“For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” – 1 Corinthians 9:16
With Christmas in the rear-view mirror, consider a follow-up question: Did you talk about faith during the holiday?
Christmas would seem to be the equivalent of low-hanging fruit for sharing the Gospel. It celebrates the birth of Christ! Could there be a more appropriate occasion to talk about Him?
One would think so. The first six letters of “Christmas” will always be “Christ.”
The elephant in the room is that, while nearly everyone understands that Christmas is rooted in faith, few seem to acknowledge it anymore.
Christmas has shifted to a focus on gathering families, exchanging gifts, and breaking bread. Christ has taken a back seat … if He’s even allowed along for the ride.
Perhaps Christians fear “offending” others by raising the topic of faith … at a holiday with an undeniably religious origin. Or, maybe it’s just not hip.
From an historical perspective, Jesus is widely viewed as an important, world-altering figure. Many say He was a great moral teacher. Even atheists admit He existed, and claimed to be the Son of God.
So, we can discuss why Christ is famous … but not acknowledge His birthday? What’s wrong with this picture?
The Biblical Backing
“For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.” – John 4:44
Opinions about who Jesus was run the gamut. Most scholars admit His impact was as significant, or more so, than any other historical figure.
Still other observers label Him a liar or lunatic, a fraud who’s somehow managed to pull the wool over the eyes of countless millions for 2,000 years. Are they sure He’s not a magician, too?
The Bible – perhaps the most thoroughly-studied historical document ever – offers plenty of backing for the pure divinity of Jesus.
Fully 27 percent of the Bible – more than 8,000 passages – is prophetic. Of these, more than 300 share details about the birth, life, and death of a coming messiah.
Daniel 9:24-26, for example, predicts the dire fate of Jerusalem after an Anointed One arrives and is put to death. The New Testament recounting of Palm Sunday fulfils the prophecy.
In Luke 18:31, Jesus tells his disciples, prior to entering Jerusalem, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written of the Son of man by the prophets will be accomplished.” He later weeps over the city (Luke 19:41), saying that its enemies would “dash you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another in you; because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
The Bible abounds with uncannily accurate predictions about Christ. Yet, these writers lived centuries before Jesus was born. It’s as if several royal flushes were dealt in the same game of poker – even though the chances of a single dealing are 650,000 to 1!
What are the odds? How could these prophets have gotten these details correct … unless they were inspired by God?
Not the First, Nor the Last
“We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the end.” – Hebrews 3:14
Perhaps these prophets, in their time, were labelled as crackpots. Still, they were ultimately proven correct. In the words of 1 Corinthians 1:27, written much, much later: “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”
Many others have gone before us, risking their lives and reputations to carry the cross. As disciples, our duty is to keep moving it forward.
So have confidence in your faith. Be unafraid to share it – at holidays, or any time.
Make it easy on yourself by asking others a simple query: “What do you think about Jesus?” Even if they aren’t sure, it’s an innocuous-enough question.
From there, only Christ has the answers.
(If you’re ready to embrace Christ, He’s ready for you. Visit C-Suite for Christ to join in Christ-centered fellowship with other professionals. Join us as a member. Plant a chapter where you live. Consider becoming a corporate partner. Follow C-Suite for Christ on LinkedIn and Facebook. Questions? Contact Paul M. Neuberger at (414) 313-8338 or pneuberger@csuiteforchrist.com.)
