NS Ministries

Neither of us spoke for three or four minutes then Crusty broke the silence, “Do you know what’s wrong with Christmastime Gary?”

“To commercialized?”  I replied.

“It seems like it but that’s not it.  Guess again,” he said.

“You don’t think Christmastime is too commercial?” I asked return.

“Heavens no!  Gary,” he answered back, “Christmastime is commercial I’ll admit but think of all the people who are employed by the commercialization this time of year.”

He was right on that Christmastime did provide people the opportunity to have a job; it was also a time when retail companies such as Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target, Malls, and other stores profits are up keeping thereby assuring their employees year round employment.  “I’ve never looked at it that way,” I replied, “so what’s wrong with Christmastime?”

“Jesus is what’s wrong,” he answered in return.

“Jesus!” I reacted, “Haven’t you heard Jesus is the reason for the season?”

          With a big grin on his face he responded, “I thought that would get a rise out of you.  Had ya didn’t I?”

          “You had me alright but I know you well enough to know you were serious,” I replied.

          Looking more serious, “Your right I was serious, but not for the reason you’re thinking.  “We don’t emphasis Jesus enough at this time of year,” he stated.

“I think you’re wrong on that one Crusty,” I said, “are you saying we can have our cake, and eat it too?”

“I sure am,” he said.

“Jesus said something like you cannot serve God and money too,” I replied confidently.

“He also said to render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s and render unto God that which is Gods,” he replied, just as confident as I had.

“So?” I smugly answered.

“So the way I see it as long as I’m rendering unto God more than rendering unto Caesar things are in the proper order,” Crusty said.

“Okay, say I agree with you what about Jesus being the problem?” I asked.

“It’s simple,” he began, “Jesus doesn’t get the notoriety he needs.”

“Okay Einstein why is that Jesus’ fault?” I asked.

“My point exactly!  It isn’t Jesus’ fault it’s our fault,” he smugly replied.

There was a moment of silence then, “Long ago God sent angels to the shepherds to proclaim Jesus’ birth because there wasn’t anyone else who was really humble enough to accept him.  But now he has all of us Christians so he doesn’t need to ask the angels he asks us instead.  And do you know what we’re doing about it?” he asked.

I had to admit to myself that he was making a little sense so after thinking about what he’d just said for a few moments I replied, “You’re beginning to make sense to me Crusty.”

“I am!” he interrupted me, “That’s pretty close to being a first for me isn’t it?”

 I knew he meant that in a smug way of telling me he’d just one-upped-me.  “You got me again Crusty,” I said smiling, “but tell me what we are doing about being God’s messengers.”

“Not enough,” he replied.

“How so?” I asked.

“As you walk through the stores or drive down the street what slogans do you see?” he asked me.

I closed my eyes trying to remember the slogans I seen.  After 2 or 3 minutes I said, “Peace on Earth and Merry Christmas are the two that stand out for me.”  Almost instantly, I knew what he’d be saying next.

“On how many front yards or stores do you see Jesus’ name in lights?” he asked.  “And how about all those feel good movies where the man and woman always get married as the movie ends?

I was close to knowing what his question would be so I was ready for it, “You don’t, but some places have manger scenes.  Do they count?” I asked. 

“And besides in most places using Jesus’ name isn’t politically correct and is offensive to some,” I added.

“Whoa!” he almost shouted, “don’t give me that politically correct mumbo jumbo!  Jesus wasn’t politically correct when he walked the earth either but that didn’t stop him.  Nor did it stop the disciples from carrying on after he returned to heaven.  If the real Christmas Story dies because we’re afraid to speak the name of JESUS!  Then the whole world is in a heap of trouble and it will be on our shoulders not those who are offended.”

Further more, you bet the manger scenes count but there are not enough of them,” he replied, “if Jesus is the reason for the season as you said why shouldn’t his notoriety be greater than anything else?”

“First of all I agree with you on the politically correct mumbo jumbo and the world is in a heap of trouble and you’re absolutely right, Crusty, Jesus should get more notoriety than Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, the Grinch, Santa Claus, or any other Christmastime Icon.”

Suddenly I noticed tears forming in the corner of his eyes, “What if you drove down the streets, and standing in the front yards of Christian homes was an eight foot inflatable Jesus with his arms out stretched?  What if you saw slogans that wished Jesus a Happy Birthday?  What if on the store shelves were action figures of Jesus that said, ‘I come to bring peace’ and other neat things?”

He paused for a moment to regain his composure and I seized the opportunity, “I believe everything you said Crusty we live in a world that tells itself over and over it needs Christmastime more than it needs Jesus.  But what can we do about it?” I asked with tears now in my eyes.

After several minutes of silence and being unsuccessful at controlling his emotions, “I don’t know either Gary.  Maybe we Christians should stop trying to de-commercialize Christmastime and Christianize it.  Maybe someone with the expertise and resources to manufacture eight foot inflatable Jesus’ could put it on the market.  I don’t really know what to do I guess I’m too simple of a thinker trying to solve a complex problem but one thing I can do is to decorate my own yard with a Jesus theme.”

“Crusty,” I said looking him straight in the eyes, “for such a simple thinker you’ve got more wisdom than many people with PhD’s and CEO’s following their names.”

“Thanks my friend,” he replied, “you’re okay too.”

As we sat silence Santa Claus is Coming to Town played in the sound system of the mall. 

Merry Christmas to all the faithful NSM Visitors from the Adam Quigley family and the Gary Piper family!