Wednesday, December 24, 2008
I am sure that you have heard all the Christmas stories before. Maybe if you grew up going to church you can recite these stories in your sleep. What once was new has now become tradition. Traditions immortalized by nativity scenes, Christmas songs that depending upon your disposition are either magnificently addictive or horrifically overplayed; or whatever else your family has started using to celebrate or commemorate Christmas.
The thing with traditions is that they are supposed to remind us of something that was important to us. But our traditions seem to lose their value over time, and the meaning becomes lost to history. We keep on doing the same things over and over, but at some point when we ask ourselves, “Why are we doing this?” the answer “Because we have always done it this way.” Doesn’t work anymore.
So since I can never leave well enough alone… Why are you celebrating Christmas? I don’t need/want a response, but I want you to ask yourself this question. Why celebrate Jesus birth? What is Jesus… to you?
I think that some of you that celebrate because Jesus reminds them of Santa Clause…
Track with me for a moment here. What are the most attractive things about Santa?
1. you don’t have to interact with Santa, you write him a letter, he
simply slips into the house and leaves presents, eats half a cookie
then hits the neighbors.
2. Santa theology is very black and white; you either made the list or
you didn’t. If you didn’t it was because you were bad.
3. He brought presents based on behavior. If you were good you got a
lot of bank. There was a very clear reward system. Good = hot wheels,
big wheels, legos. You didn’t have to get into the spirit of
anything, everyone knew it was about the toys: cold hard toys.
4. Kids who were bad… well lets be realistic they expected gifts too…
and well did Santa ever miss anyone’s house that you know of?
It strikes me that this is the same way that many of the people I know interact with Jesus.
1. Visit church once or twice a year – catch a good vibe, then off to eat.
2. Jesus theology is very black and white, you either make the list or
you don’t and if you don’t it is because you are bad.
3. You get blessed based on behavior, if you are good, preachers on tv say
that you should be getting a lot of bank. There is a very clear reward
system. Good = money, house, car… you don’t really have to get into the
spirit of anything… Everyone knows it is all about the cash: cold hard cash.
4. People who don’t follow what Jesus says… well lets be realistic, they think
they are good people and expect heaven too…
Certainly you can see the parallels to these stories and the second one is completely made up!
The Bible talks about this baby that we celebrate the birth of, as our greatest hope. The only one who can save us from our current condition and our future destiny. This whole story revolves around a group of people who desperately need hope. This story revolves around a group of people who desperately need to have God on their side. This story revolves around a group of people who if God doesn’t come through for them… its over.
We celebrate the birth of this child who offers that hope for all of us, offers a God who is fighting for us. We celebrate the birth of a child who will come through for us, in a way that we least expected. A child who would show us what God is like, and how to respond to Him.
I know that for Christmas there are going to be gifts, family, friends and memories. But I don’t care about that as much as I care…
Why celebrate Jesus birth? What is Jesus… to you? Someone to give your all to? To put all your hope and trust in, for today and as many tomorrows as we have left? Or. . . are you celebrating a tradition without meaning… The myth that Jesus is like Santa Clause, only around to give us what we want?
For a the unedited version check out my blog
Have a Happy Christmas!
Steve
mmhmm.