Anyone tired yet of the so-called culture wars? I am.
Does Jesus really care whether we SAY Merry Christmas? I suspect what Jesus wants is for us to LIVE Merry Christmas.
Not everyone in America celebrates Christmas. Everyone (pretty much) does celebrate Thanksgiving and the New Year, and there happen to be some other miscellaneous holidays that fall in between around this time of year in addition to Christmas. So yes, although I am a follower of Jesus, I am perfectly fine with a friendly "Happy Holidays" from the store clerk. It is respectful of our diversity as a nation.
No one actually knows when Jesus was born. This time of year was a pagan holiday of the winter solstice, from which we get all kinds of traditions that we love, such as trees, holly and evergreen decorations, feasts, gift exchanges, etc. The date December 25, was selected by the Catholic Church over 300 years after Jesus' death and resurrection and was meant to transform a pagan tradition into a Christian celebration. (see http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Who_invented_Christmas)
All that being said, Christmas is a wonderful holiday and I celebrate and love the meaning and joy of Jesus' birth. I also, by the way, like the meaning of Chanukah and the lamps that did not go out. What a great metaphor for being the light in the darkness and of good triumphing over evil!
Both these celebrations remind us of God's unconditional love and the hope, peace and light that is meant to be in the world. In addition, Jesus birth account SPECIFICALLY talks about Jesus being sent to the poor. Consider these passages from the Magnificat -- Mary's response to being selected to birth Jesus:
He has shown strength with his arm
and has scattered the proud in their conceit,
Casting down the mighty from their thrones
and lifting up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
So, back to my opening premise that what Jesus really wants for Christmas is for us to LIVE a Merry Christmas, not to just say it. What would this look like? Our pastor, John Edgar, said look to Matthew 25 for Jesus' gift wish list: Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned. Help the LEAST OF THESE and you will give Jesus a great birthday gift.
How many more people might consider following Jesus if we just stopped talking about it and actually showed it? I know so many people who are so utterly turned off by Christianity and Christians (often with good reason) that they cannot even have ears to hear any more. Billboards telling people they will burn in hell do nothing but discourage people from really finding the love of God.
So, this Christmas I encourage everyone to say "Happy Holidays" and live "Merry Christmas" by helping someone in poverty, giving a toy to a child in need, visiting someone in the hospital, listening to someone who is struggling, cleaning the house of someone who is ill, making a donation to charity, volunteering time, cheerfully paying our taxes (which often help those in need!), and, in general, thinking of some way to say Merry Christmas with our hearts, not our lips. Maybe by doing so we will better show the love of Christ and invite someone into a relationship with Him.
Happy Holidays!
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Showing posts with label christian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label christian. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Monday, March 1, 2010
Blood Money
Blood Money
Dorothy (not her real name) is an attractive African-American woman who has been attending the United Methodist Church for All People for awhile now. She is petite and always dresses impeccably. She has volunteered for many things and I was especially grateful that she helped me decorate and set up for a recent event. She is sweet and seems very intelligent and a little vulnerable.
I was absolutely shocked to learn that she is homeless and is currently living in a shelter. Our stereotypes are very disabling because they make us think that homelessness is only a problem for certain “types” of people – those with addictions, mental illness and so forth. Our image is of dirty, smelly people who have no interest in taking care of themselves. It is easy to classify these folks as “chronic” homeless folks who don’t need or want help, or who are impossible to really help. Dorothy is one of many people who run quite counter to this stereotype. She is meticulous about her appearance and clearly would like to not be homeless.
I do not know the details of Dorothy’s situation but I was even more stunned when Pastor John mentioned almost in passing that she sells plasma (meaning, really, that she sells her blood) in order to try to get by, but she’s, of course, limited in how often she can do this. This isn’t the first time I’ve known that people who are marginalized often sell their blood, but for some reason more than ever I found this so totally unconscionable that it has stayed with me. Each time I see Dorothy I remember this comment and I’m outraged.
Ever see the bumper sticker “If you aren’t outraged, you aren’t paying attention.”? Well, we should all be paying more attention. Here in the world’s richest country, people across our nation will sell their blood tomorrow in order to buy the food they need, pay for bus tickets, put gas in their car, pay for prescriptions, pay the rent or the electric bill, and, yes, in case you are wondering, sometimes to pay for liquor. Probably they don’t make enough selling their blood to buy illegal drugs, but maybe that too.
Many of them are actually employed but don’t make enough to get by. Many are mentally ill. Many are veterans. Many are parents.
A member of our congregation now has over 80 days of sobriety. He has a family and has had an alcohol problem for many years. He is going through some bad physical withdrawal and a $60 shot would help him through the process, but he can’t afford it so he struggles through without it, risking his recovery.
Someone else has a knee that troubles him so much you can see he’s in constant pain. He won’t take care of it – it will cost too much money and he can’t afford it.
A young woman I know, a single parent with two children, recently lost her minimum wage job because she was out sick too often with chronic kidney infections that had her hospitalized. She’s unemployed again and in danger of losing her kids, because she can’t make a steady income.
The daughter of another member has a job but she has to have a car to get there. There is no bus service. She doesn’t make enough for car payments and gas and insurance. So she risks her license and car by driving without insurance.
Have some of these people made their own bed? You betcha. Are they getting what they “deserve”? Oh, in many cases, probably yes.
I guess the question is whether we believe in second chances, forgiveness and compassion. I guess the question I ask myself is “Do I get what I deserve?” or have I had, in my life, many second chances, forgiveness from others around me, and lucky breaks – starting with the circumstances of my birth, my parents, my race and my class.
I'm blessed and hope you are as well.
Dorothy (not her real name) is an attractive African-American woman who has been attending the United Methodist Church for All People for awhile now. She is petite and always dresses impeccably. She has volunteered for many things and I was especially grateful that she helped me decorate and set up for a recent event. She is sweet and seems very intelligent and a little vulnerable.
I was absolutely shocked to learn that she is homeless and is currently living in a shelter. Our stereotypes are very disabling because they make us think that homelessness is only a problem for certain “types” of people – those with addictions, mental illness and so forth. Our image is of dirty, smelly people who have no interest in taking care of themselves. It is easy to classify these folks as “chronic” homeless folks who don’t need or want help, or who are impossible to really help. Dorothy is one of many people who run quite counter to this stereotype. She is meticulous about her appearance and clearly would like to not be homeless.
I do not know the details of Dorothy’s situation but I was even more stunned when Pastor John mentioned almost in passing that she sells plasma (meaning, really, that she sells her blood) in order to try to get by, but she’s, of course, limited in how often she can do this. This isn’t the first time I’ve known that people who are marginalized often sell their blood, but for some reason more than ever I found this so totally unconscionable that it has stayed with me. Each time I see Dorothy I remember this comment and I’m outraged.
Ever see the bumper sticker “If you aren’t outraged, you aren’t paying attention.”? Well, we should all be paying more attention. Here in the world’s richest country, people across our nation will sell their blood tomorrow in order to buy the food they need, pay for bus tickets, put gas in their car, pay for prescriptions, pay the rent or the electric bill, and, yes, in case you are wondering, sometimes to pay for liquor. Probably they don’t make enough selling their blood to buy illegal drugs, but maybe that too.
Many of them are actually employed but don’t make enough to get by. Many are mentally ill. Many are veterans. Many are parents.
A member of our congregation now has over 80 days of sobriety. He has a family and has had an alcohol problem for many years. He is going through some bad physical withdrawal and a $60 shot would help him through the process, but he can’t afford it so he struggles through without it, risking his recovery.
Someone else has a knee that troubles him so much you can see he’s in constant pain. He won’t take care of it – it will cost too much money and he can’t afford it.
A young woman I know, a single parent with two children, recently lost her minimum wage job because she was out sick too often with chronic kidney infections that had her hospitalized. She’s unemployed again and in danger of losing her kids, because she can’t make a steady income.
The daughter of another member has a job but she has to have a car to get there. There is no bus service. She doesn’t make enough for car payments and gas and insurance. So she risks her license and car by driving without insurance.
Have some of these people made their own bed? You betcha. Are they getting what they “deserve”? Oh, in many cases, probably yes.
I guess the question is whether we believe in second chances, forgiveness and compassion. I guess the question I ask myself is “Do I get what I deserve?” or have I had, in my life, many second chances, forgiveness from others around me, and lucky breaks – starting with the circumstances of my birth, my parents, my race and my class.
I'm blessed and hope you are as well.
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