Standing Watch

 "What? Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray lest you enter into temptation. The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak."

Jesus' words to Peter in the garden of Gethsemane are one of the most quoted and least understood passages of scripture. These words are not an excuse for indulging fleshly desire--not even one so innocent as sleep. Rather, these words are a description of the course of Christian life. They are a reprimand for indifference and neglect which no man who cares for Christ would wish to hear and they are the remedy for spiritual neglect.

Christianity, honestly embraced, is a life-long, internal warfare between the spirit and the flesh. In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis posed the question:"Is Christianity hard or easy?" Of course, the answer is subjective. A task that is difficult for me may be easy to another. Lewis answers the question with the illustration of a chick hatching from an egg. He points out that hatching is exhausting, hard work. Then, he points out that hatching is infinitely easier than living a full life as an egg.

Hours earlier Peter had proclaimed that though all others forsake Jesus, he would not. Peter was not boasting; he sincerely intended to die with Jesus if necessary. I think he believed it even after Jesus told him otherwise. His spiritual man, which was three years in the making, was ready to break out. I've felt that surge of the spirit that makes one willing to charge hell with a bucket of ice water. Most Christians live for those moments. The trouble is, we are not always adequately prepared for success. Usually, the fault is not spiritual; it is fleshly.

We have grown up listening and yielding to the demands of the flesh. That's the life and nature into which we are born. It cannot be otherwise. Try and calm a crying baby with spiritual advice. It's not that he cannot hear; he isn't listening. All a child hears are the screams of his flesh. This is not wrong or unnatural; it is life. But, we are not to remain children. Maturing bring another voice. This voice may sound like mom or dad; it may sound like our own voice, or it may be nothing more than the whisper of a still, small voice we vaguely recognize. Some call that voice conscious, others learned socialization, and still others call it instinct or common sense. Christians say it is the voice of the Holy Spirit. Whatever it is called the message is the same. That we do not behave as we "ought" to; that there is a higher, better behavior that the one we display. We know the voice is right and we wish to follow it's dictates, but we continually find ourselves failing to do so. This too is life.

Christianity, through a new birth, substitutes the call of the spirit for the call of the flesh. The demands of our flesh don't go away. We must learn to make them to take a back seat to the spirit. This takes a lifetime. Some are more successful at it than others, but this does not diminish each person's effort. Peter yielded to the flesh and ran like everyone else, but he didn't give up. He mourned his failure and got right back up to try again. No one, not Peter; not your minister; and Lord knows not me, is 100% successful 100% of the time. The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh we wear remains weak.

Let's not forget, these words were a reprimand. Jesus was not excusing the disciples behavior because they were born needing sleep. Jesus was scolding His three most trusted disciples as though they were misbehaving children---which is exactly the case. Were they bone tired? Absolutely. It had been an exhausting day. All they wanted to do was close their eyes for a few minutes. Their bodies were crying out for a rest. But, Jesus asked them to stand watch. They tried, but failed. Their eyelids grew heavy; they relaxed and the next thing they knew Jesus was waking them. Jesus' words were an explanation of why they failed not a dismissal of their responsibility to do as He asked. That we are flesh does not "let us off the hook" for our behavior.

So, what are we to do? Be on guard; listen for the voice of the spirit; and pray not to succumb to the temptation of the flesh. "Blessed is the man who endures temptation..." The spirit is the remedy for the deceit of the flesh. Is it hard or easy? Does it matter? ^“Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning... And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”

Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas

 As December inexorably marches toward the new year, another holiday season is upon us. Modern political correctness has created a controversy over how to greet one another. In the name of the modern mantra "give no offense," many people and merchants have adopted the greeting, "Happy Holidays" so as not to bruise any tender sensibilities. Happy Holidays is a clever way of satisfying the urge to say something celebratory while managing to say nothing and to avoid taking a stance. I don't think there is nothing wrong with saying "Happy Holidays." That is if you are celebrating that we've always celebrated at this time of year and nothing more.

Preferring the exercise of free speech to "giving no offense," I believe one should unashamedly proclaim the object of one's celebration. If you're a Christian, for Christ's sake, say, "Merry Christmas." If you're a Jew, shout,"Happy Hanukkah." If you're a rugged individualist who is not about to give up a day off work and presents in the name of something you don't believe in, feel free to let loose a hearty, "Happy Holidays!" I suppose if you're a follower of Islam, Buddism, or Hinduism it's best to just keep your mouth shut and mind your own business. The thing to do is to decide what you are celebrating and why you are celebrating it. The rest is easy.

To my fellow Christians I offer this gentle reminder, regardless of what the world is celebrating, we are celebrating the birth of Christ. This is not a rant about commercialism. If you want to decorate a tree, stuff yourself with cookies and fruitcake, and shower everyone you know with gifts---knock yourself out; there's no biblical prohibition to any of that. However, in the midst of all the indulgence and celebrating, take time for your spiritual dimension. Feast on the scripture, spiritual song and praise made possible by God's gift of a savior. Don't leave Jesus off your gift list. I'm not talking about money. I'm not even talking about good works or charity. I'm talking about giving God something He actually wants.

What do you give to the God who has everything? Your heart. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength..." this is God's Christmas wish.

Some people find fault because long ago Christmas co-opted the winter solstice celebrations of the heathen in order to memorialize the gift of the Christ child in a way that had roots in the local population. Get over it. The idea of celebrating the birth of Christ is a good one. It's not about a date; it's about an event. God gave His Son to reconcile the breach between God and Man. He gave His Son to the entire world but only in the sense that He gave His Son for each individual in the world. Pick a day and celebrate His gracious gift. But, understand there's no day like today to receive God's unspeakable gift. This Christmas exchange gifts with God. He gave His Son; give Him your heart.

Don't be dismayed by those who wish others a “Happy Holiday.” After all, without Christ, Christmas is nothing more than a chance to rob your employer every December 25^th. If that's enough for you, have a "Happy Holiday." If you want more, I invite you to give the gift of your heart to God and have a "Merry Christmas."