The Christmas Paradox

Well, now that Thanksgiving is behind us, it begins...not the greatest shopping rush of the season, but the greatest paradox of the year. Why do we celebrate Christmas? We should celebrate Christmas because of Jesus (DUH! Sunday School answer). The truth is, we need to celebrate Christmas in the sense of what it means to mankind in the scheme of things. When God sent His Son, He did so to FREE us from the bondage of sin. In a spiritual sense, Christmas should be viewed as an INDEPENDENCE DAY. As July 4th is to our country, so Christmas is to our souls.

But man, because of his sinful nature, has this tendency to enslave himself. Even as emancipated Believers, we tend to make bad choices, wrong turns, and end up enslaved to things. That is the great paradox concerning Christmas. In a season where we should be celebrating and enjoying our spiritual freedom through Christ, we actually become more enslaved and trapped as a result of our choices. Here are three typical examples:

1. Statistics say that most Americans will spend at least 125% of their incomes this Christmas. Instead of getting out of debt, they will get into more debt. Last time I checked, you really aren't free when you are in debt.

2. Most of us will not have a free night in the month of December to be home due to all of the community, school, and CHURCH events we will be attending or participating in as a tribute to the holiday season. Instead of getting rest on our days off, we will go shopping, traveling, etc. (if we take any days off because most will work overtime hours to spend more on Christmas)

3. What if we don't get what we want for Christmas? What if a Playstation 3 isn't under your tree? What if you don't get along with that annoying family member? What if you miss your flight or it is delayed? What if you get sick? The days following Christmas are usually filled with lots of discontent (again slavery for our souls). That's one of the reasons that suicide rates soar during and right after the holidays.

All of this will be done in the name of peace and goodwill towards men. When, in reality, it places untold burdens on our souls. We are no longer free to do the things God has commanded and entrusted us to do. The Devil, our enemy, is clever. He loves taking "good" things and using them to get our focus off the most important thing: loving and following Jesus. Paul wrote in Philippians 4:11-13 (NLT): ...I have learned how to get along happily, whether I have much or little. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength that I need. That's a picture of freedom!

Let's make this verse from Paul our prayer this Christmas season. If we do, I think that the freedom you enjoy will turn heads and hearts towards our real Home.

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A Tale of Two Men

This week typifies my life. I am actually having a great week, but a lot is going on around me...and it has me thinking in a way selfishly about my own life. Last night on the news said it all to me. On the one hand, I saw footage of the people of Miami rejoicing when they thought that dictator Fidel Castro was dead. The people were throwing a party and rejoicing over his possible demise. On the other hand, I saw the story about the sudden death of sportscaster Paul Eells. I heard and read many of the comments and tributes people all over the state were giving to him. I saw his colleagues struggle on the air to get through a broadcast. I don't think that I have seen that much candor on live television since 911.

Two men. One a dictator. One a sportscaster. Two ways of life. One ruled with an iron fist. One touched everyone he met with love. I got to thinking that these two men, in a way, represent the daily struggle within my soul. There's a part of me that wants to never say a negative thing about another person like Paul Eells seemed to personify. I want to take the time out of my schedule to talk to anyone I meet and to make a clear difference in their life. I want speak with a quiet voice and be patient with those around me. I guess there's a part of me that wants desperately to be like Paul Eells because he represented Christ so well. However, at the end of the day, I fall terribly short. Instead, I am more like Castro. I want things my way, and when people don't oblige in helping to brick and mortor my perfect kingdom, I get angry, resentful, and impatient. I may not physically kill others, but, for a variety of reasons, I harbor ill feelings concerning them in my heart. Instead of reaching out to people, I tend to drive them away. I absolutely hate that about myself.

The good news is that I don't have to put on an act to live like Jesus, because HE lives inside of me. The thing I have to do is to DAILY KILL MYSELF so that Jesus can get out. The problem is this "DAILY" thing...oh, yeah...and the "KILL MYSELF" thing that gets in the way. But that is something I (we) must do as a follower of Christ. Jesus puts it this way to us in Matthew 16:24 (NLT) Then Jesus said to the disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me."
Let's begin DAILY to make a conscious effort to die to self so that He can live through us. If we do this, the world won't throw a party when you are gone, but it will be a richer place.

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