Silent Monks Singing Halleluia

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Christmas & Political Correctness (12/16/09)

Christmas & Political Correctness

            For the past year, I have been tutoring at CityView Community School in Minneapolis, MN and yesterday I had an idea for this week before Winter Break.  I have been helping the children I work with improve their reading skills, and one of the ways we do this is by reading aloud together.  For this week, I thought it would be a cool idea to read “The Legend of the Candy Cane” together and then I would share candy canes with the children. 

            The story presents candy canes as a Christian evangelistic tool, showing that if you hold the cane long end up, it looks like a “J” and that stands for Jesus. If you point it down, then it looks like a shepherd’s crook and that reminds us that shepherds were the first to her of Christ’s birth. The red stripes symbolize Jesus’ blood shed for us and the white shows how we can be washed white as snow, free from our sins. I wasn’t sure about reading such an explicitly Christian story in a public school, so I asked the teacher I’ve been working with. Sure enough, she indicated I would not be able to read the story, but I could bring the candy canes to share.

            Once I got there this morning, she asked me to work with a couple girls I have been working closely with and said I could offer to share the story with them, since it was just two, and indicated I should ask them first, letting them know that the story did contain religious themes. At first, we just read through the book that they had been reading through that week. Then, towards the end, they asked about the book I brought and I did get a chance to share it with them. They enjoyed the story and thought the symbolism behind the candy cane was “cool.”  After we finished, they rushed off to tell the teacher and she was glad they like it. Then I shared my candy canes with the whole class. Over all, it was a great experience!

            It also made me think a bit about this whole Political Correctness idea we have today. As I have grown more confident in my faith and character, I have felt less offended by those who feel differently, and more able to share freely with them about my beliefs and listen intently as they share theirs.  I have come to find that though other’s ideas may be different then mine, that fact does not need to be an issue. When I share, I do not do so aggressively and I do not demand that others believe the same way that I do. Often I get the same feeling from them.

            Though at times there are aspects of the faith that will offend and confront others no matter what. Paul spoke of such in his letter to the Corinthians (1Corinthinas 1:22-25). Since we, as Christians, believe that Jesus is the one true Savior of the World, this is a bit of an exclusive faith, yet Jesus died for the sins of everyone. So while Jesus’ way is the only one that really works, it is open to all who will walk in it.

            It is also important that we not let the fact that our Gospel, is at times, inherently offensive get in the way of our being culturally sensitive in our faith sharing. Yes, we do have a faith that is exclusive in some respects and inclusive in others. At the same time, there are ways to share that message that people will still hear it, even if they are at first offended. Hopefully we can all find ways of sharing the true joy of Christmas this season in culturally sensitive ways.

            Here’s a seasonal poem I once wrote:

Immanuel

Son of God, Immanuel

Tonight You came with us to dwell

You came to show us how to live

You came to us eternal life to give

Child of the King, You came from above

To teach us the true meaning of love

Took on our flesh, took on our sin

Our earthly burden, You took within

By Your hands, our wounds were healed

With Your blood our hearts are sealed

Teach us this day

To walk in Your way

Almighty Father, watch over us

Protect us from our darkness

Holy Spirit, Who dwells within

Keep us this day from all sin

Jesus, Redeemer, Lover, and Friend

To us Your embrace now extend

As we gather with our family

As we gather with our friends

Your love guides our hearts, as we amble blindly

While we hold hands, Your grace descends

And for those of us, who spend this season alone

As our spirits within us groan

Remind us, I pray, that You are always there.

Remind us, O Lord, that You always care.

The road we walk is treacherous

But You O Lord are ever with us

Give us this day our daily bread

Watch over us as we go to bed.

A-men.