Right, so, i’ve been thinking about a few things, but I think in order for my thoughts to make sense, I need to lay down a little bit of history first, and clarify a few points.
The history: a couple of days ago, Paul and I decided that we wouldn’t be celebrating Christmas in our house. The points to clarify are: I am not trying to stop anyone else from celebrating Christmas; the thoughts below are based around my thoughts over the last few days and aren’t intended to be arguments for/against Christmas; Paul and I spent a long time thinking and praying about this and didn’t enter into it because we thought it would sound holier-than-thou… I promise you I really don’t want to sound like that at all!
Anyhow. So the whole issue has got me to thinking about my Christian life, and my wordly life. Giving up Christmas was actually one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make, dispite the fact that I know it’s something God wanted me to do. Why is that? It’s because it’s something I genuinely love and enjoy. It’s not just like some take-it-or-leave-it thing that I’ve felt mildly challenged over and decided yeah, maybe I could live without that. It’s actually a cultural thing that has been integral to my life whilst growing up. It’s a time that has been encouraged and built up on over the years. Also, it’s a decision that affects not only me, but my family and friends as well. Meaning that laying this down was a real sacrifice.
But how easy do we have it here in the West? Yes, my decision affected my family. But did I get shunned from my family for making it? Am I going to get thrown in prison, or rejected from the society I once lived in? And maybe I’m losing something I enjoyed and loved, but I’m not losing any part of my well-being, of my body, or even my life. So if people in China, Africa and other parts of the world can respond to God’s call on their lives even in extreme circumstances like that, how much more should I be able to God’s call on mine to give up some jollyfying in the form of a pagan-based festival?
It boils down, to me, how extreme am I about God, and truly following the lifestyle He has set for me? And what has creeped into my life that is really and truly unhelpful, or even harmful, that I don’t even give a second thought? Am I willing to step outside of my cultural norm, maybe even be ostracised for it, in order to live a fuller and more meaningful life in Jesus? Or do I want to sit still, not rocking the boat, and agree with everyone in order to keep everyone happy?
Rocking the boat really is much harder.
