Tuesday, December 17, 2019
Not Christmas, not Church, not Country, but Jesus
I am reminded at this time of year how easy it is to send the wrong message. As believers, our task is to point people to Jesus. He came into this world to seek and save the lost. God loved us so much that he let his Son come to this world to provide us a way back to God, and Christmas is a time when many people hear glimpses of these truths. Those of us that believe make up a community of faith, a church. And we make our country a better place because we live in our communities as those that follow the Jesus way.
But Christmas, church, and country are not the same as Jesus. In fact, if not careful we mix our message to the point that it is not heard. So be careful this season to keep the main thing the main thing.
Jesus is not Christmas. It is so easy to lose the real Jesus among the Christmas songs, the Advent services, the Nativity scenes, and the catchy phrases (Jesus is the reason for the season). Candlelight services and Christmas plays. These activities may all point to Jesus, but sometimes we lose the reality among the packaging. So slick, so performance driven, so easy. The reality is that Jesus was a real Savior who came into a real world to save real people. Don't confuse Christmas with Jesus.
It is political season in the United States. Primary season cranking up, impeachment proceedings, abortion laws, legislation about what is -- and isn't -- marriage. And it seems so clear what to do politically. Remove a President that has clear moral and behavioral issues not consistent with Christian behavior. Stop the party that aborts innocent babies and defines marriage in a way not consistent with Scripture. Or withdraw from politics completely. And I know committed believers who are sure which of these Jesus would choose. And if anyone follows a different path than the one you choose, they clearly are ruining their Christian witness. By the way, I absolutely espouse one of these positions. But I am aware how easy it is to push our Christian agenda in an unchristian way. Sure makes it hard to see Jesus. And if our country overnight became what you think it should be, that still does not declare the message of Jesus. He came to save people, not countries.
Even church can sometimes obscure our message of Jesus. If not careful, we even stress the importance of introducing our church to our community. Maybe the message should be about introducing our community to Jesus. And yes, you would want your church to be an avenue to introduce people to Jesus. But again, it becomes too easy to get caught up in the programs, activities, and services. Sometimes even forgetting why we do these things.
So be sure that Christmas opens doors to talk about why Jesus came.
Remember that our country is not our Kingdom.
And church is the saved. It is not what saves you. Or your friends.
Jesus. Always Jesus.
But Christmas, church, and country are not the same as Jesus. In fact, if not careful we mix our message to the point that it is not heard. So be careful this season to keep the main thing the main thing.
Jesus is not Christmas. It is so easy to lose the real Jesus among the Christmas songs, the Advent services, the Nativity scenes, and the catchy phrases (Jesus is the reason for the season). Candlelight services and Christmas plays. These activities may all point to Jesus, but sometimes we lose the reality among the packaging. So slick, so performance driven, so easy. The reality is that Jesus was a real Savior who came into a real world to save real people. Don't confuse Christmas with Jesus.
It is political season in the United States. Primary season cranking up, impeachment proceedings, abortion laws, legislation about what is -- and isn't -- marriage. And it seems so clear what to do politically. Remove a President that has clear moral and behavioral issues not consistent with Christian behavior. Stop the party that aborts innocent babies and defines marriage in a way not consistent with Scripture. Or withdraw from politics completely. And I know committed believers who are sure which of these Jesus would choose. And if anyone follows a different path than the one you choose, they clearly are ruining their Christian witness. By the way, I absolutely espouse one of these positions. But I am aware how easy it is to push our Christian agenda in an unchristian way. Sure makes it hard to see Jesus. And if our country overnight became what you think it should be, that still does not declare the message of Jesus. He came to save people, not countries.
Even church can sometimes obscure our message of Jesus. If not careful, we even stress the importance of introducing our church to our community. Maybe the message should be about introducing our community to Jesus. And yes, you would want your church to be an avenue to introduce people to Jesus. But again, it becomes too easy to get caught up in the programs, activities, and services. Sometimes even forgetting why we do these things.
So be sure that Christmas opens doors to talk about why Jesus came.
Remember that our country is not our Kingdom.
And church is the saved. It is not what saves you. Or your friends.
Jesus. Always Jesus.
