Christmas Tears

Christmas Tears

Last Sunday our church participated in a Christmas Cantata with two other churches of different denominations. It was a wonderful evening and it was quite exhilarating to hear the choirs of three churches joining to sing the Hallelujah Chorus at the end. I later learned that the pastor of one of the churches was asked to offer a prayer during the service but declined to participate. His inference was that he just didn’t participate in services in other churches.

This incident reminded me of a conversation I had with a colleague several years ago. He and his wife co-pastor a congregation and were preparing to host a Thanksgiving Eve service for several churches in the area. A neighboring pastor wrote to say he would not be participating and then went on for two pages explaining why he thought it was wrong for a woman to be a pastor.

Maybe this is why someone once observed that Christians are both the greatest evidence for and the greatest detractors against the Christian faith. Brother Pogo got it right: “I have met the enemy and he is us.”

During this Advent & Christmas season we affirm the extravagant generosity of God. God sent Jesus to be born of a woman, so he could be crucified by men, so he could save sinners like us. John the Gospel writer said ““For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NLT – emphasis mine) It is so tragic that in the face of such inclusive grace those who claim to know God the best zealously find ways to be exclusive.

The scriptures say Jesus wept. I wonder if God doesn’t look upon all of the pomp and circumstance that is put into Christmas celebrations by people that just don’t get it – and shed Christmas tears for those that are so close, yet so far.