Last night I went out to do a little Christmas shopping at the "Christian" bookstore and maybe pick up a new bible. My Bible is pretty worn out. I ran into several people I knew. However, we were to busy looking for gifts that we did not have much time for long conversation. Folks were busy looking for that special gift for that special someone, or maybe that not so special obligatory someone! Anyhow, I had a good laugh at some of the things that are sold in "Christian" bookstores. There was the "Your best life now" board game. I wonder if Joel Osteen had that in mind when he wrote the book? Then there was the advertisement for the Christian version of "Guitar Hero" called "Guitar praise"! I am not sure what is wrong with a little "Smoke on the water" or "Barracuda", but sure enough there is now a Christian version of "Guitar hero". Why do we Christians do stuff like that? It made me think of another time I was in a Christian bookstore and I saw two Jewish teenagers walk in with very puckish looks on their faces. They had a camera and began to take pictures of themselves holding up little Christian trinkets like "Testamints" and choir robes, I am sure they would have held up the Joel Osteen board game if it had been out back then. They were having a blast making fun of the marketing of Jesus and to be honest I could not blame them. After they had their fun they walked out the door yelling "Happy Hanukkah". That gave away that they were Jewish as well as their yarmulkes in their pockets.
We Christians spend a lot of effort trying to "Christianize" the world we live in rather than serving and influencing the way Jesus himself did. When we do this we miss the point. Jesus did not come as a babe in the manger to make a Christian world, but to give himself for the world:
John 3:17
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. NIV
As Christmas day approaches enjoy the sights, the smells, and the sounds, but let it be a reminder of Christ's main purpose for coming in the first place. He did not come to make a Christian world but to create a new people group who by following him would prepare themselves for real life and for eternity.
Christmas verse to ponder:
Romans 5:17-19
For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. NIV
