I know IĀ said in the last post that there was no Christmas post planned, but as I ended that post IĀ felt like IĀ maybe didn't do justice the thoughts IĀ was trying to convey.
It's Christmas. At Christmas I struggle with the way our society celebrates "in Jesus' name" and the way I see the scriptures present Jesus and His teaching. I struggle daily with my own willingness to live generously, based upon the texts I'm about to share. But the struggle for me personally seems greater this time of year.
Many who consider themselves Christians would, IĀ think, embrace the belief that Christmas is so special because it is a reminder that GOD GAVEĀ FIRST. God gave the gift of Jesus more than 2,000 years ago, and there is a wide belief that is the model we follow in our current traditions. Because He gave, we give. Is that a fair summary?
Many would proudly exclaim, "Jesus is the Reason for the Season" while embracing the materialistic frenzy society follows as the model. With no sense of disconnect. I have serious struggles reconciling the two. Which makes the whole season challenging for me.
If you are up for some spiritual wrestling this Christmas, consider just 4 quick texts with me:
1) "For God so loved THEĀ WORLD that he GAVE..." (John 3:16)Ā The most famous text in the scripture maybe. What if God's gift really was for THE WORLD to embrace? We narrow our focus largely to those in closest proximity to us - our kids, our extended families, our most cherished relationships. That seems inconsistent with our current Christmas traditions to me. Do you disagree?
2) "A Spirit of the Lord is upon me; hence he has anointed me to announce good tidings to the destitute (a more targeted word for the poorest of the poor), he has sent me out to proclaim release to the captives and sight to the blind, to send the downtrodden forth in liberty." (Luke 3:18) God's gift (Jesus) SAID His mission (the reason He was GIVEN) was for the poor. Good News. To the poor. JUSTICEĀ & FREEDOMĀ to the downtrodden. Jesus SAID He was GIVEN to the OPPOSITEĀ of the PRIVILEGED. Yet it seems to me we typically reserve our gifts for those privileged enough to be in our closest sphere of influence, especially during this season, and whether they have any true need or not. What do you think? Should I not be trying to reconcile these concepts at all?
3) "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." (Luke 14:12-14) Did you know Jesus said this? This seems SO counter to the norm in our culture - in the church or otherwise. IĀ have witnessed this teaching in action during both of my trips to Zambia, but I also believe it is happening every day within each of the 124 communities where destitute families have food with their meals because a handful of Americans have spent just a little bit of their surplus on the poor, rather than within their wealthy sphere. Have you ever even heard a pastor talk about these statements of Jesus? Pretty radical!! Is there some way to interpret this less radically? I got a text from a brother in Zambia WHOĀ LITERALLYĀ DID THIS FOR CHRISTMAS!
4) Finally, IĀ feel like LOVEĀ and GENEROSITY are very close synonyms and want to consider one more text that uses the word LOVEĀ rather than GIVING. But IĀ think the theme is consistent with the point with which IĀ am wrestling personally. Many readers are familiar with the teaching of Jesus known as the "Great Commandment." Essentially, He seems to boil down the entire Jewish law (God's law?) into TWO HUMONGOUS concepts: 1) Love God. 2) Love Neighbor. Jesus expanded upon this love of neighbor concept in the Good Samaritan parable, as well as that Luke text above and others. John, who heard from Jesus firsthand, expanded upon this love of neighbor concept as follows: "In this we have known what love is, that that one laid down his soul on our behalf; and we ought to lay down our soul on behalf of our brothers. But should anyone have the means of living in this cosmos, and see his brother in need, and inwardly close himself off from him, in what way does God's love abide in him? Little children, let our love be not in talk or on the tongue, but in action and truth." (I John 3:16-18) What did John say there? Is that a text with which we are familiar? My interpretation of that sounds a LOTĀ like God giving to the WORLD. It sounds a lot like Jesus coming to bring Good News to the POOR. It sounds right in line with throwing a feast and inviting the poor. Here is my weak attempt at interpreting that in the context of the season:
"Jesus showed us what LOVE is by His sacrifice for us. We should follow His example by living a life of sacrifice for others. When those of us living in an economic system that allows us to make a good living see our brothers around the world struggling without responding, we should be careful how loudly and proudly we proclaim, "Jesus is the Reason for the Season." Instead, we should put our money where our mouths are."
How did I do? Do you feel like I took it too far in some way? These are the texts that keep me from a certain celebration of Christmas, and they are also the texts that challenge me to LOVE and GIVEĀ to our struggling brothers and sisters in Zambia.
We are attempting to build a safe community to wrestle with concepts like this year-round and would certainly welcome any of you to join us. We are all being challenged together as we strive to live this life to the fullest - and help others do the same.
ā
