Too Much Nativity?

"We're swimming in nativities." I had told the woman at the post office it didn't matter what type of stamps she gave me...just use whatever she had in excess. Should I be sad, assuming few people were requesting nativity stamps? Or grateful to be able to "swim" in nativities? I began to wonder...

How often do I get caught up in what many Christians would say is the secularization of Christmas? I don't mean "caught up" in terms of participating; I'll quickly declare "guilty" on that charge. I enjoy shopping on Black Friday, stuffing stockings on Christmas Eve, and eating all those calorie-packed, once-a-year sweets...none of which has anything to do with the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. Okay, perhaps I could rationalize gift-giving as a biblical concept, but seriously? My enjoyment of gift giving has little to do with my relationship with Jesus. My enjoyment of secular aspects of Christmas are more about tradition than faith, and I enjoy tradition.

Here's my struggle: How much Christians, including myself, focus on the secularization of Christmas when we could be expending the same energy fully embracing the opportunities this season gives us to share our faith and, most important, the truth about Jesus.

When someone wishes you "Happy Holidays," do you (a) complain that someone has secularized Christmas or (b) reply with a hearty "Merry Christmas"? Can we be certain what a person's motives are for replacing Merry Christmas with the phrase Happy Holidays? Perhaps it's because they want to bundle their Christmas and New Years greetings into one. Or even if they're intentionally taking Christ out of their language, so what! You're not responsible for their choices...but you ARE responsible for yours. Do we think we're going to deepen our relationships with people and build trust more by lecturing them about the secularization of Christmas or by delivering a hearty "Merry Christmas" in return? There's more power in Christ's spoken name than all the words we can possibly string together as a justification for the use of his name.

Think about struggles you have with the secularization of Christmas. Company parties. Elaborate gift exchanges. Overwhelming obligations. School productions. I'm not saying we shouldn't fight battles for God. But which battles are we fighting because he's instructed us to fight them on his behalf, and which are we fighting on our own behalf? If we personally are offended and choose to fight a battle that isn't in God's timing, we can adversely impact someone's faith journey. We might think God led us into a situation to teach someone about Jesus with words of condemnation. But we're to teach them by our behavior, full of grace and mercy, instead. If we're to confront someone, God will instruct us to do so in love, not in judgment. God judges. We obey.

Think of all the opportunities we have to obey God during this season. Doors fly open for us to share our stories of faith. Christmas isn't just about the birth of Jesus. Christmas is about Christ, from heaven to earth to the cross to the grave and to heaven, an agonizing and sacrificial journey to offer eternal life...for you and for me and for every single person in your life today. People you know and people you don't know. God has designed your day to reflect him. Will you do it? And will you fully reflect him in his grace and mercy and love and provision?

As for me, I bought the nativity stamps. Each time I use one, I pray for not only the person who will receive that envelope but also for every person who touches or sees itAnd that's what I want my life to be. I want anyone who touches or sees my life to experience Christ.

For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. - John 3:16-18 (NLT)

Compassion

Only seven of the eight remaining dancers performed on So You Think You Can Dance. (Yes, I watch it...regularly, and yes, I love it! I could give the excuse that it's a bonding experience for me and my daughter, but I'm owning my enjoyment!) Ashleigh hurt her arm the morning of the performance, and the doctors wouldn't clear her to perform. Her partner had to dance with stand-ins. But people can still vote for Ashleigh, and if she gets enough votes, she advances to the finals. What do you think of someone getting to advance without actually performing?

How do you respond when someone gets a promotion when you think you've worked harder? Or someone keeps her job when you get laid off?

What about when someone gets a scholarship over you, and you're certain she has more money than you?

How do you respond anytime a person gets something you perceive to be undeserved?

I have to admit my initial response is sometimes an internal, perhaps even audible, cry of injustice. I want someone to perform for reward. I don't want to take up the slack of someone's unwillingness to fulfill their work responsibilities and not receive compensation for it. I don't want to sacrifically give of my time and energy and continue to be asked to do more. I don't want to see someone ask for support when she's unable to perform.

It hit me when I read similar comments on a blog this afternoon, all commenting on whether or not Ashleigh should be able to continue. I'm a hypocrite. My internal, and sometimes audible, cry of injustice is in direct opposition to the basis of my faith.

Compassion is the "sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it." (merriamwebster.com) No judgment on whether or not the distress is justifiable. No comparison to our own distress. And a willingness to act.

Take a look around. At work. In your home. At school. In restaurants. In Church. While shopping. God brings people into your life and asks you to have a sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it. Act on it despite your internal or audible cry of injustice. God did it for you.

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. - 1 John 3: 16-18 (NLT)