25 Thoughts on “A Christmas Carol” – December 20th

Happy Christmas Dear Reader

'There are some upon this earth of yours,' returned the Spirit, 'who lay claim to know us, and who do their deeds of passion, pride, ill-will, hatred, envy, bigotry, and selfishness in our name, who are as strange to us and all out kith and kin, as if they had never lived. Remember that, and charge their doings on themselves, not us.'

So often when I am out and about at Christmas time I hear people complaining about Christmas and about those who follow Christ. It is so hard to combat the judgments held against Christ followers because of the deeds of those who claim to follow Christ but withhold love, grace, and kindness from others. I once saw a bumper sticker that read “Dear God protect me from your followers.”

So many things are done in the name of Christ that Christ would have nothing to do with. We start out having to defend the things done in the past both by others and by us. The only true answer is to be so like Christ is how we behave that it removes those who do wrong from the category we stand in.

As we draw closer to the celebration and anticipation of the Advent of Christ, we can make a difference in this argument in some simple and effective ways. If we keep our good humor about us it goes a long way in aiding the perception of others. If we give generously to the needs of others it does the same.

The single best way to fight an undeserved bad reputation is live out a good one. To be so attached to who Christ is that we end all question of motive and means.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a home owner. He brings new and old things out of his treasure store."