A Dirty Christmas

¹⁴ Because God's children are human beings -- made of flesh and blood -- Jesus also became flesh and blood by being born in human form. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the Devil, who had the power of death. ¹⁵ Only in this way could he deliver those who have lived all their lives as slaves to the fear of dying. ¹⁶ We all know that Jesus came to help the descendants of Abraham, not to help the angels. ¹⁷ Therefore, it was necessary for Jesus to be in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. He then could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. ¹⁸ Since he himself has gone through suffering and temptation, he is able to help us when we are being tempted.

It’s too easy for us to overlook the significance that Jesus was born in a barn and laid in a manger, because there was no room for him in the inn.  That’s the unvarnished truth of Christmas.

Dirt, manure, terrible smells, these aren’t the things we usually associate with the Presence of God.  But Christmas announces to us that this is the kind of God we have.  It’s the dirt of Christmas that helps us understand just how great God is!!!

The author of Hebrews reminds us, “In bringing many [children] to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.”

Christmas is about pain.  A woman gave birth that night.  Christmas is about God leaving heaven and coming down to be with us in the midst of our dirt!

Who of us would set aside our power and privilege and enter this world in the midst of the dirt and stench of a barn?

But God did.
And that is Good News!!!  That is the best news imaginable!!!

For with this knowledge we can know that we have a God Who loves us beyond comprehension.

Jesus suffered for our salvation!  Wow!

God “shared in” our “humanity”…Jesus was “made” like us “in every way”, and “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being temped.”

In Christ’s all too ordinary birth in Bethlehem we meet God, not in some terrible and frightening holiness that makes us sinners shake in our boots but in His loving and merciful holiness, which is God’s true holiness!!!

Christmas and Culture

¹⁹ Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. ²⁰ When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. ²¹ When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law,^[d] I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. ²² When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. ²³ I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings. – 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

I recently got myself into a little bit of trouble for bashing Santa Claus…with a microphone in my hand.  I didn’t destroy the dreams of a mob of children by revealing to them that Santa isn’t real.  I’m not that crazy.  I simply bemoaned the fact that our communities Christmas parade is called the Santa Parade.  I may have actually said something like “we are not a big fan of Santa.”  Here’s the thing, the mom could get over my comment, but she was genuinely concerned that the church planned to destroy her son’s belief in Santa Claus.  Interesting isn’t it…I wonder if she is that concerned about whether or not the public school is going to destroy his belief in Jesus Christ, but I digress. 

Besides the obvious lesson, plan out carefully what you are going to say before you grab a hot mic, there is much more at play in this scenario.  A couple of months prior a member of are Christian Education committee expressed displeasure with our church’s participation in Halloween festivities (handing out candy the day of and throwing a trunk-or-treat the Wednesday before).  This is more than just can’t win scenario.  Two sides are at play here.  How is the church deal with the non-Christian customs of our culture?  This question really comes to a head at Christmas. 

I get just as upset at the competition Christ’s birth gets as the next Christian.  In spite of that, I need to remember that culture has always had an impact on the Christian Faith, and as our culture changes, so will the “average American Christian.”  I’m not saying that everything is fair game, but I am saying that much of what we hold dear is more cultural than Christian Core.  I am also saying that a combatant attitude never gets us anywhere.  I think the key is to bring Christ into culture more than it is to stand against culture. 

With this in mind, A Chrsitmas prayer:

“Holy LORD,

We come with joy to celebrate the birth of your son, who rescued us from the darkness of sin by making the cross a tree of life and light.  May our Christmas tree arrayed in splender remind us of the life-giving cross of Christ that we may always rejoice in the new life that shines in our hearts.  We ask this through Christ, our LORD.  Amen” - Unknown

Gained Perspective: Helping the Young Samuels of the World

⁸ A third time the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. ⁹ So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. – 1 Samuel 3: 8 and 9

Young Samuel, like so many of the young people that we encounter on a daily basis lacked perspective.  He did not have the previous experience to know what was going on.  It was up to Eli to give Samuel the perspective he needed, and once he did, some amazing things happened!  Adults can play the role of Eli by:

1)      Listening instead of Dismissing

At first Eli didn’t really know what was going on and without knowing what was really going on in Samuel’s life he dismissed Samuel’s experience, telling him to go back to sleep.  It wasn’t until Eli knew what was going on, until he truly listened to Samuel’s sharing of his experience that he was able to give helpful and authentic instruction.  I believe there is a subtle difference between lecturing and faithful instruction, and the difference is authentic listening. 

2)      Asking Questions instead of Lecturing

I can’t help but wonder how much faster Eli would have figured things out if he had asked a question or two before dismissing Samuel.  Asking questions is a great way to get us in the right mindset to really listen to young people.  In addition, asking questions, unlike lecturing, can be effective way to steer young people in the right direction.  Powell and Clark (2011) rightly point out, “Parents lecturing kids hasn’t worked…Picture you and your child talking about premarital sex.  Does your child know what you think about it?  Does your child know what you would want to say about it?  Odds are good that the answer to both is yes” (77-78).   Our communication with children needs to help them come to their own understanding of what Christ would have them do, not force our views down their throats.  

3)      Sharing Personal Faith Stories

Samuel had never heard the LORD speak before.  It was something that Eli had encountered prevously.  Eli’s past experience allowed him to interpret what was going on in Samuel’s life.  Young people today still need the experience of others to interpret what is going on in their own lives.  This is especially true during times of doubt, and during times when young people feel that God has let them down.  We tend to doubt God’s faithfulness when we lose sight of how He has been faithful in the past.  Sharing the stories of the bible is an obvious and powerful way to remind young people of God’s faithfulness, but it is equally important for young people to hear personal stories of God’s faithfulness from the adults around them.  Sadly, most young people have never heard the salvation stories and other personal stories of God’s faithfulness from parents and other caring adults. 

Adults are right to believe that young people need their wisdom to gain perspective.  The problem is, adults tend to go about sharing that wisdom the wrong way.  By listening instead of dismissing, asking questions instead of lecturing, and sharing their personal faith stories adults can help young people gain perspective about how God is working in their lives, just as Eli helped young Samuel realize his call to follow God. 

Powell, K.E. & Clark, C. (2011). Sticky faith. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.