In a sense, the central story of my life is about nothing else ..... it is that of an unsatisfied desire which is itself more desirable than any other satisfaction. I call it Joy, which is here a technical term and must be sharply distinguished both from Happiness and from Pleasure. Joy (in my sense) has indeed one characteristic; and one only, in common with them; the fact that anyone who has experienced it will want it again. Apart from that and considered only in its quality, it might almost equally be called unhappiness or grief. But then it is a kind we want. I doubt whether anyone who has tasted it would ever, if both were in his power, exchange it for all the pleasures in the world. But then, joy is never in our power and pleasure often is.
C.S. Lewis
Christianity is not complicated, just tough. I bask in the joy of my salvation. BUT, I am conflicted by the consistent inconsistencies surrounding my faith. I truly believe that ninety percent of my faith is just raw courage. I need the courage to abound. It is so much easier to abase, to go along with the crowd. For instance, to enjoy, peeping through the keyhole, the commercialism of Christmas.
I am perplexed by the Christmas tree in the church sanctuary, the tinsel, the lights, the shopping--spending--stressing of this holy day, which has become a Pagan holiday.
And yet, for me, and you, my fellow Christian, if your Christmas has become a Pagan festival, it is your fault. When I see the lights, regardless of color, I think of Jesus, the light of the world. When I see the thorns on the holly tree, red berries, I think of the crown of thorns that was placed on his precious head and the drops of blood he shed for my rotten sins... as well as the sin of the world.
With the Christmas tree, with gifts, we can test the boundaries of grace. The greatest gift the world has ever known, a baby in a cattle cave in Bethlehem, after God's quietness for several hundred years. (One of my professors had said seven hundred "dumb" years. Preachers have said four hundred years. After Malachi to Matthew, old to New Testament, no message from God.)
Of course, God could have delivered his only son, full man, to the earth, to quickly die on the cross. We instead, have a long suffering savior, his life and message. HE PREACHED HIMSELF. As his feet nourished the ground around the Sea of Galilee, Roman enslavement was tyrannical.
Good news to a confused world, the grace of God. I have thoughts about "back door" revivals, unsaved people in the church, a hypocrisy testimony to the world. Perhaps God allows many to come to him backwards... like pouring water on a rock, it takes a long time for some to "get it". His grace is sufficient for the Mennonites, the Amish and many others of the thousands of denominations.
I was always so depressed with church members dragging in late for worship, clothing smelling of cigarette smoke. Knowing the holiness of God, his long suffering, even toward me, who am I to judge. Our blessed lord knows what people can comprehend. Just think of the thousands of missionaries taking the message of Christ to a lost and dying world of unbelievers whose language, traditions, cultures are so completely indifferent. Surely, God has a safety net of grace under the tree at Calvary for people who stumble and fumble at its base. Surely, God has a safety net of grace for children who understand gifts from the church Christmas tree. Surely, God has a safety net of grace for those who should know that his gifts to us, throughout life (Even the very air we breathe) could be taken away. Learning to trust God is a way of giving... gifts. God gave his Son, his Son, gave his life. It is impossible to show our love for God, our greatest act of worship other than by giving gifts of our blessings (Ties and Offerings) back to him. We cannot love without giving and perhaps this is the greatest message of Christmas... however we get it across.
A news reporter came to me for a story about the many places I have traveled at Christmas time. I was at the South Pole at Christmas, spent one Christmas Eve in Bethlehem, etc. I told her the greatest Christmas decorations, the greatest joy among people at any time of the year, particularly Christmas was in those places where Christ had been taught and preached... the Christian world. There is no joy at Christmas or any other time in the forty two-plus Muslim countries and most other countries with false religions (Buddhists, Hindus). Joy came to the world because of Jesus. Every check you write, every date on your calendar, every good gift in the world... hospitals, orphan homes, most colleges, all because of the life of one solitary God--Man in history. Gift to the world from the Creator of the world. Oh, there have been spinoffs--rip-offs such as Saint Nick, Santa Claus, etc., etc., but the only joy of the world came as a baby in a cattle cave in Bethlehem. Can we even imagine, that hillside with shepherds and sheep, God putting on a show with millions of angels, music beyond compare to celebrate any happiness this sin soaked world would enjoy?
"Joy to the World, the Lord has Come", AND IT IS ALL A GIFT OF GRACE.
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