Grace: Take Christ Out of Christmas

December 23, 2011 briank Grace

Today I take a break from Romans study to share a topic that has been on my heart for many years.

The title of today’s post is intentionally rather odd, to make a point. Are you still reading? Good. Christmas is certainly about Christ. But for a decade or so, I’ve seen a growing concern among Christians to “put Christ back into Christmas”. It’s become a loud slogan that starts after Thanksgiving. And as each year passes, it has become more and more disturbing to me. It has become increasingly more difficult to share the gospel because of it.

The CHRISTmas bandwagon often becomes un-graceful, and reminds me of Jesus’ warnings in Scripture, where Jesus warned certain people to not say that he was the Christ, or not to tell about the healing or miracle that just happened. Here is the primary passage I’m referring to:

Mark 1:39-45 “39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. 40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” 41 Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured. 43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 44 “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” 45 Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.”

In the above passage, Jesus heals a man with leprosy out of compassion. Shouldn’t he tell everyone? Shouldn’t he have an “in-your-face” attitude, proclaiming “Jesus healed me!”. No. Not according to Jesus. Jesus said, “See that you don’t tell this to anyone.” Why?

One reason for Jesus’ warning is in verse 45 above. The healed man did not listen to Jesus and talked freely about the news. The result? Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. People still came, but the effectiveness of preaching the gospel was hindered.

Jesus also warned two blind men who were healed. After giving sight to the two blind men, Jesus warned them not to tell others. This was not just a request. It was Jesus’ stern warning.

Matthew 9:30 “…and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.”

Jesus also told Peter and his disciples a similar warning. After Peter’s wonderful confession that Jesus is the Christ, Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.

Matthew 16:20 “Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.”

In Luke’s account of this event, we read that Jesus strictly warned them. It was not just a “please don’t do this”. It was a strict warning (Luke 9:21). I believe it is because Jesus wanted people to come to their own conclusion about him, rather than just believing because someone told them to. As soon as people heard the word “Messiah” or “Christ”, they would conjure up their own ideas. It is similar to us. As soon as people hear the word Christian, they often turn away thinking they are just going to be judged.

I really believe the gospel of Jesus is proclaimed most effectively when we don’t say we are Christians, but when we demonstrate that we are Christians. This is why I normally don’t tell people I’m a Christian (unless they inquire more). It is why I don’t insist that we “celebrate Christ or die” during Christmas.

The greatest compliment I ever received was during my pizza delivery days. At first, I preached the gospel to everyone as I delivered pizzas with a “faith on my sleeve” attitude. I put slogans on the back of my car and listened to Christian rock music really loud. But it was not very effective. People reacted poorly to such things. Twice people left hate letters on my car in response to my Christian slogans. So eventually I stopped doing those things and did my best to demonstrate faith, hope and love. I stopped telling people I was a Christian, and started focusing on learning what it means to live as a Christian. That was much more effective. Several Muslim students who also delivered pizza began staying after their shift to talk to me and ask questions about why I was different. I then got to spend hours discussing Christ’s love and hope with them, as willing listeners. One delivery driver once shouted out (after arguing with someone else who was telling him he was going to hell)– “Well Brian is a Christian, but he’s my friend!”

So I say, take Christ out of Christmas, and put in compassion. Live as people of grace. Does your faith shine so brightly in the way you live that people see something different, something good, something Christ-like?