How To Fight For Christmas
In recent years, the response to monoculture has been in the form of political activism and legislation. Jonathan Edwards, in Charity and It’s Fruits, proposes a very different response. “A man of a right spirit is not a man of narrow and private views, but is greatly interested and concerned for the good of the community to which he belongs, and particularly of the city or village in which he resides, and for the true welfare of the society of which he is a member. God commanded the Jews that were carried away captive to Babylon, to seek the good of that city, though it was not their native place, but only the city of their captivity. His injunction was (Jer. 29:7), “Seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it.” And a man of truly Christian spirit will be earnest for the good of his country, and of the place of his residence, and will be disposed to lay himself out for its improvement.”
He went on to say, “And those that are possessed of the spirit of Christian charity are of a more enlarged spirit still; for they are concerned, not only for the thrift of the community, but for the welfare of the Church of God, and of all the people of God individually. Of such a spirit was Moses, the man of God, and therefore he earnestly interceded for God’s visible people, and declared himself ready to die that they might be spared (Exo. 32:11, 32). And of such a spirit was Paul, who was so concerned for the welfare of all, both Jews and Gentiles, that he was willing to become as they were (1 Cor. 9:19-23), if possibly he might save some of them.”
Jonathan Edwards realized that cultural transformation is dependent upon the Gospel of Jesus Christ first transforming the lives of those within that culture. He makes the extremely important point that our concern must not merely stop at the community but must extend to the Church of God and the individual people of God. I love the phrase “true welfare.” Legislation and political protest is not “true welfare.” The true welfare of any community and every individual is Jesus Christ Himself and we must be willing to lay down our lives sacrificially for Him. The fight for Christmas is not fought within the state legislature, on storefront displays, or in roadside nativity scenes. The fight for Christmas is fought within the heart of every individual and it is fought with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:11-14
He went on to say, “And those that are possessed of the spirit of Christian charity are of a more enlarged spirit still; for they are concerned, not only for the thrift of the community, but for the welfare of the Church of God, and of all the people of God individually. Of such a spirit was Moses, the man of God, and therefore he earnestly interceded for God’s visible people, and declared himself ready to die that they might be spared (Exo. 32:11, 32). And of such a spirit was Paul, who was so concerned for the welfare of all, both Jews and Gentiles, that he was willing to become as they were (1 Cor. 9:19-23), if possibly he might save some of them.”
Jonathan Edwards realized that cultural transformation is dependent upon the Gospel of Jesus Christ first transforming the lives of those within that culture. He makes the extremely important point that our concern must not merely stop at the community but must extend to the Church of God and the individual people of God. I love the phrase “true welfare.” Legislation and political protest is not “true welfare.” The true welfare of any community and every individual is Jesus Christ Himself and we must be willing to lay down our lives sacrificially for Him. The fight for Christmas is not fought within the state legislature, on storefront displays, or in roadside nativity scenes. The fight for Christmas is fought within the heart of every individual and it is fought with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:11-14
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home