Live The Great

I was eating lunch the other day with a rabbi friend of mine, a relationship I find very stimulating and edifying. As we were discussing our mutual passion to help our respective people understand each other better, he confessed an event that showed his own naiveté about Christians’ views of Christmas. He told me how another Baptist pastor, a mutual friend, was saying that he and his wife were leaving on a trip on Christmas Day. Astounded, he replied, “Why, that would be like me going on a trip on Yom Kippur! How can you do that?”

What ensued was a discussion about Christmas being a symbol and almost certainly not the very day of Jesus’ birth. Even if it was the actual birthday of Jesus, it is not the day that is holy and special, but rather it is meant to focus our thoughts on Jesus our Savior. He is the one who is holy and special. We went on to talk about how no Christians celebrated the birthday of Jesus in the first couple of centuries. The earliest known reference to December 25 as the celebration of Jesus’ birth is from 354AD. Many think that followers of Jesus began to celebrate December 25 as Christ’s birthday as a response to Roman celebrations of the winter solstice that involved a great deal of debauchery. Sure, many of our Christmas traditions find their origin in various religious and cultural traditions going back even before Jesus’ birth, but could it be that the very concept of setting aside a day to celebrate Christ’s birth was the creative response of early believers to a societal problem in the Roman Empire?

We sure have some problems today, don’t we! How can we use the creativity with which God has gifted us to face our current challenges? Many bemoan the current economic problems and predict that Christmas sales will be far lower than usual and have dire consequences for retailers. Some have lost jobs or are suffering from other effects of the current crisis. Here’s my suggestion: instead of making Christmas all about the latest gadget, why not get creative and lose the materialistic focus?

• Short on cash? Why not give the family a new Christmas tradition? A few years ago, my youngest daughter decided that she and I should begin a tradition of making eggnog together a couple of days before Christmas. We have been doing it ever since and look forward to it greatly.
• Give your kids gifts that are invaluable, yet cost little money. How about the gift of promising to attend all their sports events or school programs next year? (Don’t promise if you can’t follow through!). Or, promise to do something special on a regular basis. When my girls were little I would take them on a “date with daddy” to a hotel for breakfast.
• What about a creative gift for friends? What is it that you do well? Why not do that for a friend? A new hair style, a home repair, a car repair, etc.
• On March 15 we are breaking ground for our campus expansion. Many of us have committed to giving regularly above our tithes and offerings to make this possible. Maybe your gift to God (and yourself!) this Christmas would be simply to be faithful in your regular giving. If we would all do that, we could complete this campus expansion in great shape! Strapped for cash? How about giving your time to God through the church? As we begin construction, we are going to need to increase greatly our shuttle bus drivers, parking lot attendants and hospitality team as we navigate through the construction.
• How about the family making a contribution to the Christmas benevolence offering? I’ve known families who have decided to forego gifts to each other for a season in order to give to others. What great creativity in the spirit of Christmas!
• What about giving a Christmas service project as a family? Some families have a tradition of serving together at City Union Mission or a similar ministry over the holidays.

Speaking of creativity, here are a few more examples of people putting their creativity to work in the church:

• On Sunday December 21 we will be treated to a very special Christmas program in both morning services. This special seasonal event will involve both adults and children and is something you won’t want to miss.
• On Christmas Eve at 5:00PM we will continue our recently added tradition of a short, but meaningful Christmas Eve Service. Whatever your family traditions, this Christmas Eve Service is a wonderful way to put the correct focus on Christmas.
• Make sure that March 1-6 is on your calendar! You want to talk creativity? Our student mission council is in charge of planning The Summit, and I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am about the way this is all coming together. The theme is “For a Time Such as This,” from the Book of Esther.

In preparation for The Summit I am going to be preaching through Esther beginning in January and leading up to The Summit.

Have a wonderful Holiday Season and learn to use the creativity that God has given you!

Jeff Adams is the Senior Pastor at KCBT
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