A Witness At Christmas (3)

 Vickie and I used to work with graduate students from Muslim nations. These were the future leaders of their respective countries. (Sadly, few churches in our metropolitan area had any interest in befriending these men and women, even though the students had expressed a desire to meet and get to know Americans.)

Christmas was one of the holidays that was especially sweet in these relationships, the students were quite open to being with us and talking with us and observing us. One couple’s first child was born on Christmas Eve and they called her their “Christmas baby." What would these men and women have thought if we had said, “O sorry, we don’t celebrate Christmas. O sorry, we won’t bring a tree into our home, it is an idol and it might do bad things to us, maybe even attack us in the middle of the night”? (Sorry, I’m trying to make a point.)

Friends, if we are passionate about Jesus and the Gospel won’t we want to use every means at our disposal to share Jesus with others? Won’t we be overflowing with a desire to communicate His love and grace in every possible venue, in every possible way, becoming all things to all people so that by all means we might save some? (See 1 Cor. 9:19 – 23). 

Our neighbor Maureen came to know Jesus Christ, and it began with her coming to our Christmas open house with its many Christmas trees. I can’t begin to count the folks who have been in our home for open houses during Christmas – people from across the world. Nor do I have any idea how many people I and my faithful coworkers in the workplace have been able to witness to during Christmas over the years – a witness in the context of relationships, a respectful witness – respectful to Jesus and to others. 

Walking with congregations through Advent has been special, celebrating the Incarnation as God’s Family, humbly traveling to Bethlehem and beyond, rejoicing in God’s postcards of promise. 

I write as someone who loves Jesus and who wants to love Him more today than yesterday. I write as someone who believes that the Incarnation continues within the Body of Christ. Advent is a sacred time for Vickie and me. A sweet time. A time with memories and sharing and hope for the future. 

I also write as someone who has probably made all the mistakes anyone can make during Christmas, from going overboard in my immaturity to being a pompous self-righteous ass. Thankfully Christ is our Redeemer and He doesn’t give up on us. 

While I hope something I’ve written may help folks think about these things, it has not been my intention to dismiss serious concerns about the way we do things, for I think life ought to be lived in tension. Our witness ought to be thoughtful and credible – and joyful. 

I love the glory of Christmas, for it is the glory of Jesus…and without Jesus I just don’t know what I would do.