Contra Mundum

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:45:27 -0500

Something much deeper than political correctness is at work in our society that has led to the “happy holidays” triteness. As I verbally duke it out with clerks in retail stores with a clear “Merry Christmas,” I turn and walk away with the question in my mind…how did we get here?

I go back to when I was 16 and attending a youth group with some of my friends at a local mainline church. I remember being assigned a part in a poorly planned manger scene, as someone glibly read the account of the birth of Christ. Afterwards, glowing adult congregants patted us on the back and thanked us for making their Christmas more meaningful. I remember thinking…Why?

I am beginning to see some of what was behind my question. The adults had a framework for meaning derived from our ill prepared little play. They had been taught who Christ was and why He came. I (and likely my friends) had not been taught such things. We were simply getting some of the basic details of the story. Unlike the adults, we had no dots to connect the details of the story to.

Today, we live in an era when we (most poignantly our children and young people) are being taught that there are multiple other equally valid ways to celebrate the “holidays.” Christmas, we are told, is one expression of the “spirit of the season.”(i.e be nice, help the less fortunate, give gifts…). It can almost appear that the true meaning of Christmas and Christianity for that matter is almost lost. I have to admit that at times I grow deeply discouraged by what I see and hear. However, I give thanks that the Word of God is an anchor to my soul or I would drift away into the sea of disillusionment.

The Word of God reminds us of such things as John 1:5 “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (ESV) Christ, who is the “Light of the world” will not be overcome by the darkness that surrounds us. He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He is not and will not be defeated. Though I sometimes think that I hear the call for retreat, I am awakened by the clarion call of His Word that He has overcome the world.

In the early 4th century, things looked dark and gloomy for the Church of Jesus Christ. Doctrinal heresy and misleading teaching was rampant. Toleration for such was seemingly about to destroy the work of the Church. Then, there emerged a man named Athanasius. “Athanasius stood contra mundum ("against the world") in defense of the biblical doctrine of Christ.” I reread some of his work last week in preparation for the message on the Incarnation. Please go to the following link to read for yourself this classic piece of Christian literature. http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/history/ath-inc.htm

Brothers and Sisters, as the future unfolds around us it will not be enough for us to sentimentally remind ourselves of what we already know. Nor can we idly sit on the sidelines as the meaning of the foundations of our faith are maligned, rewritten, and done away with. We must go further in understanding why we celebrate Christmas and pass along the Truth to the next generation. The Lord will protect and sustain His Church. The means that He always uses is the knowledge, proclamation, and application of His Word. In so doing, we will make sure that we are putting the dots on the page so that the picture can emerge as the story is told.

Giving with Meaning

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:14:11 -0500

Today, I received an email from a couple who came out of Parkwood and are now serving in an undisclosed area of the world. They have only been on the field a few months and are about to experience their first Christmas away from home and family. The email literally moved me to tears as they explained how we are joining them in what they are doing in very real ways. With their permission, I have copied the email below for you to read.

Please join me in praying for what the LORD would have us to give this Sunday to support men and women like these who are serving all over the world. As 3 John 8 states “Therefore, we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth.”

I am blessed to serve with you,
Pastor Jeff

Dear Family,

We know that this Sunday, you will place upon the altar a sacrificial gift in faith and obedience to what the Lord has asked you to give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Now that we are overseas… this gift means more to us than it ever has before! We have always given in years past; but never realized practically the impact our gift to the offering truly made. So, we wanted to tell you how your love and support this Sunday will help our family…

“Because You Will Give”

We have a place to sleep at night. You will pay for our apartment rent, water, gas, and electricity.

We have food to eat. We can go to the store and get bread and milk. We can go to the market and buy fruit and vegetables. We can even find “special” foods for Alex from time to time that put a smile on his face! Of course, some things don’t change around the world… he loves pizza J

We were able to find the medicine Rachel needed the first week we were here. Alex needed a cream for his skin that you helped buy. We can go to the doctor if we are sick. As you give, we don’t have to worry about prescriptions or co-pays. Our medical costs are paid for 100% through this offering.

We can send Alex to a nice school. You help pay for his teacher, uniforms, books and transportation to and from school. He is growing and learning each day and loves his school! Alex wants his teacher and friends to know Jesus. We have been asking the Lord to use Alex in his school over this Christmas season and throughout the rest of the school year.

We have been able to pay for a language tutor and get school supplies to study. We go out into the community on a regular basis to improve in our language and learn from the culture. You help pay for that transportation. We study… and study some more! All of this is building upon a foundation where we will one day be able to have a conversation with a Muslim. We hope to be at a point next year, to learn our testimonies and stories from the Word in Arabic to share with those He will place in our lives. It is a dark world here. We are looking forward to the day when He will allow His Light to pierce this darkness around us!

We will celebrate our first Christmas overseas! We will have the joy of spending Christmas with three other families here. Through your giving, please remember that you will help us have a meal to share and gifts to give our children. We have grown to love these that we now share our joys and burdens with and have needed their help in many ways. So, as you love and support us, you also love on those that are around us!

I know this may all seem trivial… like everyday stuff to you; but now that we live here, we are completely dependent upon you to give for us to stay. So, don’t think just because you are across the ocean, you don’t have a vital role in what we do here. Through your giving and your prayers, you are very much apart of the work that is being done here! We think about you everyday and praise Him that we come from a gathering who loves the Lord and wants to see His Name spread throughout the world! May we all rejoice on that day!!

So, Sunday… as you walk to the altar, remember to praise the Glorious One who has shown us grace and mercy through His love this year! We have an opportunity to give back a small portion of the provision He has made for our families. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts; but our words seem so little compared to the joy our Father will have in His heart when you stand before Him and have served Him with your lives, with your hearts, and with your offerings!

May you be blessed this Christmas season!
We will miss being there and worshipping along side you!
We Love You,
Franklin, Rachel and Alex