religiousaffections

            I don’t know about you, but every year around this time my heart becomes greatly unsettled because of the way I celebrate Christmas.  The comparisons are really difficult for me to consider.  During this season, how much time will I spend at the mall compared to time before the one who came in flesh for the specific purpose of representing me on the cross?  How much time will I spend Christmas morning opening and thinking about presents?  How much time will I set aside on Christmas day for meditation and worship for Christ?  The balance of these comparisons weighs heavy on my chest each year.  Maybe it begins in November when we start thinking about what we want or supposedly “need.”  Or maybe it starts in the heart, where we train ourselves to become radically generous in a culture (Christian culture included) that values MORE. 

            I am pressed with the Holy Spirit’s questions - under your current leadership, what will be your children’s understanding of Christmas be rooted in?  If you say Christmas for your family is rooted in Scripture and celebration of Christ, can it be the most consumer-driven time of year for your family?  I’m afraid the answer is a glaring NO.  There is often a deep chasm between the Christian faith that Jesus taught about, and that which is represented by Christians in the west - especially around this time of year.  I would encourage you to think on this statement, it is a principle that we seeking to instill in our small family right now - “Generosity…make all the money you can, save all the money you can, so that you can give away all the money you can.”  One pastor suggests, “God does not allow you to make $100,000 so that you can live a $100,000 lifestyle.  He gives you $100,000 salary so that you can live a $50,000 lifestyle and give the rest away.  And the same goes for the people who make $30,000.” 

            Where is all this coming from?  Oddly enough, the book of Amos.  In Amos 5:21-23, the LORD speaks to Israel:

I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.  Even though you offer me your burnt offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, will not look upon them.  Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen.

These are the words from God, who is jealous for the worship of his people.  He has essentially told them to shut up - stop singing, stop the service and go home!  Why?  Consider the LORD’s words just prior to this indictment.  In 4:1 - “Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy…”

And in 5:11-12 - “Therefore because you trample on the poor and you exact taxes of grain from him, you have built houses of finely hewn stone, but you shall not dwell in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine.  For I know how many are your transgressions and how great are your sins - you who afflict the righteous, who take a bride, and turn aside the needy in the gate.”

The people are singing, but not worshipping.  They are having church and neglecting the poor.  Throughout the Scriptures - both the Old and New Testaments testify to an inseparable link between biblical Christianity and care for the least of these.  It is an uncomfortable reality, but absolutely inescapable.  James 1:27 says, “Worship that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”  James does not say, “give money to your local church and let them do ministry to the poor and you are off the hook because you gave.”  Obviously there are many inseparable links that we could talk about and I do not mean to overemphasize this one in particular - but Amos does and the Spirit is bearing down on my heart about the chasm that exists in our life especially around this time of year.  I pray that our Christmases are truly Christ-centered this year.  And that in 2009 we would embody the Christian faith through generosity - making all we can, so that we can save all we can, so that we are prepared to give all we can. 

It is difficult, but train your heart to value the Creator more than his creation.  We don’t need most of what we have, we only think we do.  Learn with us - there is much freedom in simplicity!