Month: December 2009

So I’ve twittered a couple times about Focus on the Family’s annual effort to get upset over retailers who don’t use the word “CHRISTmas” enough. I didn’t think it deserved much publicity. But some of this is so painful to believe is out there…it’s almost entertaining.

Under the “comments” posted for why a particular business might be viewed/boycotted for being “Negative” towards CHRISTmas:

for GAP: “Made 2 purchases at the GAP yesterday and I was wished happy nothing.”

“Very offended by the recent advertisement. How dare they suggest we celebrate what we want?”

for Banana Republic: “Since you are only selling “Holiday Gifts” and I only buy “Christmas Gifts”, there will be no need for me to shop in your store.”

for Best Buy: “Used Christmas music without Christmas words.” (hehe…my favorite)

“I’ve spent my last dollar at Best Buy. …We have to start standing up for what we believe in … Best Buy – you lost a good customer!”

Oh man. For real. Retailers are here to….(drum roll please) MAKE MONEY. It’s unfortunate, I know, but it’s there. It’s precisely the reason God has called us to be a light in the darkness, not a light in a room even dimly lit. We cannot place expectations of Christ-like-ness on those people and entities not transformed by Christ.

If anything, continuing to personify retail locations….perhaps those who have removed the word “Christ” from advertising or who are (gasp) celebrating other religious holidays….should be the stores we frequent the most often, and with the most amount of Love.

As a fan of pacifism, especially lately, I’m excited about spending a week focusing on peace in our home. We definitely live in a world that needs more Christians who stand out among a natural pace of reaction and defense that seeks to prove, establish, or defend one’s position or rights in so many ways. You see it in the 2 and three year old children in my house and the friends they play with. You also see it in the much older grown ups who play with countries and businesses, instead of toys.

In a large sense, seeking to live humbly helps us in our pursuit of peace. Sometimes when we strive to do this, we simply focus on the needs of others. But that may only work so far as others and their needs remain our focus. When we’ve met their needs, or are moved to a new environment, it’s very easy for our attention to shift back to ourselves.

But when, in pursuit of humility, we practice the emptying and letting go of our “selves”….we make room for Christ. We prepare for what is to come, and we live in reality more than ever before. The reality of a God who has created us in His image….a God who’s identity was always to give up Godself and Gods’ rights for us.

Philippians 4:7 tells us that the peace that comes from emptying and letting go of ourselves for the sake of Christ and His reality – brings with it a peace that is beyond understanding. Living from such a peace will lead us to a life that others, and even ourselves at times…do not understand. I pray that my life, and the life of my family, continues to become less understandable….

(knowing full well that it’s BOTH those who are following Christ, AND those who are quite far from what He is about….who may be praying that prayer.)

I remember standing on the edge of a large natural amphitheater, with the Sea of Galilee very close in view. Green rolling hills, birds overhead, and imagining the words of Jesus from the “Sermon on the Mount” being spoken.

Specifically, the “Beatitudes“. I will post those verses at the end of this post, because I think it’s important to think of them, along with these words. It’s important to realize this is not a list of “actions & rewards”, such that we might strive to be (poor in Spirit, mourning, meek, etc.) in order to be Blessed.

Jesus was not speaking these words as a way of “transforming” or even “offering a new or alternate” reality. Jesus was revealing what actually IS reality. He was doing this with his entire life/being/death/resurrection/etc. To live for myself, or for many of the things this world has to offer offers a “false” sense of reality.

In His message to the crowds, He was describing reality in a way most of them had never heard before. He was also telling them what life may be like for those who recognize this reality. It will probably lead you to a place where you find yourself poor in Spirit, mourning, meek, hungry and thirsty for things to be made Right, etc…and if so, “Good!!!”

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely ^F31 on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.