She went on
chatting with her listener about all the things she had to get accomplished,
the meaning of which was lost on her and the whole thing brought on great
confusion.
My first reaction
was a human one – instantly defensive of my heritage and traditions. Secondly, it was prideful. I wondered if the voice belonged to the dance mom
that was the only one who forgot her daughter’s costume for rehearsal
then yelled at her, saying it didn’t matter anyway, stop crying and go
to class. But my last reaction was more
loving as I tried to understand.
I’ve been around
Christians since about the time I could walk.
My mom became a believer as a young adult and I went along with
her. Eventually, it became MY faith, not
just hers, but that was a years-long process of discovery. Being a follower of Jesus is like learning a
whole different culture. It has its own
dialect, routines, expectations, history, world-view.
I had taken
several American Sign Language classes and considered myself knowledgeable in sign
when I went to a church with a full-fledged interpreter. I found I was completely lost! There were
so many church-related motions I didn’t know!
Of course all the
unique things we do at Christmas can feel like “primal rituals” to outsiders –
they are adventuring into a foreign land.
I remember reading
the true Christmas story with a dear friend of mine who was a new Christian. She opened the Bible and told me about the “Maggie”
from the east. I said, “No, it’s “Magi,”
like magic.” She asked what that
was. I said, “You know – the three wise
men.” She had no idea! If you’ve grown up your whole life
celebrating Christmas with Santa, Rudolph and Ebenezer Scrooge but nothing
religious, how would you know who the
kings are?
We should be using
this season to take the hand of the unbeliever and lead them into the
rich history we have – the meanings and nuances of this beautiful time of
year. They already know that Christmas
is FUN; they just may not know what it truly means for their lives. Let’s let them in on the secret!
~~~~~Pondering Points
1 Corinthians 1:18
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the very power of God.
1 Corinthians 2:14-15
But the person who is not a Christian does not understand these words from the Holy Spirit. He thinks they are foolish. He cannot understand them because he does not have the Holy Spirit to help him understand. The full-grown Christian understands all things, and yet he is not understood.
Colossians 4:3-6
Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should. Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Matthew 16:24-27
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for you to gain the whole world, yet forfeit your soul? Or what can you give in exchange for your soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward everyone according to what they have done.
[Jesus said] “I leave my peace with you. I
give my peace to you. I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let
your hearts be troubled. And do not be afraid.”
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