Celebrate Good Times, Come On!
I certainly hope you sang the title as you read it because that way I won’t feel so silly about singing it myself. The idea for this week that is sticking with me is, celebration. We celebrate everything from kindergarten graduations to our teams latest victory over the Dolphins. Very often it seems that I get excited over trivial celebrations, and then I find myself not truly celebrating when it matters. The idea of celebration is that something incredible has happened and we need some way to show our joy. That is what a celebration is. That being the case, our Christmas celebration should be unparalleled. This is the time of year when we celebrate the birth of our Savior, our victory over death, changing the address of our eternal destination, and the very reason we are alive. Yet, when I look at my own Christmas celebration thus far, it has been lackluster at best. Why does a lost world get more excited about Christmas than we do? Granted they are in a buzz over the latest toys or gadgets or the wild and crazy office party, but at least they are excited. As I sat in church this past Sunday I sadly saw little excitement. I saw formality and tradition but not excitement. Even more convicting as I look in the mirror I see much of the same. This lesson points us in a direction of celebrating properly. I want to hear from you. How are things going for you right now? What does your celebration look like? What should it look like? What can you do to glorify God in your celebration of the birth of His Son? Spend some time this week really examining your celebration. What would an outsider think about the One you are celebrating just judging the way you are celebrating?
There have been 2 replies so far
I heard a radio guy explain our collective burnout as an emotional bowl. We only have so much emotion at any given period of time, as we empty that bowl out we become emotionally drained. Christmas, Easter, New Years, Columbus Day, July 4th, etc. all start to blend together as one long game of whats the next holiday. Our Churches do a good job of this as well with Vacation Bible school, Fall Festivals, Judgement Houses, Thanksgiving Day celebrations, Singing Christmas Trees, Childrens and Adult Choir specials, Revivals, etc. When you add the two together you have a bunch of emotionally drained Christians that can’t get excited about anything because they lack the energy to do it.
The outsider looks at the Christian and probably says to himself, “Wow, these guys are busy, but they aren’t any different from normal folks.” The challenge is how do we do things that get the attention of community of non-believers to want to become believers. We have enough programs, “but the workers are few….” (Luke 10:2 NIV). Sadly in our churches today the 20/80 rule applies. 20% do almost all of the work, while the rest enjoy the labor. I don’t know if it has always been this way or it will always be this way, but it sure does explain it.
My family and I are planning on celebrating Christmas eve as a silent night, probably reading the Christmas story before bed. In the morning there will be gifts under the tree for my two kids and then going to Grandma’s house for dinner later that day and we’ll probably sing happy birthday Jesus when the deserts are brought out. Like Joseph, I will glad to have my family all around me celebrating the birth of a Savior.
So let me ask you. What can we do to bring more workers to the field to ease the burrden of the faithful ones already carrying the load, so they too can have time to celebrate?
1 | Tofu
Wednesday, December 19, 2007, at 9:55pm
Sorry, Tofu, no easy quick answers for your question. I’m afraid it takes an investment of time to disciple and train new workers. It also requires that those currently in the field must be willing to first share, and then give up their load to fresh new workers. Sometimes, easier said than done, huh?!
Chad, glad to hear I wasn’t the only one with that tune in my head this week! There is “Celebrate, Jesus, Celebrate!” also though…
Just wanted to comment that I think the Lord is really working on me about being more vocal in my witness for Him. The section on Telling really hit home with me. Here’s a couple of “this week on TV” items that I hope to work into our lesson:
This week on The View, Mary J. Blige, when asked to weigh in on the plight of the Spears sisters’ dilemnas hesitated a moment and then said, “No one is telling them the truth…knowing that God love me…that God made me…that He wants what’s best for me…that’s what’s keeping me going.” When asked what caused her to want to change her lifestyle, she credited her husband, and then elaborated, “Seeing that he had people/family that love, love, love him. Seeing something different…and different environment makes you want that something different. I said I want some of that.” Application to the lesson: 1) are we telling people the Truth? 2) What “environment” do people experience when they are around us? Are we showing that Christ is different?
And how about the Next Great American Band? The Clark Brothers, clearly Christian brothers, rocked America and unabashedly gave God the glory for any talent and/or success that they might have. Now, even in you don’t care for their style of music, you cannot deny their exquisite musicianship! Even cynical judges attested to God’s obvious working in their lives. Sincerity radiated through their performances.
Clearly today is ripe for celebration! Immanuel! God is with us and working in the world today! Let’s not miss the adventure and joy!
2 | Sandy B
Sunday, December 23, 2007, at 12:38am
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