude and not begrudging obligation.

Another of my favorite writers is 19th Century preacher Charles Spurgeon. He said this about the topic of light.

“I would not give much for your religion unless it can be seen. Lamps do not talk, but they do shine.”

Remember where your light comes from today. And let a little bit reflect back to a world that could us some light now.

Monday Musing: Can Santa Clause Influence Your Christian Journey?

(Today I am re-posting one of my favorite Christmas articles. Consider it “regifting” and feel free to regift to others!)

Recently I poured over the new titles at the local Christian bookstore. The usual suspects dominated most of the shelf space. One of the most important books in my Christian journey was not displayed. And that is a shame. Because this book has a message that needs to be heard.

The original version of the book was entitled TrueFaced and the newest revision is called The Cure.  I don’t think I have ever had a book (excluding the inspired one) impact me as much as this one.

I am borrowing one little bit of content that is very timely during this month. John Lynch is one of the authors of the book and in this section he addresses how we are programmed from childhood to default to performance theology. He calls it the “Santa Claus is Coming to Town theology”.

You better watch out

Better not cry

Better not pout

I am telling you why

Santa Claus is comin’ to town

He’s making a list….checking it twice…three times…every day

Gonna find out who’s naughty and nice

Santa Claus is comin’ to town

He sees you when your sleeping, nows when your awake, he knows when you’ve been bad or good so be good for goodness sake.

Oh, he’s watching. Waiting for you to screw up so you will get coal instead of a bicycle. You had better please him. And we teach our kids to put on the mask and be something they are not. Because Santa Claus is comin’ to town. This omniscient being who is judging our every deed is coming to town…and we learn to do the dance early. Buck up…be good. Don’t cry. Don’t pout. Santa Claus is coming to town.  (©Copyright 2003, William Thrall, Bruce McNicol, John Lynch. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.)

He is exactly right. We learn that we get good things and receive love only when we are good and do good things. Santa is pleased (and we later substitute God) when we obey. So we learn early. We had better be good. Or least fool everyone around us to think that we are being good.

Ask any child this Christmas if they are being good and I will wager you will never hear this response.

“Well, to be honest, I am really struggling with the whole being nice thing. I have actually been pouty and I cried yesterday. It just isn’t working out this Christmas so I suspect the video game system will have to wait.”

Nope. What you hear is the lie that we learn early and too often keep handy in our arsenal for a lifetime.

“Oh yeah. I am being really good!”

I remember (vaguely) the tension of the Santa Claus years. I knew I hadn’t really changed much if at all. I tried to modify my behavior for a week or two leading up to Christmas but I knew I failed. I learned a couple of things early. I learned how hard it is to change behavior by sheer willpower and I learned that I could apparently fool Santa by living a lie. I learned that that he would bring me presents in spite of my failures if I covered it up. I did not learn about grace. That maybe Santa gave me gifts because of who I was and maybe he came to my house because I was lovable instead of rewarding me for what I had done to please him. I figured I had fooled him and to get the good stuff I would have to continue to hide the little boy who broke an ornament and then hid it.

Isn’t that too often how we view God? We had better not cry. Better not sin. I’m telling you why. Jesus is coming to town. He’s making a list and He is checking it not once or twice but every moment of every day. God knows if you’ve been bad or good so if you want to be healed or happy or prosperous you had better be good for goodness sake. If I do mess up I am scared to death that I will get a bad life or miss all that God has for me. So I put on the mask and try to be really good for Jesus. If I can fool those around me maybe, just maybe, I can fool God too.

Satan sells the lie so convincingly. And we buy it for months and years and even decades.

But God and Santa are very different in their approach. God does not keep a list. He is not impressed by our hernia inducing straining to control sin.

You know the verse well.

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. (Ephesians 2:8-9, NLT)

Jesus offers us so many gifts. But the one we seem to have the hardest time unwrapping is the gift of grace. The gift that allows us to become who God desires us to become as we simply trust Him and quit trying to be “good” for goodness sake. We are saved by grace and faith in Christ. We become like Him by the same radical strategy. Faith that He has changed us into a new creation. And understanding the grace that gives us good gifts even when we don’t deserve them.

Don’t let the Santa Claus theology creep into your journey. Go straight to the gift of grace that Jesus left under the Cross. Open it. And clothe yourself in His salvation, acceptance and love. It may be the best gift you have ever given yourself.

(You can download a sample chapter of The Cure by clicking this link)

Weekend Wildcard: What I Need for Christmas…

Recently I started with a list of things I really, really wanted for Christmas.

Everything at the Bose store
The coolest new tablet device
A 4K television

Then I listed everything I really, really needed.

Uhhhhh….
Uhhhhh….
Uhhhhh….

Yep. I didn’t need a single thing for Christmas. I give bags of clothing I no longer wear to charities every year. We have more stuff in our house than we can figure out how to store. That cool new tablet would only be another distraction. I have a HD television that gives me a remarkable picture. I still want the stuff from the Bose store but Jesus never said this journey would be easy.

So what do I want for Christmas this year? I want followers of Jesus (looking squarely in the mirror as I say this) to take seriously our call to take care of those who have less. Stop here if you want to continue living selfishly.

If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister,in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? (1 John 3:17)

Ouch.

I remember getting lectured by a blustering believer who was convinced God was judging America because of a particular sin. He tried really hard to get me to agree. Finally I told him something like this.

“I am not smart enough to know how God views particular sins versus others. But I do have a feeling that if He is judging America it might be for the way the American church has squandered the incredible wealth and resources we have been given. We have been given enough to make a difference around the world and we have been selfishly living while denying the power of the Gospel.”

He quit talking to me.

An organization called Empty Tomb does some annoying but really valuable research. They are also a very important ministry that God has raised up to be a Nathan to our comfortable and consumer Christianity. In 2012, the latest year for which the numbers are available, church giving dropped to 2.2 percent of member’s incomes, the lowest percentage since 1968. They did the math in a 2008 study that showed what could happen if church members gave 10% of their income.

If Americans who identify with the historically Christian church had chosen to give 10% to their congregations in 2008, rather than the 2.43% given that year, there would have been an additional $172 billion available for work through the church. If those members had specified that 60% of their increased giving were to be given to international missions, there would have been an additional $103 billion available for the international work of the church. That would have left an additional $34 billion for domestic missions, including poverty conditions in the U.S., and this all on top of our current church activities.

I don’t know about you but those sad numbers bother me more than the things that seem to exorcise the American church. And the giving percentage has gone down from the pathetic 2.43% of 2008. How about some loud protests and dire mailers over low church giving? Too close to home? I can just hear the Pharisees reading this and saying, “See how easy it is to be hypocritical?”

Regular readers of the humble ramblings know that I am not a guilt purveyor. Giving should not be a grudging obligation. Spend some time thinking about the miracle of God becoming flesh. Meditate on the one way love of God who loved us when we were unlovable. Remember the finished work on the Cross that made you friends with God forever. That list makes it easy for me to give out of gratitude.

If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—

    and he will repay you!  (Proverbs 19:17, NLT)

We are the hands and feet of God to a hurting world.

You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.  (2 Corinthians 9:7-8, NLT)

 I pray that we will have a generous and cheerful heart this Christmas and beyond.

Hump Day Hope: No Misfit Toys on the Island of Grace

Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year. I love the music, the memories, the traditions and the chance to annually think about Burl Ives.

His memory will come back again with the 50th annual airing of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Ives is the voice of Sam the Snowman who narrates the “enhanced” story of Rudolph.

Rudolph and his elf buddy Hermey don’t fit in with the others. Rudolph looks different than the others. Hermey is not interested in making toys. In an odd plot twist, Hermey wants to be a dentist. Not surprisingly, his elf supervisor is upset with the unproductive Hermey. So the two outcasts set off to find their fame and fortune.

                                                     

The part of the story that resonates with me these days is when Hermey and Rudolph find their way to the Island of Misfit Toys. All of the toys on this island are castoffs because they are flawed or deemed as worthless. There is a “Charlie in the Box” and a train with square wheels. A boat that sinks in water and a squirt gun that shoots jelly. All of these flawed toys are banished to the Island of Misfit Toys.

That is how I picture so many sad and tired followers of Jesus. They see themselves as misfits. They believe they are flawed and not worth much of anything. They have allowed a perceived idea of what a “good” Christian should look like to cause them to feel like they don’t measure up. The doubts overwhelm them.  Discouraged followers of Christ start thinking thoughts like these.

I don’t have theological training.

I can’t sing well.

I am not a good teacher.

I am afraid to share my faith.

I feel awkward in groups.

I am not a leader.

I don’t have much to offer.

But that is not how the Bible describes a follower of Christ. Every Christian is described as being part of the body of Christ. Scripture makes it clear that every part of the body of Christ is vital to the healthy function of the church. Henri Nouwen wrote that every follower of Jesus has a God designed role.

“We seldom realize fully that we are sent to fulfill God-given tasks. . . . We act as if we were simply dropped down in creation and have to decide how to entertain ourselves until we die. But we were sent into the world by God, just as Jesus was. Once we start living our lives with that conviction, we will soon know what we were sent to do.”

So if you are feeling like a misfit toy this Christmas season you can trust this truth. You have a divine purpose.

God does not create misfits. He creates people in His image with value and great worth. Satan would like you to retreat to your own island of misfits to feel sad and worthless. But God has another gathering place in mind. The Island of Grace. On that island you are not a misfit. You are a beloved child of God. You are a saint. And in this wonderful place there are no misfits. Paul made that abundantly clear with these words of encouragement to the Church in Rome.

So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. (Romans 5, NLT)

Friend of God? Hard to feel like a misfit if you believe that is true.

Monday Musing: A Truly Black Friday

I avoid Black Friday store shopping at all costs. There is not a deal good enough to get me to camp out and storm the doors to vanquish my shopping foes. I don’t even like the name Black Friday.

It makes me think of a truly black Friday that we most often ponder at Easter. We have re-branded that day as Good Friday but there was nothing good about that day for the early followers of Jesus. Picture the overwhelming despair of those who had dropped everything to follow this amazing teacher and prophet. There could not have been a blacker Friday or sadder Saturday for those disciples of the long hoped for Redeemer. I cannot fathom their emotions.

Crushed.

Hopeless.

Devastated.

Leading up to that Black Friday I relate most to the blusterous and impulsive Apostle Peter. He talked a great game as I often do. He was absolutely sure about his steadfast devotion to Jesus. He knew he would be the one that would be there till the end.

You know the story. Jesus told Peter exactly what was going to happen.

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat.  But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.” But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”  (Luke 22:31:34, NLT)

As per usual Peter went for bravado instead of hearing the sweet encouragement from Christ. Jesus tells Peter that He has pleaded for him in prayer that his faith would not fail. He told Peter that he would repent and that he would be the one to strengthen his brothers going forward. He let lim know it was going to be okay. But Peter was too busy proclaiming what he would do when the moment of crisis arrived. You can count on me Lord!

On that Black Friday a frightened and confused Peter was asked two times if he was associated with the so called “King of the Jews”. Twice he proclaimed that he had nothing to do with Jesus. And then it happened again.

About an hour later someone else insisted, “This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too.”

But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.

At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly. (Luke 22:59-62, NLT)

I try to imagine what that look from the Lord might have been. In my early days of performance based faith I pictured a condemning countenance directed at the weak willed Peter. I believe I was wrong. I suspect that Jesus looked at the fearful Peter with tenderness and sadness. He knew what Peter would become. He knew that through this spectacular failure of a man that His grace would restore Peter and he would help build a church that would change the world.

I imagine Peter’s sleepless Friday night. I picture the agonizing Saturday as he alternately felt shame and hopelessness. In that paralyzing darkness the greatest news of history was about to be announced. Jesus has risen! Luke included this little detail in his Gospel account.

“The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter.” (Luke 24:34, NLT)

Jesus knew his friend desperately needed grace. To quote my friend Bart Millard of MercyMe I can only imagine that moment. Did Peter fall on his face and beg forgiveness? I would imagine it started there. But what I also picture is the Lord Jesus spreading his arms wide and enveloping Peter in the biggest, longest and most healing hug ever. I imagine Peter’s body melting into the arms of grace. His shame and sin covered by the finished work of Jesus.

I think about that a lot when I have my moments like Peter when I have way more bluster than trust. When I feel shame and doubt and fear I remember that Jesus sought out the one who betrayed Him three times to lavish him with grace. When I feel like I have finally reached the end of the patience of Jesus and that He must surely be fed up with me I remember that moment. No matter how far I stray or how often I sin I know that Jesus waits with open arms to lavish me with a long and healing hug of loving grace. He knows what I can become. Jesus knows that He can use a nearly total mess like me if I trust Him. That is pretty good news to start the week.

 

 

Weekend Wildcard: I am a Pacifist in the War on Christmas

I am officially a pacifist on the “war on Christmas”.

I would, however, support a ceasefire if it banned all commercial displays until Thanksgiving. I say “Merry Christmas” whenever I want to and to whomever I desire. And while there is a small percentage that would like all vestiges of the Christmas story purged from any public display I am still free to express my views on Christmas. This war, in my opinion, is not worth it. The collateral damage to the Christian message of love, grace and joy suffers far more than we can imagine from this war we fight each December.  I know that many think I have been drinking way too much grace punch. Probably true. I have to admit that it is really good stuff.

But I have come to believe that Christians function best when they are the underdogs. The fact is that in America Christmas has become much more of an economic than a religious holiday. There are so many icons like Santa Claus and Rudolph and the Grinch that have no connection to the religious heritage of the holiday. Black Friday and Cyber Monday seem more ingrained in the culture than Bethlehem. For those demanding generic holiday terms lest they be influenced by “religion” I find it hard to comprehend the argument that a Nativity scene or a Merry Christmas sign is all that spiritually persuasive in this mind boggling landscape of secular holiday icons.

But one tradition has endured. Year after year one of the most powerful reminders of the message of Christmas comes from the genius of the late Charles Schultz. His classic show A Charlie Brown Christmas has a simple, elegant and classic scene. Charlie Brown has failed miserably in his attempt to find the true meaning of Christmas. But then Linus recites the following passage from the King James version of the Bible.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And then Linus says to Charlie Brown, “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”

That is what I believe Christmas is all about. I am willing to engage in civil conversation about religion in the public square. I know from years of writing these humble ramblings that many who don’t share my views can say some pretty unkind things about my intellect. The atheists and agnostics can be pretty nasty too. Nonetheless I will treat those who oppose me with grace and charity. I choose to take the message of the shepherds to heart today.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

A Charlie Brown Christmas airs Tuesday, December 2nd on ABC (one of those evil secular networks by the way). How about using some of your energy to let ABC know you appreciate the network airing this show? Maybe that is also what Christmas is all about. Spreading a little kindness and grace instead of anger and condemnation. Could that possibly work? It is worth a try in my humble opinion.