Living Christmas

For some reason, my kids and I have had some great conversations lately at Walmart. We sit on a bench while my wife checks out, and subjects just seem to pop up that open the door to some great discussion and teaching opportunities. Why it's happening at Walmart, I have no idea. (Perhaps we're spending too much time there?) Nonetheless, I am grateful for those moments and pray that they are formative in the lives of my children.

Now to my point. The other night, my youngest son and I were having a Walmart conversation when we happened upon the subject of "mean people." I'm not sure how it actually came up - although, in all probability, it somehow related to his older brother - but it led to a discussion on how we respond to those who do not treat us right. We talked about the fact that we are called to be people of love, grace, and kindness, and regardless of what others do, we cannot allow them to keep us from being what we are supposed to be. And, in reality, we will never change anyone by responding with an unloving, combative, or spiteful spirit. As Paul tells us in Romans 12:21, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

I've been thinking about that conversation in light of the Christmas season. Jesus entered this world not with a show of strength and power, not with force and coercion, but in the absolute humility of an infant born in a stable. He did not fight to hold on to His rights or His position, but emptied Himself in a way that is beyond comprehension. And His humble entrance set the tone for His life and ministry on this earth. He did not come to be served, but to serve; He fed the needy and healed the hurting, washed the feet of the undeserving, and forgave those who persecuted Him; He laid down His life to rescue the lost and hopeless. Jesus changed the world, not with demonstrations of worldly power or by fighting fire with fire, but through humility and sacrifice, love and mercy.

As the followers of Jesus, we too often and too easily allow ourselves to be pulled into conflicts of power and self-interest, fighting to defend our rights and our position against those who would oppose us. In the process, we frequently lose our way and neglect our calling. Rather than truly changing the world, we are content with preserving our rights in this world; rather than reflecting the grace of the One who has sent us, we elevate our own defense and winning arguments to the place of priority. The path that Jesus showed us, the one of humility, mercy, and sacrifice, can quickly fall from our sight; the way of loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us is too easily forgotten.

It's interesting, and somewhat ironic, that Christmas itself has become a battleground for some, an argument over our rights and place within the culture. Yet Christmas inherently reminds us that we will not truly change the world by defending our own rights or by fighting like others fight. Jesus came in humility and lived as a servant, effecting change not with the weapons, methods, or attitudes of this world, but by the way of the Cross. May Christmas challenge us once again to follow that same path, trusting that the way of love and grace will indeed make a difference.