I'm not speaking in a legalistic way or trying to justify anyone's avoiding the need to gather. This subject is touchy for many because it's contrary to what we are taught. People are taught to put on a happy face and deal with it. That's not what the Bible says. Read the book of Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon. While there is a time to celebrate and to celebrate well, there is also a time to not do so. Mother's Day, Father's Day, Grandparent's Day, Veterans' Day, and so many other days are bad memories for many. Celebrating them opens up wounds that people thought were healed. They are cause for dissension among families and churches. It's nice to "honor" those in various groups and yet it's not mutually inclusive. Women who are childless have little joy on Mother's Day and yet the church doesn't honor childless women. Father's Day is not necessarily a good thing to celebrate for those who didn't have a father or their father was abusive. Those who are grandparents know the heartache of not being able to be a part of their grandchildren's lives. Yet, there is little solace when other grandparents are a reminder of what they don't have. Veterans are important and essential to remember. We also need to remember how traumatized some are. There is a time to celebrate and a time to not celebrate. The church does a poor job of balancing the many issues that come up with celebrating everyone and everything.
I grew up in a physically abusive home (by my father) and was unprotected by my mother (codependent to my father) and was also sexually abused by my grandfather. I've forgiven them. That doesn't mean the memories have gone away or the trauma erased. So, when we "celebrate" I usually don't. Just wanted to put that out there so you can understand where I am coming from. My past has made me more aware of and sympathetic to those who are in the same boat. I've lost 2 children as babies and still feel the loss. Perhaps you have as well. Those losses take a lifetime to deal with. Maybe you were abused by a church who "celebrated" their wonderfulness. I was and now am very leery of churches in general. Having a pastor aid in the destruction of your marriage will do that to you. When we celebrate, we should have the right frame of heart and mind. Unlike many and like many others I am okay with some things and not with others. I'm okay if you celebrate an area of life that I don't. Be okay with me not celebrating. I'm okay with your acknowledging special days or groups. Please don't think less of me if I don't join in. You see, we all have imperfect lives. With these kinds of issues we need to both give and receive grace in order to help the Christian church heal and thrive.
In today's blog I'm saying things that many people think but wouldn't speak. Some would rather be a wallflower or even leave the body of Christ rather than say something. What is it that Jesus wants us to celebrate? What would Jesus want to say to those out there who are broken and hurting when others are celebrating what they don't have? Would he sit by and ignore the broken and hurting while celebrating others who aren't? It's a difficult call to make. Again, it's mercy and grace that should guide us in this very sensitive area. There is a mandate to "love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul and mind." There is a mandate to worship Jesus and to honor the Holy Spirit's guidance in our lives. The Christian is called to celebrate the goodness and provision of God. Then why the distraction? If celebrating someone, something or whatever is not for all should it be for some? Being aware of those needs around us is extremely important. What we think, say and do should be a reflection of what the Holy Spirit puts on our hearts and minds and not something the pagan world wants to insert into our belief system.
There is no Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, or Santa Claus. Halloween has nothing to do with Christianity. The watering down of the Christian message is our fault. Those who do not stand for something will fall for anything. Teaching generations of Christians and non-Christians to celebrate someone other than Jesus is wrong. "Harmless" is what some call the celebrations. Are they really? Just as we need to be cognizant of our witness within the world where we are planted, we need to understand what undermines our witness. The Bible tells us to honor our mother and father, pray for those who have done wrong to us, and to forgive as we forgive others. The Bible tells us to celebrate new life in Christ and to celebrate the message of the resurrection. The Bible tells us there will be a celebration in heaven when a sinner is saved and when we go home to be with Jesus. There are plenty of instances when we can celebrate and have that celebration be Christ centered. It has been, is now and always be our choice who and what we celebrate. That choice needs to be Christ centered. What is your choice?
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