Dec 17th - To Christmas or not to Christmas

I was in a charity shop yesterday and I got talking to the guy behind the counter.  He was in pain and told me he had a hernia but that he couldn't go to the doctor because he was due to go to India and Pakistan in January and was afraid the doc would tell him he shouldn't travel.   I surmised that his trip would be something church related and so I gave him a clue that I was a Christian and sure enough we were soon deep in conversation about........ Christmas.

He said he didnt ' do ' Christmas.  He hated the commercialism, the debt the drinking and the fact that Jan and Feb are the busiest months in abortion clinics.  He said that as a Christian every day should be Christmas and that we should be being salt and light out in the world, not giving out mince pies and mulled wine at carol services in an attempt to attract people in to church.  I didn't disagree with anything he said.   But the way he said it was quite....... forceful.   I had to leave the shops as my parking meter was running out - and I have to confess I was quite glad to have the excuse to go as I felt that the conversation could easily have started to be uncomfortable.

Only after Id left did I realise that we had had quite a serious and animated discussion about the merits or otherwise of celebrating Christmas and I had not actually offered to pray for him about the hernia which was causing him considerable pain.

There is a lesson in that I think.

I'm pretty sure that the kingdom of God is not much or quickly advanced by debate and discussion and arguments over theological niceities.  In fact it is one of the things which ' the world' both despises and doesn't understand about the church.   Why can't we agree with each other and why are we always arguing over points of doctrine?     Jesus didnt spent all that much time talking theology - He spent much more time doing.  Doing miracles and healings and deliverance.  Hanging out with sinners and women and foreigners.  Going to parties and changing water into wine.    Had I offered to pray with the shop guy first I think the conversation would have gone in a whole other direction.   Hey ho.  30 years a Christian and still missing more opportunities than I take 😊

I know we need to always be ready to answer for our faith - but perhaps sometimes the answer we have for people should be more in our actions and less in our words.   The world is weary with words.   What it needs is a demonstration of the kingdom's power and love.

Guess that starts with me.

And you.