I just read ANOTHER blog post/article/talk about how some one is giving up Christmas, or giving gifts to their kids, or not, or are, or or or.
ENOUGH. Please. Enough.
Though those articles, I hope, are well meaning, it is starting to feel like we're justifying our own ways of celebrating Christmas. They (we) are trying to say, "Look at me! I'm doing it the right way!"
...Is there a right way?
I submit that there is. I think the right way is the way that you personally honour Jesus the most. Perhaps that is giving everyone and their cousin gifts until they ask you to stop. Perhaps that's not even putting up a tree and going to sleep in a stable with your own child wrapped up in swaddling clothes.
Something that has popped up in my head surrounding all of this has been Jesus talking about fasting, or praying. We are not to do it like hypocrites. Matthew 6 says this:
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."
The key in this, regarding all of the posts lately is verse 1 : Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them..."
While not all of the articles or whatever might not be doing what this verse warns against, what are they doing? Are they helpful? Maybe. Are they promoting Christ-likeness? Perhaps.
My point is this : why are YOU celebrating Christmas the way YOU are? Do you know? Is it traditions handed down that you engage in because it's fun? Is it because you have actually thought through what would be most Jesus-loving? Is it something else?
I don't want to shame, guilt, or scare you into changing how you celebrate Christmas (or don't), but I do want to challenge you to think through why you do what you do and for whom.
Now, I think I'll step down off this soap box and eat some gingerbread.
XO,
J
soli deo gloria
No comments:
Post a Comment