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Attempts at Honesty

Reflections on the interplay of the Bible and Culture

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Putting Christ in Christmas? – Do we really need to fight that battle?

Posted on December 29, 2011 Written by Mark McIntyre 1 Comment

Stained GlassWhile I get the sentiment behind the “put Christ in Christmas” rhetoric, to me some of it seems a little bit misguided. Putting Christ in Christmas is a little like trying to put the roar into the lion. The roar is an inseparable part of the lion just as Christ is an inseparable part of Christmas. Without Christ there is no Christmas.

Does it really take away from the meaning of Christmas to have someone say “Happy Holidays?” Does it really make a difference in his life if an atheist or an agnostic wishes me a Merry Christmas? Will the atheist or I be helped or harmed one way or the other?

Instead of attempting a superficial putting of Christ back in Christmas, we should be working to get Christ in our neighbors. I don’t think that arguing over trivialities will help us in this endeavor. How about instead of legal battles over nativity scenes we start living out the gospel? Instead of making a big deal out of saying “Merry Christmas” instead of “Happy Holidays” maybe we should  spend the time to get to know the person who is greeting us. People will find ways of negating our rhetoric, but they will not find a way to repel our love, if we have the heart to love.

I’m not saying that we should remain silent. I am saying that we need to choose our battles wisely. How much more effective would it be if we shared the meaning of Christmas one-on-one with our neighbors or co-workers? We have a great story to tell about a Savior who can change hearts. Rather than forcing opponents of Christianity into acknowledging public religious displays or traditional greetings, it seems preferable to me to present the love of Jesus to them.

I have found that my ability to change my own thoughts and behavior is limited. I certainly cannot argue or force anyone else into real change. So why the fuss about making people acknowledge something that they are unwilling to embrace?

CandleChristianity will not be revitalized in this country through the courts. Christianity will not be revitalized by marketing campaigns, legislation or catchy greetings. Christianity will be revitalized when, and only when, we as believers take our call to make disciples seriously. When we begin living as though Jesus can change lives, when our own lives demonstrate that change and when we learn to articulate the message of the Gospel clearly then we will see the revitalization process begin.

I am reminded of a statement I first heard from Chuck Colson, “its better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” If we live in such a way that the light of Jesus and the Gospel shine through, then real change will come.

What do you think?

Filed Under: Christianity and Culture Tagged With: Christ, Christianity, Christmas, God, Jesus

Jesus does not agree with this church marquee . . .

Posted on November 20, 2011 Written by Mark McIntyre 1 Comment

A friend of mine, @jimworth, tweeted a link to this picture:

Jesus Doesn't Agree

The problem with this statement is that Jesus doesn’t agree. In John 14:6, Jesus is recorded as saying, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Jesus made a definitive statement that only those that believe and trust in himself will get to Heaven. This is an exclusive claim. You must choose to accept this as true or declare it to be false, there is no middle ground. It can’t be “sorta” true. Jesus won’t allow you to think of him as just another spiritually enlightened man. He is not just another prophet. He is the way or he is not the way.

If Jesus is correct in his statement, then all other religions are false and Christianity is the only true religion.

If Jesus is wrong and there are many ways to get to Heaven, then Jesus is irrelevant and Christianity is a waste of time. If Christianity is just a bunch or rules or moral principles, then it has very little to offer.

But if Jesus is correct, and Christianity is true, then we are offered a way of being in right relationship with God. Jesus is that way.

You can’t have it both ways. You cannot worship Jesus and declare other religions to be equally true. You have to make a choice. Jesus demands that choice.

What this church presents may be new but it is definitely not Christianity.

Filed Under: Christianity and Culture Tagged With: Christ, Christian, Christianity, God, Heaven, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Religion, Religion and Spirituality

Paths of Righteousness for His Name’s Sake

Posted on September 18, 2011 Written by Mark McIntyre 3 Comments

Paths of RighteousnessIn Psalm 23:3, King David writes, “he leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”

While there is benefit to me in walking a path of righteousness, my benefit is not the primary purpose of God’s leading me. David points to God’s reputation and God’s purpose as the reason for the leading.

This is freeing and challenging at the same time. It is freeing because I am not responsible for the outcome, I am only responsible to go where I am lead. God will take care of the rest.

This thought is challenging because the consequences of not following are great. Not that I can thwart God’s plan by being disobedient, but I will miss out on the blessing of being used by God if I do not follow.

I am writing this post from a men’s retreat where the speaker shared about some personal tragedies in his life. When he was going through the tragedy, he had no idea how that experience would be used by God in the future. With hindsight, the speaker was able to share how those experiences prepared him to be used to touch the lives of others who had experienced a similar loss.

Somehow I need to keep in mind that both the good and the bad experiences are allowed into my life by God for his purpose and his glory. God or bad, the experience should cause God’s name to be glorified. This will keep me from being overinflated by the good things and from being decimated by the bad.

Soli deo gloria

Filed Under: Bible Reflection Tagged With: Christ, Christianity, David, Glory, God, Jesus, psalm, Righteousness

Herod was conflicted about John the Baptist

Posted on August 14, 2011 Written by Mark McIntyre 3 Comments

Mark 6:20 is an interesting verse. The best manuscripts of this verse tell us that Herod was conflicted about what to do with John the Baptist. Herod’s wife, Herodias, wanted John dead, but Herod feared John and was at the same time intrigued and confused by John. (Note that the KJV and NKJV tell us that Herod “did many things” rather than “he was perplexed,” There is strong manuscript evidence for the latter reading and this reading makes more sense in the context.)

To fulfill the mission of the church to make disciples, the church will interact with those who know nothing about God, the Bible or Jesus Christ. When we do, there will be times when, like Herod, they will be perplexed by the message, but hopefully drawn to it at the same time.

There is quote that has been attributed to St. Francis of Assisi which says, “preach the gospel always, when necessary, use words.” There is something to this, we are called to live in such a way as to make the gospel attractive to those who have not yet heard it. Yet we also know that living out the gospel is only the means to earning the credibility to share the gospel in words.There was something about John the Baptist the Herod feared and liked at the same time. John earned the right to be heard by Herod by the integrity by which he lived.

That being said, John the Baptist did in fact use words. He preached an unequivocal message. He did not compromise his message for anyone, not even King Herod. We should do the same despite the pressure from outside, and sadly, inside the church to tailor the message to our post-Christian, post-modern society. The world needs to hear the straight truth about their need for a savior and that there is “one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,” (1 Timothy 2:5)

At the same time, we should not be dismayed if the world, like Herod, is perplexed by our message. The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 2:14 that those who are not in relationship with Jesus cannot understand spiritual truth. So we should not be dismayed.

On the other hand, Paul also tells us in Romans 10:17 that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” Therefore, we need to preach knowing that some will be perplexed by the message, yet hopeful that God will use the preaching to bring salvation and enlightenment to those who hear the message.

If we are faithful in accurately conveying the message of the gospel, God is able to break through whatever perplexity the hearer has. It is not our prerogative to make it more palatable. Dilution of the medicine renders it ineffective in curing the disease.

What do you think about this? Do you agree?

Filed Under: Bible Reflection Tagged With: Christ, Gospel, Herod, Jesus, message

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