Tuesday, January 22, 2008

The Church's Lack of Leadership at Christmas

Our public in general, largely ignore the churches. We have many reasons to do so, one being their general lack of leadership in anything that is relevant. We are usually ahead of the churches when it comes to ethics and spiritual understanding. As an example I bring up the fact that most people here, religious or not, know that Christmas is much too materialistic; we spend far too much money and not enough time at Christmas. The huge gap between the reality and the hope of the season causes it to be the most stressful event of the year. The rate of suicide and mental illness peaks at this time. And we all know this. Every year there are numerous polls that confirm this knowledge and people individually vow to break the trend to evaluate the Christmas season by the effort/time/expense of gifts. Some people and families agree to donate to the needy or to designated causes instead of the usual swap of stuff. But most people slide back into the commerce induced habit of spending. This is one good example of how difficult it is to change anything important when you are basically alone.

I'm certain that every year, in every pulpit there are many cries of despair at the materialism of Christmas, of how far off the mark our society has "strayed" from the mark we Christians claim as our own. But what are the churches doing about it except weeping privately and wringing their collective hands? There are obviously many "unchurched" who agree with them and would like to be affective in changing what, they know, from various points of view, is a wrong and damaging trend. How difficult would it be for churches to organize a multi denominational and cross cultural campaign to de-commercialize Christmas? With a little publicity, (it would certainly be newsworthy), and word-of-mouth circulation, a movement like this would be a very real help to our culture and a sign that maybe there's something to value in organized Christianity after all. All you would need to do is provide meeting places in each neighborhood, a few designated people (each from a different church), and a few examples of faithful giving/causes to support. Treat it like an AA meeting, perhaps, encouraging people to share how crazy the Christmas season had become for them and to explore alternatives together.

No "evangelism" please, churches. You see, we have no reason to believe your words. We need to see some action, some proof that YOU believe your words. Churches, we need you to become real to us, to be TRUTH to us not mere story, not something that once was. So don't keep Jesus and God's WORD in the manger or on some hillside. Figure out some ways that you can BECOME the story to and for us! Churches, you are there. Let us hear from you in our time of need. In your time of crisis. Listen to us, the people around you. We are believers in the HOLY and in God's LOVE but we don't see it in what you are doing. In this season of Christmas when we know how crazy things have become PLEASE come to us with something more than manger scenes, teas, bazaars and choir concerts! Wake up to your blindness and deafness in order to see, hear and DO.

Step 10: A Song for All Seasons

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