Have you ever found yourself out of town with no place to sleep?
During my college years I was travelling with another student, Connie Bundy, back to Hobe Sound, Florida at the end of Christmas break. She had a grocery-getter station wagon and her folks had asked if I wouldn’t mind riding down with her (they didn’t want her going to Florida alone). And so I did. The plan was to marathon drive all the way (which was the way we operated in our college days) some 30 hours or so.
When we came into Tennessee she felt like the brakes were going out on the car. So we pulled into a restaurant so she could call back home. After a couple of telephone calls back, we were told to wait for someone to come and get us. It became obvious that we were not going to make it to Hobe Sound that night- which was the plan.
A fellow showed up and we followed his Volkswagon off into the boondocks of the east Tennessee mountains; to where, I didn’t know and would never be able to find my way back if I tried. The people of one of those mountain holiness churches had a mechanic who fixed the car, a family that housed us for the night and a dinner of roasted rabbits the next day. I ended up spending the night in an attic bedroom- freezing half to death but a place to lay my head down. We were safely back on the road afterwards and into Hobe Sound in time for classes to begin.
In our time of distress there were God’s people who came to the rescue of a couple of out-of-town and broke college students.
I think of that young couple trudging their way to Bethlehem, arriving late in the evening and finding no room in the inn.
Did they have family there that would house them? Didn’t they have previous arrangements for housing and such when they arrived? Relatives? Friends? At least someone who knew them?
Did they figure to find godly people there who would take pity on them?
Was there not room because they had no money?
Or were they rejected when these folks found out that Mary was a unwedded pregnant woman travelling with a man that was not her husband- yet.
I find it amazing that the innkeeper (and let’s be careful not to beat up on the poor guy) didn’t see the sense of urgency, couldn’t muster up the desire but still held a little bit of compassion. He offers them a stable out back with the animals. At least they had a cover for their heads.
But we cannot ignore the truth that seeps from this story: There is no room for Jesus. And not much is different today.
There is a constant sense throughout the ages that Christmas is becoming “Christ-less.” We have seen our share of issues about Christmas that has proved to too many of us Christians that there seems to be a deliberate move to remove Christ from Christmas.
Removal of Nativity Scenes from public display.
Adding other religions to Nativity Scenes in public displays.
No mention of Jesus in popular movies and books about Christmas. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is a prime example. Consider also “The Golden Compass” and “Polar Express” as examples that offer a feel good sense about being good but nothing- no iota- about Christ in Christmas.
So what are we to do?
Let’s not be surprised. The very first Christmas tells of an innkeeper who had no room for Joseph and Mary on that night. They find a stable instead where the Christ child is born.
Our scripture text points us to the inn and the innkeeper. Here on a busy night when there is no more room in the inn, the innkeeper points them to a literal hole in the ground: a cave that has been fashioned into a stable. Here, the virgin Mary gives birth to a son and they call him Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.
This is a significant scene. The Incarnation of the eternal Word is taking place. God is making his dwelling among mankind. GOD BECAME MAN. The savior of the world has arrived to rescue all of humanity from itself.
And what is ironic is that even though the world is saddled with the forced peace of the Roman Empire’s iron fist, there is no real peace in the hearts of people.
And even today, people all around us deal with the frustration of strained marriages, broken homes, sinful behaviors and the like and do not know what real peace is.
There is a whole controversy every year about whether a business should tell us “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays”; if the tree we buy is a “Christmas Tree” or a “Holiday Tree”; or if a government- local, state or national- should allow displays for Christmas, Hannukah, Ramadan, Kwanza or none of them.
Now I am very once sided on this issue: I appreciate a cashier saying “Merry Christmas” to me because it means something to me. I plan to put together my “Christmas tree” this week because we have gotten tired of slugging through knee deep snow to cut down a “tree”- by whatever name you choose. And we will send out “Christmas cards” and not “holiday cards.” I am a Christian. I believer whole-heartedly in Christmas but more importantly I believe firmly in what Christmas is supposed to stand for: Jesus coming into the world not “to condemn the world but to save the world through him.” (John 3:17)
Here we are as Christians: we wring our hands about putting Christ in Christmas out in the public arena when perhaps we need to concern ourselves about putting Christ into Christmas in our private world.
The point that I want to draw your attention towards is how you can make Christ a priority not only this Christmas but for your whole life.
There seems to be three basic ways people approach Christmas:
1. The Problem of No Vacancy.
It’s sad but too many people find that there just isn’t room in their lives for Jesus. They’ve got their clubs, lodges, organizations, careers, friends, family and everything else. Jesus is not on their agenda and likely will never be on their agenda.
These folks hear the songs at the store, see the displays that say “Merry Christmas” but never really care why. They probably exchange gifts at the company party and with family but never really give a hoot about what this all means?
Why? Three possibilities and I don’t mention these to be cruel but just to be honest.
a. Some just don’t see Jesus.
They really don’t. You can’t really blame them but it’s pretty hard for some to see Jesus when their co-worker who claims to know Jesus loses his temper and curses at work like the other guys. It’s pretty hard for some to see Jesus when their co-worker is looking at porn or telling dirty jokes and being “one of the guys.”
And so they really see nothing that they need of Jesus. After all, He really doesn’t seem to be making much of difference in the Christians he sees everyday.
b. Some don’t care to see Jesus.
Some have been hurt by God.
What? God doesn’t hurt people.
Well, tell that to someone whose 9 year old daughter had died of leukemia. All their lives they go to confession, Mass and give their money to the parish. And then their daughter dies and their faith becomes crushed and they struggle for answers. Now, every year they have a literal birthday party at her grave. But they don’t care to see Jesus anymore.
Tragedies hit people all of the time. Spouses are unfaithful and a marriage is destroyed; a robber enters a home and kills someone; disease, sickness and sin riddles humanity I’m so sorry that you and others have been immensely hurt by the imperfections of humanity. I wish you could see Jesus in a real way. I pray that people like this will once again care to see Jesus.
c. Some don’t want to see Jesus.
There are those who deliberately reject the idea, the notion, the concept and even the fact of Jesus as God, Jesus as Savior and certainly Jesus as Lord. They are not confused, bemused or amused about Christmas, Christ in Christmas or Christ himself.
And so they live their lives the way they see fit. I’m not here to throw stones at deliberate unbelievers. I’m not going to be one of those who make gigantic accusations and curse people to hell. I’m just stating the facts and these folks would totally agree with me and not be offended that they are mentioned in this sermon.
So if there are those who have no room for Jesus in their lives what about the rest of us who claim to have room for Jesus?
2. The Dilemma of Busy Lifestyles.
People are busy. We’re all busy. And so the question that begs to be asked is this: what are we busy with? I’m not going to bash being busy but I must say that we can busy ourselves into weakness as Christians.
I’m really busy with…
my job
my family
my friends
my hobbies
everything else
With a full inn the innkeeper was obviously a busy man. Perhaps he could have made room for Jesus but he was distracted by the overrun motel he was trying to operate. Maybe if he had given a little more effort room might have been found. Or perhaps he could have surrendered his residence for someone else.
When we are too busy for Jesus then we squeeze him more and more out of our lives. But what troubles me more than the busy-ness of our lives as Christians is something that we don’t want to speak of that I wonder if is really the issue:
3. The Hindrance of a Slumbering Spirit.
I know what to do, I know how to do it, I know everything about it but I am just too lazy to get up and answer the door and let Jesus into my heart. As Christians we would decry such an attitude and do when we see others reacting to the call of salvation.
But what about us? What about a slumbering spirit that is pervading too much of the Church in today’s world? Why is it that so many people who claim Christ as Savior and Lord seem to be afflicted with a lack of motivation to succeed as a Christian?
I heard a speaker once say: “Christians are really practicing agnostics.” While we have our ticket punched for heaven- at least we think we do- we are not on the train that leads to heaven. We’ve allowed too many things- like so many unbelievers- to keep us from being the Christ-followers that we claim to be and the kind of Christ-followers that Jesus has called upon to change the world.
What might these things be?
a. The Secret Agent Christian.
This is the person who claims Christ as Lord and Savior of their life but keeps very quiet about it. Their faith is a very private matter. In fact, it’s so private that you would think the person was an agnostic or an atheist!
b. Virtual Christianity.
Have you ever been to one of those 360 degree movies? They are awesome.
As a teenager we went to Florida and visited Lion Country Safari. One of the exhibits they had was a virtual reality movie. This is a wee bit different from 3-D but close.
You stand in the room and you think you are riding in a fire truck. As you take twists and curves you really do feel like you are twisting and turning with the truck. You can feel the vibration, see the lights flashing off windows and buildings, hear the sirens blaring louder and louder, and you sense all the reactions you would normally sense riding in a real fire truck. You look in front of you and you see where you are going. You look beside you and see things as you pass. You look behind you and see things become more distant. And then, as we took turned a corner a woman pushing a baby stroller stepped out in front of the truck. I almost had a heart attack.
We left and exhausted and laughing. My brother Tim actually fell on the floor a couple of times! Wow, what a rush. That was awesome. Now what’s next?
Is this what you feel like when you come to church? Get through the ride but then on to something else? Is this how any of us practice Christianity? We know what to do and how to do it but we are simply too slothful to do it. And so we want someone else- or something else- to be holy for us in our place while we simply enjoy the ride.
c. Keeping Appearances.
Too many get caught up in just keeping an image of what a Christian is but it really isn’t in their heart. But they must keep up appearances.
There’s a PBS show that is called “Keeping Appearances.” It features a lady whose last name is “Bucket” but she pronounces it “Boo-kay”- so that people think they are French. Everything she connives to do all has to do with putting on airs or looking the part but not actually being the part.
Let’s be honest: most people put on some kind of appearance. I understand that and good manners call for that. If someone offends you, just because you feel like hauling off and socking the dude in the nose, you don’t because good manners and staying out of jail calls for you to hold your temper.
What I’m talking about is just making the appearance of Christ in your life but in the background there is a whole lot of other systems operating that are not Christ like.
d. Form of Godliness.
These are the dangerous Christian people who claim to be saved, claim to be sanctified and yet they are lovers of themselves and the pleasures of the world. And in between they are riddled with all kinds of sinfulness. Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:5 that they have a form of godliness but deny its power.
I am very concerned about anyone who claims Christ but then lives for the pleasures and joys of this world.
Yes, I love Kentucky basketball and many other sports teams but not more than Jesus.
I love deer hunting but not more than Jesus.
I love having a car that gets down road but not more than Jesus.
I love the house I live in- it seems like a mansion compared to many other places that I have lived- but not more than Jesus.
I love getting a paycheck for my duties as your pastor. But I don’t love money more than Jesus.
I love my wife and children and grandchildren dearly but not more than Jesus.
CONCLUSION- Putting CHRIST back into CHRISTian.
I am convinced that we become much too agitated over the secular world’s reaction to Christ in Christmas, calling it a “holiday” tree instead of a Christmas tree and the nativity scenes. First, how can we as a Shelby Wesleyan Church complain about public nativities when we don’t have one out front on our own property? (I would love to see us invest some money for that- but I know we have other priorities.)
Let’s not worry about getting CHRIST back into CHRISTmas until we get CHRIST back into CHRISTian.
And it starts with me looking into the mirror and asking: Is there room in my inn for Jesus?
Jesus does not merely want to take up a room to be born again in my life but he wants to leave the nursery and take over my whole person.
So what is my responsibility for putting Christ back into Christian?
To follow Christ and be the kind of Christian that God calls you to is going to require hard choices. At every level of spiritual growth there will be choices to make. Some of these choices will be obvious ones. But what do you do when God calls you to give up something important even though it is hurting no one? What do you do when God calls you to put something else that seems less important to a new level of importance?
Remember there are good choices and bad choices. AND there are good choices and better choices.
Put Jesus on every list.
I am sure just about every one has a “to-do” list somewhere in their lives. You may not necessarily write it down but you have one. Breath, eat and sleep might be your to-do list. Whatever list you have be sure to have Jesus at the top of the list. Make Jesus a top priority in your life. Begin with daily devotions and prayer. If you’re a night owl, then the night before Jesus goes first.
How about my Christmas list? I strive to make sure that as I purchased a Vidalia Onion Slicer™ for Naomi that this wasn’t just a number on my to-do list. I purchased it with the love of Christ that fills my heart for my wife. And with each gift- I’ve already selected a few things for a couple of LBA members- I do so with Jesus’ love for them. Will they feel that love? I hope so. I hope no one feels like I’m giving to them out of obligation but out of the love of Christ for me, for them and that fills my life.
Make Jesus your co-worker.
This is easy for me- at least it better be! Jesus is my co-worker. But actually long before ministry I learned to strive to make Jesus my business partner. You need to have Jesus go to work with you. What would you do differently if you had Jesus beside you?
The sad thing that makes me angry is when I hear people speak of those “Christian” co-workers who are anything but Christian. You be the Christian co-worker who lives for Christ out of love for Christ. You be the Christian co-worker who brings Christ into your workplace as your co-worker. Let Christ work his love through you in any endeavor that you perform.
“He must become greater, I must become less.” John 3:30
John the Baptist had it right when his own disciples came to him and pointed out how others were following Christ. He simply stated: “He must become greater, I must become less.”
This must be the heart-cry of every Christian who loves God and loves others with the sacrificial love of Christ. We must be sure that Jesus becomes greater in our lives and our “self”- that selfish inclination that wants to hog the glory- becomes less and less.
What is it that God is calling on you surrender to him this morning? What thing, issue, relationship is there that is crowding out so much of your life that you have no room for Jesus?
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