In every town in America this
month, the story is the same. Stores, covered with lights and decorations, are
brimming with shoppers. People are talking about "peace on Earth."
The yards of most denominational churches are filled with nativity scenes, some
featuring live "actors" and animals.
Traditionally, when some members
of the Lord's church have been confronted with the world's idea of December
25th as the birthday of Christ, they have responded by jumping on people with
both feet, more dictating than explaining that "Christ wasn't born on
December 25th, and if He had been, we still are not told to celebrate His
birth!" This has rarely, if ever, done anything but anger people.
Before my message is misconstrued,
I am not advocating the celebration of Christmas as a religious holiday
commemorating Jesus' birth. What I am advocating is perhaps a different
approach.
When Paul found Peter "in
hypocrisy," he rebuked him sharply (Gal. 2). When he wrote to the
Corinthians regarding "quarrels among you," he again offered stern
reproof (1 Cor. 1). It is clear that Paul could be as tough as anyone in
dealing with error.
However, when Paul came to Athens
in Acts 17 and found rampant idolatry, he began by commending the Athenians for
being "very religious" (v. 22). From there, he taught them about
their misdirected religion, even using one of their pagan poets to prove his
point (v. 28).
The lesson is clear for us, isn't
it? Perhaps a better approach than in the past would be to seize on an
opportunity when those around us are "feeling religious." Many speak
of the phony nature of this time of year, that this is the only time most
people care about being nice or charitable. They complain that the rest of the
year, no one cares about Christ. It is true that much of the activity
surrounding this holiday can be phony, but many people are truly interested in
serving Christ, however misguided they may be. Should we not afford them the
same love Paul had for his countrymen, the Jews? Remember his words: "My
heart's desire and prayer . . . is for their salvation. For I bear them witness
that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge" (Rom.
10:1-2).
Our hearts desire and prayers
should be for the zeal of our denominational friends to be applied with
knowledge, and toward that end, we should also be working to help impart that
knowledge. Christianity which roams about like an attack dog seldom
accomplishes much more than creating hatred for the dog. Again, we are not
talking about compromising the truth, but surely we can see that Paul dealt
differently with the error of unbelievers as compared with believers.
This year, when your friends
bring up the birth of Christ, try this approach: "You know about His
birth, let's sit down sometime and talk about His life." When your friends
describe or even invite you to a special "Christmas service," try
explaining why every service is special to you. When they talk about how
important it is to attend church at this time, try to tell them how important
it is for you to attend every Sunday. When you are accused of not
"celebrating Jesus," in a patient, honest and loving manner, let them
know that while they rejoice in His birth, you rejoice in His life death and
resurrection; while they rejoice in Bethlehem, you rejoice in Calvary; while
they rejoice in a manger, you rejoice in a crude wooden cross and in an empty
tomb; while they rejoice in a baby's cry, you rejoice in the words of the Son
of God.
In the end, it is those words
which will ultimately win people for God, for it is those words which have done
so always. Ask them to imagine a world without the parables of Luke 15, where
we learn the value of the lost to God, especially in the poignance of the
prodigal son and his longsuffering, forgiving father. Or to imagine a world
without Jesus' instruction to Peter to forgive his brother " . . .up to
seventy times seven" (Matt. 18:21-22), in which we learn that forgiveness
with God is not about numbers, but about the heart. Or finally, to imagine a
world where the invitation of Matthew 11 ("Come to Me, all who are weary
and heavy-laden . . .) was never offered.
Whatever you say, make your
intent the same as Paul's before Agrippa: "I would to God, that whether in
a short time or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day,
might become such as I am"" (Acts 26:29). Those you win will bring
glory to God.