The Twenty Sixth Day of Advent, 2016

Thursday, December 22, 2016

  

And when they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.  Luke 2:17-18

I have learned – sometimes painfully – that the world does not like the word “evangelism.” Sometimes the dislike even carries into the church. We don’t like it because we are afraid if we accept it as part of our Christian language, we will have to talk about being “born again,” about “coming to Christ,” about “becoming part of the family of God.” Isn’t it interesting that Christians are afraid of the word, even though we know more about how important it is than the shepherds knew? They could not wait to tell; we are more terrified of telling than they were of the angelic announcement!

This is the greatest news the world has ever heard. The God of Creation has entered the earth! And we are afraid to tell. We are afraid that people will think we are nuts! That we are fanatics! We are not afraid to tell everyone we know that Tiger Woods has broken all records on almost every golf course in the world. But we are afraid to tell our closest friends that Jesus Christ has broken the bond of death and has come to give us life – not on the golf course but eternally! We are afraid to tell that He has come to us in a personal way, establishing a relationship with us, and our lives are changed forever!

Father, Forgive me for ever being afraid – or, even worse, ashamed – to tell others about you! Give me a holy boldness that will allow me to be “winsome” that I may “win some.” Amen.

And Then It Was Christmas: A Journey Toward Christmas
prepared for Homosassa United Methodist Church, 2006,
by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator.