Meeting People Where They are At

The manger is an iconic symbol of Christmas, and interesting to boot. After all, Christ, the King of the Universe, was literally “born in a barn.” But why?

There are likely many reasons, but the best I can muster is that He wanted to meet us where we are at. Those who volunteer or work in altruistic professions are familiar with this concept. The social worker must enter questionable homes to do her job; soup kitchens are built in impoverished communities, and pro-life volunteers stand outside abortion clinics. These laborers understand that to reach the needy, you must go to the needy.

Now, everyone needs Christ because all have sinned, but since His physical form couldn’t be everywhere at once, He went where He could reach the greatest number and variety of people. He went into a city.

I know barn and city seem like opposites to our modern mind, but remember that in Christ’s day, people were dependent up on horses and donkeys for transportation. Barns were ancient garages for that transportation, so they were not far removed from the people that depended on it.

Thus, Christ was not far removed from people either.

If he had come into a palace or a nobleman’s house, he would have met a limited number and type of people. Instead, he was born amid commoners and craftsmen, herdsmen and harpers, law officers and loose cannons. He entered the thick of many different types of people as they were doing many different types of things.

These people, like those of today, were also at different spiritual and developmental locations. By this I mean that some were right with God; some weren’t. Some were halfway or maybe ¾ of the way there. Some had little growth before they could leave this earth; others had a lot more to do.

Christ’s infant form recognizes this also; He came as someone who had a lot of physical growing to do, identifying as closely with the humans who needed Him as possible.

In summary, Christ met us where we were at.

So, this Christmas, who do you need to meet, and where are they at? Spiritually? Physically? Developmentally? Your circle of influence is smaller than Christ’s had to be- Thank God- but we can all meet and help someone. We can meet them where they are at.

The answer to that question is different for everyone. Merry Christmas as you seek it.