What would celebrating a universal King that was born in a manger look like? We are nervous defaulting to familiar practices of our culture, decorations, feasting, and gift giving. We know how these have been corrupted. And we are are nervous doing something special, because the subjects of the universal King know that honouring Him can only be a full-time and lifetime pursuit.
The Bible nevertheless makes a big place for celebration and they are celebrations that use the cultural forms of their time and place. Celebration is central for the servants of the King. It re-cements critical events and their significance into our psyche. In that way it helps us be better subjects of the King throughout the year.
So what would celebrating the coming of the universal King to a manger look like? It would have to use the forms of our culture, and it would tell the story of the King's great deeds - how he entered human time and space humbly and purposefully - to bring all things back to the rightful King. And it would lift up the lowly (Lk 1:52).
Essential to the reign of the King is the righting of human imbalances. Those who are left out are to be included (Lk 2:29-32). Those who are poor find new resources (Lk 1:53). These values challenge our culture. Over all our celebration they pleas restraint from the wastefulness and self-indulgence and we are so accustomed to. Most of all they challenge our practice of gift giving.
It is in giving gifts that we most easily forget the poor (Gal 3:10). It is too easy to give generously to those we know will give generously to us (Lk 6:34). This is not really generosity at all! Living in a world where material things are scarce for so many we really need to direct our giving to those with little first of all, not just at Christmas.
So here are my tips for a holy but Australian Christmas.
Decorations
1. Have them! But focus on telling the story of the King - mangers, stars, magi. Drop the man in the red suit completely. The King is not honored by praise for impostors.
2. Have them but moderate your consumption. Put a limit on how many you will buy or how many you will have. Don't compete with the guy across the road on volume or your message will lose its credibility.
Feasting
1. Do it! Have food that you enjoy and don't usually have. If there is nothing in that category you have been indulgent all year round - try something simple! Put a limit on you consumption. Buy only what you can eat in one day.
2. Share it! Seek out people who are alone on Christmas day and invite them to your celebration.
Gift-giving
1. Make giving to the poor the major focus of you giving. Local and international mission agencies will give you plenty of options. For every gift you give your family, give a gift of equal value to those of lowly estate.
2. Limit your giving. Set a dollar limit together for your extended family. For the over 18's, put the names in a hat and each just buy a gift for one family member. Publish a list of what you would like so the gift isn't wasted.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment