crossing the line of compromise

It's Tuesday night, and I'm chillin at my place, catching glimpses of the Kansas vs. St. Joe's basketball game while typing on this sweet Apple iBook. As I do so, I feel as though I have contributed to the syndrome I like to call the "Christmas Compromise."

Just a little over two weeks ago, I was at the Illinois Christian Teen Convention where Mark Moore led the main sessions and XXX Church led a very insightful and very much needed workshop on the porn industry. It was definitely a lot different than most workshops I had been to, but I will say it was very inspirational seeing two guys trust God enough to face all sorts of uncertainties and dive into the dangerous waters of this multi-billion dollar industy in order to share and proclaim the grace of Christ.... I highly recommend reading their story. Anyways, Mark was making a point, and using a bit of a joke to so, about how as soon as Halloween was over, most department stores were already decorating for Christmas. His point was, "How can I celebrate the holiday of materialism, when I have yet to celebrate the holiday of gluttony - i.e. Thanksgiving" Wow, that question hit me hard. It is my own personal belief that both these holidays are great times and ways for us to put all the stuff in life on hold, so that we may be with close friends and family and to celbrate all the facets of our faith in Christ. As a result, his point ringed in my head and heart every day since.

Today, I made up the postcard invitation for this Sunday night's big Jr. high and Sr. high Christmas Celebration. As I made it up, I thought about how I needed to tweak the celebration by giving away some door prizes. So, we're giving away the movie "Elf" along with David Crowder's new album "Collision" and a $25 gift certificate to the mall. (David Crowder rocks my worship world). As I did that, it sounded so cool... because it's stuff that I know myself and many others would like to have for free. But it's in situations like this when I wonder when one compromises the holiness of Christ's incarnation with what is "cool" by our society standards. So, I decided to help make the door prizes more than just prizes, the kids have to bring canned goods for the local homeless shelter in order to receive more than one raffle ticket. I once heard someone say not too long ago, and at times I do believe this same thing, that the church exists to serve itself. That statement sends a pain of fear all over my body when I think about it.

I truly hope that I am not contributing to a sense of "church-self-service." Deep down, I believe that on Sunday night, we are not only giving away door prizes, but we're sharing life together and we are taking a moment to say thanks to all the volunteers as we all have dinner, play games, and hang out. I never want to be a person who comprises and deliberatley contributes to the materialistic theme of Christmas. But I do want to a person who takes Christmas as a time of being together, a time to give to each other, just as we have all been given so much.

Following Christ in a society that values consumerism, materialism, corporate success, and personal achievement is truly a challenge that I think about and face on a daily basis. I pray that the humility and grace of God continually shine on myself as well as all of us.

crossing the line of compromise