Taking a break from the Book of Job for a rant and rave...

I saw an article on CNN.com today (read it here) about several megachurches cancelling worship services on Christmas Day. (Is it fair of the secular media to hold the Church accountable to it's own standards?) It's a matter of resources, says one. They're having their "21 services" on Christmas Eve, and Christmas is a "family day," so they don't want to impose on their staff and volunteers to come in on Christmas Day for another worship. Plus, their target audience is a "seeker" crowd, an audience that is not likely to attend church on Christmas Day. The last time Christmas was on a Sunday was 1994, and not many folks showed up.

To me, this is clear evidence that the camel of secularism, particularly the 12-ton camel of secular marketing, has gotten it's nose into the tent. Would you expect celebration of your birthday to be cancelled when it falls on Sunday? Not me! This reveals to me what I've suspected all along, that Christmas is not about CHRIST for most folks -- apparently, even some Christians -- but it is about marketing.

Do you know the difference between the versions of the Christmas story in Matthew and in Luke? Check out Matthew 1:18-2:12 and Luke 2:1-20. In Matthew's version, there are Wise Men who, having seen cosmological evidence of the birth of a King, search Him out to "pay Him homage." Upon finding Him in a house, they "offered him gifts." In Luke's version, there are not Wise Men bearing gifts. In fact, there is no gift giving. It is shepherds who come, and they come only with praise for what God has done. Even in Matthew's version, the only reference to gift-giving, the gifts are given TO JESUS. But, it is from this gospel account that our tradition of Christmas gift-giving comes.

I think this CNN article points to the need for a reality check. With Christmas on a Sunday this year, perhaps it is time for a little more of a Lukan Christmas! Maybe a little more focus on praising Christ, especially on THE DAY -- Christmas Day -- and a little less focus on the gift-giving, secular marketing focus.

Permit me to tell a personal story. When I served the First United Methodist Church in Mineola, TX, something eye opening happened for me one year after a meeting of our Ministerial Alliance. Several of us pastors were "lamenting" how busy we were at the Christmas season that year. Father Dan, the Catholic priest, was telling us all his parish was doing to celebrate the birth of Christ. Then he asked, "How many worship services are you having Christmas Day?" (which was NOT a Sunday that year). I was ashamed. All of us Protestant pastors had to admit that we were planning NO services Christmas Day, most were not even planning a service for Christmas Eve. Father Dan, surprised, simply said, "You are having NO worship Christmas Day? But that is THE day that this is all about!"

Father Dan was right. Starting that year, and every year after that I was there, we had worship on Christmas Day at First UMC, Mineola. We only had 15-20 people show up. But it wasn't about the number of people. On this "family day," we worshiped Christ because it was His birthday.

Will YOU be having a Lukan Christmas this year? Will YOU be in church worshiping Christ this Christmas Day?

Job is convinced he is innocent, despite the increasingly hostile responses of his "friends." He begins to get an idea. Justice demands a trial. In 9:15, Job states, "Though I am innocent, I cannot answer (God. For He is far too powerful.) I must appeal for mercy to my accuser."

Zophar is the "friend" who is the most blunt. Unlike Eliphaz, he makes no attempt to soften the blow of his words. "God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves." (11:6)

Job is reaching the breaking point. No longer just an idea at the back of his head, the trial -- the opportunity to plead his innocense before God -- now becomes a necessity. Job even is willing to risk life and limb: "See, He will kill me..., but I WILL defend my ways to His face." (13:15)

When bad things happen to good people, when the righteous suffer -- and I see it every day -- we demand justice, we require fairness on God's part. Even two year olds understand the idea of fairness with the cry "It's not fair!" The idea of indescriminate suffering we cannot fathom. So our demand for justice comes out in the form of the "why" question -- Why is this happening, God? The implicit idea beneath the question is that there is some good answer which will make us say, "Oh, now I see." Just as implicit in Job's demand for a trial is the idea that he can successfully defend himself, and make God say "Oh, now I see."

Job will get his face to face with God later in the book. But the result of his "trial" will not be what he expects.