“Ring Christmas bells, merrily ring, tell all the world Jesus is King. Loudly proclaim with one accord the happy tale, Welcome the Lord.”

While these constitute a later addition to the hymn, there can be no doubt as to the purpose of the song, to give glory to the birth of Jesus our God and King.  Furthermore, the original Ukrainian song is based on an old Slavic legend that every bell in the world rang in honor of Jesus on the night of his birth.  But this great hymn written for the glory of our Lord has been used to sell Burger King’s French fries and more recently Garman GPS units.  The Garman use varies the lyrics from year to year but one of this years uses includes the following lyrics: “Fat man on bike shorts way too tight” and concerning a Viking, “find the village he will pillage”.

Or how about the Hallelujah Chorus, part of Handel’s Messiah, in many parts of the world it is traditional for the audience to stand during it’s performance. According to legend King George II was so moved by the music that he stood to his feet when he heard it, requiring that his subjects follow suit, sparking the tradition. While there is some doubt over the truth of this story there can be no doubt that thousands of Christians around the whole world stand to give honor to the King of kings when this great chorus is performed.  Yet it has been used to sell everything from airline tickets to hemorrhoid cream.

But the Holy Scriptures are not immune from this form of sacrilege either. The WWF’s (now the WWE) “Stone Cold” Steve Austin loved to use John 3:16 as part of his marketing, and persona. Supposedly his use of it began as a retort against Jake “The Snake” Roberts who liked to quote John 3:16 to his fellow wrestlers, in what I assume was an attempt to witness to them. But Steve Austin transformed it into Austin 3:16 and emblazoned it upon hats and t-shirts. His version was “Austin 3:16 says, I just kicked your…” (expletive removed). Despite this many “Christians” went to WWF events, cheered for “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, and purchased his “Austin 3:16” clothing all while reciting his credo.

These are but a few examples of the mockery that is made of us, our faith, and more importantly our God. Yet we are more concerned when someone changes the words to our Alma mater’s fight song, or when our school mascot is belittled by a rival team to boost their team spirit in an attempt to win the game or simply to poke fun at us. How much more so should we be angered when someone does the same to that which was intended to bring glory to our God?   Has the lost world used the great hymns and scripture passages of our faith to hawk their products because we are pacifists who will make no noise about it, or because we have become passive in our zealously of God? Maybe the lost world does not take our faith and its emblems seriously because we no longer do.  Think for a moment, have you seen an add using a Jewish hymn? Likely not any company which did so would be considered anti-Semitic. Nor would any company use an Islamic hymn. You can be sure that they would likely receive death threats and face jihad by Islamic extremists. Yet we sit by and do nothing. No, I am not suggesting we make death threats or call for jihad, such things are contrary to the teaching of Christ, but we can still voice our contempt and refuse to support such companies with our money. It does not matter whether or not boycotts work, we should simply do so for the principle of the matter. Why would we want to support any company which mocks our God? But again it is not entirely their fault, for when we live as if our faith does matter, why should they act as if it does? It is time for us to regain a faith worth living, and proclaim loud and clear to a lost and dying world that our God will not be mocked, beseeching them to repent and call upon the name of the Lord while there is still time.

Shortly after Thanksgiving, mom would take a week off from work to decorate the house, do her shopping, and bake.  She made green cookies shaped like Christmas trees, with sprinkles for decorations; little cookies shaped like camels; turtle cookies, little chocolate covered cookies with pecans for its head and feet; and ranger cookies.  But my favorite was chest pies, small individual sized pies filled with pecans, raisins and a filling similar to a pecan pie filling only not as sweet.  The house would be filled with the smell of fresh goodies, the sounds of Christmas music, and the sights of lights, greenery, various decorations, and of course the tree.  The days leading up to Christmas were filled with wondrous memories, but the day that holds my fondest memories is Christmas Eve.  There is just something magical about it, the waiting is almost over, and the evening is filled with last minute preparations, visits from friends and family.  But mostly the night is filled with the anticipation of Santa’s arrival.  Several days before Christmas, my mother’s family, Grandma, Grandpa, and Uncle Billy would arrive to spend the holidays with us.  They would all be at our house by Christmas Eve.  The house would be filled with the smell of food, and the sounds of multiple conservations as the adults sat around the table, while Christmas music, and the TV played in the background, and I relished every minute of it.  My head was filled with the joy of having everyone in our home, and the thoughts of the rest of my family who would arrive in the morning.  But most of all my thoughts revolved around what the coming day would bring, what treasures and surprises lay waiting under the tree and what Santa would bring.
Christmas morning we would wake to find some unwrapped presents from Santa, we played with these with delight until mom and dad would awake, then they would let each child open one present from Santa, until the rest of the family arrived.   After breakfast, Gran and Jack, dad’s parents would arrive, and we would begin to open the rest of the gifts.  This was the moment we had been waiting for all year.  We ripped off the wrapping with great excitement.  We would ooh and ah over the gift then start on the next present, as if we were starved strays, opening boxes of T-bones, and as quick as it started it would be all over.  What followed was a feeling of emptiness, all that anticipation, and excitement, and it was all over.  Do not get me wrong, we were appreciative for what we received and we loved our presents, but no matter how much I received or what I got, it never seemed to meet or fill the expectation I had.  I can remember going the next day, and just sitting and looking up at the tree, wondering if maybe just maybe there was a gift we had missed, something which would extend the joy I had leading up to Christmas day, but there never was.  New Years day would come and the decorations would come down, and so would I.
I hated to see the decorations go, I enjoyed them so much, and wished they could stay up all year or least another few days.  Even today, I still sit and pout while listening to Christmas music one last time the night before we take our decorations down, I still hate to see them go.

Christmas day is not such a big let down today, because one year I found that one final missing present, the only one I really needed, the one that made the season all worth while, the one that far exceeded my expectations and anticipation, that gift is Jesus.    You see I had missed the point.  I had missed the reason for the season, even though I always knew it was all about Jesus, I forgot to celebrate His birth and worship Him.  For years I focused on myself, what I would get or what I wanted, or I focused on others, and what to get them.   I got caught up in what the world sees as Christmas; the parties, decorations, music, and gifts.  These days we try not to get caught up in these things, we still decorate, listen to the music, go to parties, and give gifts, but we spend less on each other, and our children.  We try to give to those less fortunate than ourselves.  But mostly, we look forward to worshiping Christ not only in church, but through our giving to Lottie Moon, Samaritan’s purse, and other charities.    This Christmas I want to challenge you to look under the tree for that one last present that you have missed for all these years, open it and share with others. Remind those who already know Him what the season is all about, but more importantly, share the love of Jesus with those who do not know what Christmas is all about.  You will never receive or give a better gift than you will when you share the love of Christ with a lost soul, then and only then will you truly understand the reason for the season.

Much has been said about the culture war among Christian leaders with some even loudly proclaiming that we should not be at “war” at all, but I think they are missing the point.  What we are after is worth fighting for, that being nothing less than the soul of America.  Now I fully realize that some, who read this will disagree with that statement, take offense at it or misunderstand it.  First when I refer to the soul of America, I am not referring to taking control of the country nor am I referring to a Theocracy.  I have no desire to force my views on anyone, nor do I want anyone else’s views forced on me.  What I am referring to is the souls of the people living in America.  Here is where there will be disagreement or even offense.  But in order to advance my argument and make my point, for the moment just assume that I am right, that there is a God who will judge all humanity, and those who have accepted Christ will enter into heaven, while those who have rejected and rebelled against God will be cast into hell.  Now if I am right then how we live our lives  and what we believe will affect our eternal destination, and therefore the values of our society are worth fighting for.  But are we fighting in the right way?

John Stott in his commentary on the Sermon on the Mount¹, Jesus’ first discourse in Matthew chapters five through seven, notes that each successive generation is disaffected with the world it inherits.  Whether it is the protesters of the Vietnam war, those who protest the current greed of Cooperate America, or the activism against the destruction of our environment, those who wage their own “Cultural War” against these things live counter cultural to them.  The hippies and their slogan of make love not war along with their communal life style, the simple dress and lifestyle of those who oppose corporate greed or who are environmentally minded along with their avoidance of any company or organization which is seen as being in opposition to their views, they all live counter to the culture.  These same cultural warriors, according to Stott, “Despise the superficiality of…religious conformism, for they sense that there is an awesome ‘reality’ far bigger than these trivialities” (p. 16).  Unfortunately, they are seeking this “transcendental dimension  through meditation, drugs or sex” (ibid) things which will never make what they are looking for a reality.

I believe that they are looking in all the wrong places because the right place, the Church, has lost its way and as a result no longer provides a map to the “Awesome reality” they know exist and are seeking to find.  Stott, goes on to say that Christians should have “…a sense of Shame.  For if today’s young people are looking for the right things (meaning, peace, love, reality), they are looking for them in the wrong places.  The first place to which they should be able to turn is the one place which they normally ignore, namely the church.  For too often what they see in the church is not counter-culture but conformism, not a new society which embodies their ideals, but another version of the old society which they have renounced, not life but death.  They would readily endorse today what Jesus said of a church in the first century: ‘You have the name of being alive, and you are dead’ (Rev. 3:1).

The fact is that Jesus was counter cultural, and the Bible endorses many of the things these cultural warriors, who have rejected the church, are after.  Lets look at a few: War- while we are not to be pacifist, and the Bible clearly states that the government bears the sword to punish evil (Rom. 13:3-4) that does not give us the right to go to war at any time with anyone.  We should demand that our government tell us exactly why we should go to war, if it is a just war, how long it will take, and the cost of going to war, especially in terms of human lives.  If the war is not just, if it will not protect our nation and citizens, or protect the innocent, then we should demand that the war be ended or avoided.  Cooperate greed- while the Bible nowhere prohibits capitalism, it does warn against unfair practices, and oppression.  We should demand that corporations and businesses treat their workers, suppliers and customers fairly paying fair wages and charging far prices while still allowing for them to make a fair profit.  The environment- the first two chapters of Genesis make it clear that God gave man dominion over the earth and placed him here to care for it.  And as for the other cultural warriors and their causes, many are simply looking for equality, love and acceptance.  While in some cases we will not be able to compromise on the teachings of the Bible and as a result we will not be able to accept or condone their choices, we must still love them and accept them as equals and valuable human beings, for all men were created in the image of God.  No one should be denied our basic rights due to their age, sex, religion, race or sexual preference.  All have the right to work for equal wages, to vote, to have access to medical treatment, food, water, shelter, housing and to live in peace and prosper.

When you boil it all down on some level we are all looking for the same things (meaning, peace, love, reality), the difference is that as Christians we would argue that non-Christians (and even some so called Christians) are looking in the wrong places.  Why then are they not looking at us / the Church for what they desire?  I think Ghandi may have said it best, “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ.”  My point, if we truly lived as Christians, that is if we lived like Christ, then we would be counter cultural and would reject conformism.  We would embrace the message of the Sermon on the Mount and separate ourselves from worldliness taking stands on moral issues, environmental issues, etc. while ensuring that our attitudes on such issues flow out of a desire to please God and to draw all men to Christ.  Then we might not even need to fight a cultural war, or at the very least we would not need to fight it as we currently do opposing anyone who remotely appears to contract the message of the Bible or worse who may determinately affect our conformism and comfort.  Maybe, just maybe, we should find a point of agreement with those on the opposite side of the culture war (Matt. 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers”), and join them in their battle fighting for what we both can agree upon.  Maybe then unlike Ghandi, they will say, “I like you Christians, you are so like you Christ, will you tell me more about Him?”.

¹ John R. W. Stott, “The Message of the Sermon on the Mount”, Inter-Varsity Press, Leicester England,  1985, (p. 15-16)

Verse 29 not only says that we are to avoid corrupting talk, but that we are to speak words that fit the occasion and build up fellow believers. This then, would mean that corrupting talk would also include that which does not build up but instead tares down. When we fail to observe this command we not only grieve the Holy Spirit we also quench Him, stealing the fire of other believers, side lining them from the aspirations God had placed on their hearts. In doing so we have potentially destroyed their ministry, or at least caused a huge set back in what they could have accomplished for God. How many other lives will be effected not only in the here and now but in eternity as well because we chose not to build up but to tear down? Often you see this in the middle of a sermon or Bible lesson. The preacher or teacher, is delivering a profound message hearts are being stirred, and the Holy Spirit is at work, then the speaker tells a joke or makes an badly timed comment, and all that they have accomplished up to that point goes out the window. As a result of that inopportune comment people become distracted from the message, their fire is quenched and the Holy Spirit is not only grieved but halted in the great work He had started. But, the same thing can happen after the sermon and even outside of the church when we as believers fail to obey this command.

Case in point, on two separate occasions to two saints after I preached this message the very thing I am speaking of happened immediately after services had let out. One occurred in the sanctuary and the other in the parking lot. On both occasions it had been a great day in the Lord. God had blessed the messages and many come forward to pray. People’s hearts were stirred and they were on fire for God. These two saints had decided to overcome some difficulties in their lives, to let go of past troubles, and make a difference for God when their spirits were quenched by corrupting words. Someone on each occasion decide to allow Satan to use them by not choosing words that fit the occasion to build up but words that tear down. Both of these saints were confronted by someone who was not happy with a particular ministry in the church, likely because they were not getting what they wanted and as a result attacked their fellow believers with corrupt words. In one case the saint being confronted was not even over the ministry. This saint was informed that there was a problem in a particular ministry and that “THEY NEEDED to fix it!”. In the other case the ministry leader was berated by someone who had not been to church in over a month. Due to their extended absence they missed all the announcements concerning an up coming event, which they knew about, and missed the dead line to participate. They refused to accept responsibility for missing the event and instead blamed the ministry leader. In both cases these saints got up from their pews on fire for God ready to serve Him, and both wound up going home wounded, dejected, and sullen from being beaten by words from another believer, words which were not fit for the occasion. The sad part is that if problems actually existed in these ministries words could have been used to build up and encourage these saints. Instead of confronting these saints, help and advice could have been offered to fix the problems, advice which had the best interest of the ministries and these leaders in mind. I am proud to say that both of these saints choose the higher road, and used words which were fit for the occasion, instead of words which were corrupt in retaliation.

We have been called to a high calling in Christ and as a result, our lives and our speech must reflect it. The words we use have the power to build up or tear down, to spur other believers on, or discourage them, to draw all men to Christ, or to drive them away. So let us avoid all corrupting talk, but being wise use words which are good for building up and fitting for the occasion, that we may give grace to those who hear and not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom we were sealed for the day of redemption.

But how do we feel about the lost, do we have that deep of a desire to see them saved?  Likely not, but what about our family and loved ones?  We would spend our last dollar to see them cured of cancer.  We would travel to a distant country to find them treatment, and give up our jobs to care for them.  We would even be willing to risk our lives to save them from danger; and give our lives in their place.  I doubt that I would give it a second thought given the choice to watch my wife or children die, or die in their place, I would gladly give my life for theirs.  But do we feel the same way about their immortal souls?  While we would go to great lengths to save their lives, we shut down in fear when it comes to sharing the gospel with them and make excuses as to why it is ok.  If we refused to take our severely injured child to the emergency room for fear of what might happen or what it would cost, and as a result they died, we would be arrested for neglect, likely serve jail time, and possibly loose custody of our other children.  Jesus tells us in Matthew’s Gospel, “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (10:28).  How much more valuable is a person’s soul compared to their life.  If we would go to any lengths to save the life of a loved one and look down and punish those who do not, why will we not do what ever it takes to save their immortal souls?  We need to work at over coming our fear of evangelism, realizing that the more we do it the easier it becomes.  Secondly, we need to remember that it is not our job to save our loved ones but to simply share the Gospel with them.  Lastly, we need to respecting them and not push our faith on them as we will likely only push them away from God instead of drawing them to Him.  When they say I do not want to talk about it then don’t live like a child of the King wait for other opportunities and let God do the rest.  May we all develop as deep a desire for not only our loved ones but all the lost to be saved as Paul did.

Secondly, a Proverbs 31 woman is of immeasurable value because she is a hard worker (31:13-19). She provides for her families needs (13-15). But not just with any old clothing or food. She provides them with the best clothing and the best food she can afford. Furthermore, she oversees their schedules making sure everyone is where they need to be when they need to be there. She also contributes to the family finances (v. 16-18). She is a woman who takes the wise counsel of her husband and uses her time and talents to stretch the family budget as well as contributing to it. No, she may not have a job outside of the home, but she like the Prov. 31 woman, is industrious, making and selling what she produces with her hands, using her time, talents, and abilities wisely to benefit both her family and others. As a result of her hard work, she not only saves her family money, but is paid by others for her skill, knowledge, and the merchandise she makes. This is a woman who should be greatly trusted by her husband, like the husband in the Porv. 31 who had so much faith in his wife that he allowed her to go out and buy land to farm and lease completely on her own. This kind of trust only comes with time and a track record of wise decision making. But the Prov. 31 woman is a woman with just that kind of record.

Thirdly, she is of immeasurable value because she is compassionate (31:20). She is not so busy that she has no time for ministry and therefore helps the poor and needy. She realizes that the advantages she has been given in life are not for her own self indulgence, but an occasion to minister and bless those in need. Women like these are often the back bone of our church, and without them its ministry would be greatly hindered. Prov. 11:25, says “The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself”.

She is also of immeasurable value because she is prepared (31:21-22). She is not lazy or lax; she knows what her family will need for the coming days and ensures that they have what they will need. Be it food to eat, or cloths to wear, cool clothing in the summer, and coats in the winter. But she never fails to take care of her self (31:22). Not only does she provide for her basic needs, but she adorns herself and takes care of herself. She not only dresses like the queen of her king’s castle, but she looks like it as well. Ladies, never neglect yourselves. Dress like the beautiful queen that your are with in the confines of your budget. Pamper yourself, get your manicures and pedicures, go to the salon, and take time to put on your make up. Yes I know it is nice from time to time to just be a slacker and sit around in your PJs with no make up on and your hair pulled back. But you know as well as I do, that you always feel better after you have fixed your hair, put on some make up and dressed nicely, you are a queen after all why not look like it?

A Proverbs 31 woman is of immeasurable value because she garners respect for her husband (31:23).
Ladies, your reputation precedes you. Everyone in town including the leading men in the town knew of the woman in this proverb and what a great and valuable woman she was. This spoke volumes about her husband. In our day we would say that she could have any man she wanted. Therefore, since she chose him he must be some kind of a man. Likely the same is true of you, and the kind of woman you are affects how people see not only your husband but your children as well. Chances are your husband married up just as I did. As one of my friends put it, “Bubba, you exceeded your punt coverage” what ever that means. He knew that Kim was out of my league and was a great woman. LISTEN UP MEN, any woman who would put up with you, love you, and live with you is a woman out of your league, and “Bubba, you exceed your punt coverage”, so act like it!

Additionally, A Proverbs 31 woman is of immeasurable value because she possesses godly wisdom (24-27). She is wise in her finances and in her character. She follows and lives out the wisdom contained in the proverbs. In doing so she finds strength and dignity and has no fear of the future because she has lived wisely in obedience to the word of God. She is also wise in her speech. Her words contain no gossip, slander, or unkind things. She is a gracious and considerate woman in all her speech. Finally, she is wise in her labor. Unlike the sluggard of the proverbs she is diligent and hard working knowing that the wise woman manages her household well for the benefit of her, her family and the glory of God.

Lastly, she is of immeasurable value because she fears God (31:30-31). Her beauty will never fade because it is inward not outward. Physical beauty fades and passes away, but the beauty of the inner quiet spirit, adorned by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, full of grace, love, and compassion never fades away, it last for all eternity. Because of her high moral character and fear and love of God, she is worthy of reward and praise. There can be no doubt given her life that like the woman in the proverb any woman who matches her character is worthy of a parade in her honor ending in a great celebration with her receiving the key to the city and everyone’s heart.

Tom Hawkins list three things we should note about this woman and any attempt to become her.
1. No young bride can possibly fulfill all that is pictured in this poem before developing the maturity that comes only with time.
2. Perspective is needed is in seeing the complementary roles of the husband and wife
3. All her outside business endeavors are focused on meeting the needs of her family, (provision not success is her motive, we men would do wise to remember this as well)

This woman is the personification of the perfect disciple of Christ, and the wisdom extolled in the book of proverbs. She is not only worth the time it would take any man to find her but the time it takes for any woman to become her. Ladies no matter where you are in life, who you are or what you are like you can become a Proverbs 31 woman, but it will take time, diligence, study and prayer.
A final thought for the men reading this: Bishop Taylor came the closest of anyone to capturing the sentiment of Proverbs 31 when he wrote: “If you are for pleasure, marry. If you prize rosy health, marry. A good wife is heaven’s last best gift to a man; his angel of mercy; minister of graces innumerable; his gem of many virtues; his box of jewels; her voice, his sweetest music; her smiles, his brightest day; her kiss, the guardian of innocence; her arms, the pale of his safety; the balm of his health; the balsam of his life; her industry, his surest wealth; her economy, his safest steward; her lips, his faithful counselors…and her prayers, the ablest advocates of heaven’s blessing on his head.” ( Today in the Word, July, 1989, p. 44.)
Thank God for the Proverbs 31 woman in your life this Mother’s day, and be sure not to forget to thank her as well.