Christmas 06
by Mike Rule

The last few days I have been pondering what Christmas would be like without traditions. What would it be like in our churches if we threw out all the traditional ways we celebrate Christ's birth? No more Christmas program, Christmas Eve services, musicals, etc. What about in your personal life? What if you threw out all the traditional ways in which you and your family celebrate the holidays?

I am not against traditions, but the words of Christ came to me as I was pondering this.

Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread. But He answered and said to them, Why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, "Honor your father and mother"; and, "He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him die by death." But you say, Whoever says to his father or mother, Whatever you would gain from me, It is a gift to God; and in no way he honors his father or his mother. And you voided the commandment of God by your tradition. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, "This people draws near to Me with their mouth, and honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. But in vain they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (Matthew 15:1-9 MKJV)

I wonder what Christmas would be like in our churches if we threw out the traditions and came before Jesus to worship in Spirit and Truth. I wonder what it would be like if we dropped our human agendas and came together with hearts wide open before Jesus trusting the Spirit to lead us in celebration. I wonder what it would be like to do this same thing in family life. 

I am not saying we should throw out all traditions. Traditions have their place. But if we really think about it, our traditions most likely began with people who were led by God to do some particular thing. That thing eventually became an end in itself. A few years ago a friend wrote an article in this light:

Presence or Presents?
by Janet Oettgen

When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about him?" Jesus said to him, "What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours? You follow me." (John 21:21, 22)

What is your initial reaction to having someone tell you about great things they are accomplishing, how their prayer for this or that was answered, or the spiritual progress they are making?

Although I'd like to say that I'm always able to say "Praise God" and just be happy for them, I have to admit that sometimes my initial reaction is jealousy - UGHHHHHH! This isn't because I want what they have, nor do I want to do what they are doing. It's because they are getting attention from MY Father.

Perhaps this is where much of the legalism we see today began. One person was being blessed, and others wanted that same kind of blessing. The natural assumption is that to get what they've got, we must do what they are doing. What starts out as "follow-the-leader" soon becomes a legalistic list of what we MUST do to please God and receive His blessings. We lose sight of our purpose to enjoy His presence, and find ourselves looking instead for His "presents"!

It is liberating to realize that His work in each of our lives is as individual as we are. While I'm busy watching what He's doing in someone else's life, I can easily fail to see what He is doing in me!

It doesn't occur to us that He is ALWAYS paying attention to us. We're not in a competition for His attention and there is definitely enough of Him to go around!

(inspired by JZ & her piano!) Ó Copyright Janet Oettgen http://crossspot.net/transformation Permissions granted to use – LCMI 2002

Enjoy the traditions of the season, but don't be afraid to step outside the box and live dangerously. Trust God to lead you and inspire you in the moment to NEW ways of celebration. He might just surprise you with what He is in store for you!

Verses for Reflection

Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone rob you through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And you are complete in Him, who is the Head of all principality and power, (Colossians 2:6-10 MKJV)

He was also saying to them, "You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. "For Moses said, 'HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER'; and, 'HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER, IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH'; but you say, 'If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God),' you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother; thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that." (Mark 7:9-13 NASB)

He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear And will trust in the LORD. (Psalms 40:3 NASB)

But as it is written, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard," nor has it entered into the heart of man, "the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." But God has revealed them to us by His Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:9-10 MKJV)