I have a small Mary, Joseph and baby nativity
that I use
every year.
every year.
My mom’s pale blue and white one (she made in a ceramics
class) still resides in my memory as the most beautiful one ever. And I always drool over my
mother-in-laws hand painted set.
class) still resides in my memory as the most beautiful one ever. And I always drool over my
mother-in-laws hand painted set.
Through
the years I have had
the years I have had
several inexpensive sets
(oft destroyed by my kids)
and
for the past few years we have used
for the past few years we have used
this Fisher Price kid friendly set.
But in my heart, I’ve longed for a
Big
Girl nativity set.
Girl nativity set.
Imagine my delight when I ventured
upon an heirloom set at
Costco.
Costco.
Hand painted, with intricate details.
It was really, truly
lovely.
lovely.
But it wasn’t really truly real.
The middle eastern Jewish family
had been replaced by a
pale
skinned, fair eyed,
skinned, fair eyed,
silky haired European family.
I’m guessing that the pale skinned Jesus
is an easier sell to pale skinned buyers.
And at Costco, it’s all about the sell.
So though it was beautiful,
I just couldn’t buy it.
I don’t want to buy a Jesus
who’s been altered
to look like me.
How many times do we find this has happened?
biblical have been altered,
for a better “sell”.
Songs that sound beautiful,
with notes that
strike
strike
an emotional chord in our hearts,
but who’s words are not at all
like
those of Jesus.
those of Jesus.
Songs easy on the ear,
and just as easy on our sin.
Or doctrines that
come along
come along
that are easier on the ear
than the sounds of bleating
lambs
lambs
slaughtered for sin,
or of nails being hammered into flesh.
Doctrines that do not call us
to
give up our sins,
give up our sins,
or take up our cross.
How many times, in the market place of ideas,
have we chosen and
purchased
purchased
an altered idea of Jesus,
one who thinks, acts and reacts,
remarkably
like us?
like us?
The modern version of Jesus is often one
who isn’t too
concerned about heaven or hell.
concerned about heaven or hell.
One who is more concerned
with social issues
than sin issues.
The modern idea of Jesus
is less
controversial than the real one.
controversial than the real one.
And he looks a lot like our American culture,
but he doesn’t look a lot
like the Biblical one.
like the Biblical one.
A Jesus who looks and acts like like me
won’t call me to change
to be like him.
won’t call me to change
to be like him.
And the “me”
version of Jesus,
version of Jesus,
won’t save me, from sin,
nor from myself.
So, as much as I love the
LOOK of the Costco set,
I put it
back on the shelf.
back on the shelf.
I’ll wait for
something that represents him.
something that represents him.
The
real him.
real him.
The little brown skinned baby.
With his brown skinned mother.
And his brown skinned step-father.
And I’ll pass on the modern Jesus.
The one calls me to no sacrifice.
I want the authentic savior.
One that will save me in,
and
from, my sins.
from, my sins.
I don’t want a
Jesus who looks like me.
Jesus who looks like me.
I’m not going to buy into
a Costco Jesus.
Ah, sis, you have pierced me to the core. This message has greatly spoke into my heart this morning. Thank you for saying the words we all need to hear, and to share.
Loved the article. Love the Coltharp's …
–Jimmy Toney