I went to a church some time ago that had a plaque over the exit that read something like, "Now entering the mission field." I got it. We're supposed to witness to our neighbors. Sure. But witnessing in the United States is different than taking the Gospel to, say, tribes who have never heard. Americans are largely ... inoculated. They've gotten a dose of the truth and become immune, if you will. But ... that was then.
Every year our church puts on this "Christmas Block Party." They fill the whole property with ... stuff ... Nativity plays, concerts, merchandise from artisans, train rides, a petting zoo ... oh, and cookies. Lots and lots of cookies. And they invite the community. Last year, they went to the guy at the petting zoo and asked to borrow a sheep for the Nativity play. "What's a Nativity play?" he asked. It was surprising that someone in America wouldn't know what a Nativity play was. But .. he hadn't a clue.
We are commanded to share the Gospel (Mark 16:15). We are commanded to make disciples (Matt 28:19). The job is big ... huge. And it's not "out there." It's next door. Often it's in our own homes. It's bigger than we can handle. So ... how do we manage this? Jesus prefaced His command to make disciples with an important statement. "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth" (Matt 28:18). Thus, we have the authority who is telling us to do it. He ends the command with another critical piece. "I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matt 28:20). That's how we manage this monumental task. We follow His command and understand He is always with us. It's not just us. It's not our efforts. It's His work. And it is all around us.
8 comments:
Regarding the petting zoo guy who was unfamiliar with “a Nativity play,” two possible (and polar opposite) explanations came to mind: Either he had been to that point completely unexposed to traditional church activities (it is not implausible, especially if he were from, say, a rural/agricultural or secular/academic background or a Jehovah’s Witness or Jewish, Muslim, etc.), or conversely, he has been associated with a truly biblical faith that didn’t lend itself to involvement in a false narrative of Jesus’ birth. (You have posted about such “Christmas myths” quite a bit, which I am always glad to see.) Or perhaps he has a Moravian background (i.e. Bethlehem, PA, near where I live) and knows it as a Christmas Putz (not likely).
On a humorous note, I offer this “Tom Swifty”: “What’s a Nativity play?” he asked sheepishly. :-D
The increasing ignorance about Christianity in the West is a sign that we've given up on our command.
I like the humorous note.
I'm a little surprised you consider the notion that Mary and Joseph had Jesus laid in a manger a "false narrative," but ... (that's my "humorous note").
Almost all Christians know that Jesus was born of a virgin and was born in Bethlehem (not PA) and most Americans USED TO know it, believers or not. I think the young man was of Arab or Persian descent and possibly, therefore, of Muslim background.
David, you make a good point. I was thinking that I hope and pray that the petting zoo guy will hear the Gospel at some point during that “Christmas Block Party.”
Seems like I guessed right on the Muslim background.
The “false narrative” I was thinking of was the scene usually depicted in Nativity displays, creches, putzes, etc., with a tiny, wide-open wooden structure set up out in the countryside, which was supposedly where a handful of livestock would safely shelter overnight. The typical scene includes a few random farm animals, a feeding trough holding Baby Jesus, shepherds, perhaps an angel, as well as the super-speedy Magi. Other than the detail of laying Jesus in a manger that you mentioned, the narrative would be false. Perhaps some “Nativity plays” present the Gospel account of Jesus’ birth more accurately--and hopefully yours does--but the typical Nativity scenes (especially the very elaborate ones) are inaccurate.
Trust me, Lorna, he heard the Gospel that night ... multiple times.
Oh, yes, I see that was last year (I missed that). Wonderful!
At the church we're at, that was a "soft pitch." Lots of believers there ready to share with an open invitation to share like that. "No, tell me what the Nativity is." Oh, yeah ... he heard it.
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