The Season for the Reason

What make Christianity so unique?

This is the season to give a reason.

What may be much to the chagrin of the Reformed ilk, Christianity is not primarily an intellectual faith. Instead, Christianity is primarily a practiced faith. This can be derived when we read the Bible from its historical context going back to the early church periods, and not just our 21st century lens or the protestant reformation lens.

One author that I’m gleaning much from, Gerald Sittser, says it this way. “The church demonstrated an unusual capacity to establish meaningful contact with unbelievers and yet maintain high standards of membership, to welcome outsiders into the church and turn them into committed disciples.”

The services we attend, the songs we sing, and the photos we post do not necessarily make us different from the rest of the world. Our love for and unity with believers and contact with unbelievers does make us distinct. The early christians operated as a cultural minority behind Rome and Judaism. Here in America, privilege and power wane as syncretism continues and stands over one’s commitment to Jesus and his kingdom. The tactics of fighting for power tend to prevent us from operating as the cultural minority we once were.

Discipleship is almost never mentioned on a consistent basis while mission takes the spotlight. Faithfulness has become so unstable to the point where it’s only expected on Sundays here in America. But if you are a missionary, you are expected to be faithful and serious about Jesus every single day. It’s sad.

Is the birth of Jesus enough to make Christians everywhere take their faith seriously? Is the light of the world coming into darkness and chaos enough to make Christians repent and reorient themselves? Is the coming of the king sent by God to welcome all to live with God enough to make Christians so peculiar that Christianity can be seen as unique in the West?

Christian author and artist, KB, once said this in a song and I’ve never forgotten it - “people don't care you keep Christ in your Christmas / If they cannot see that there's Christ in the Christian.” It’s time for us to respond creatively and winsomely. We’ve lost most culture wars (because we’re fighting to hold onto privilege and power) and we’ve lost out on the opportunity to build substantive relationships with unbelievers.

This is the season to give a reason. I spent my entire high school singing this in my church, and I still believe this to be the reason for the season. “You came from heaven to earth to show the way. From the earth to the cross, my debt to pay. From the cross to the grave. From the grave to the sky. Lord, we lift your name on high.” And if we practice our faith by listening to Jesus and living it out, we can make Christianity unique in the West again.