Watch Out for the Grinch
Mostly, he's just one of the more likeable Christmas villains; harmless, as such. But let him into the Church, and he is a devilish imp who steals Christmas from children!
What do we mean? Well, what is one of the most popular beliefs held by Christians - especially here in the South? That's easy! Just ask Christian parents about baptizing their infant children, and they are quick to say, "But they're not yet old enough to accept Jesus!"
If you haven't heard that, you're not talking to enough Christians! And if you do talk to them, please remind them of the Grinch. Many Christians will tell you that salvation is a Gift, but then they add, "A Gift must be . . . (drum roll, please) . . . ACCEPTED!
What an entirely GRINCHY answer! If it's true, the Grinch JUST stole Christmas from every little boy and girl!
How so? That's easy. Stick with me now . . .
IF a gift MUST be accepted . . . If THAT'S what really is most fundamentally important about a gift, then how could Santa ever leave a Christmas present for another Wendy-Lou from Whoville? I mean, doesn't Santa come when children are unconscious? Aren't gifts bought, wrapped, and left beneath the tree - complete with the names of children they belong to - all while children slumber, with visions of sugar plumbs dancing around in their little heads? Some of those heads haven't even yet conceived of sugar plumbs! Still, Santa leaves them gifts!
See, if we only paid attention to the way WE give gifts, we'd know the fundamentally important thing about a gift is that it's . . . (drum roll, please) . . . GIVEN!
Earthly parents give out gifts to children, even while they're still nestled in the womb. They give them good nutrition and tender care. They pray for them and talk to them and even play Mozart for them so they do better in school! And when they're born, they give them a name, unconditional love, and all that children need. When Christmas rolls around, NO earthly parent says, "But my child isn't old enough yet to understand! She's still too young to accept or really want this gift. We all know that a gift must be accepted."
Show me the parent who talks like that, and I'll show you the Grinch incarnate!
Show me the Christian who speaks that way about Christ and His salvation, about Baptism, about the forgiveness of sins, and I'll show you a Christian who is GREEN in the worst kind of way. I'll show you a Christian who is stealing Christmas - and all that goes with it - from children.
If only Christians paid attention. They themselves don't make their gifts conditional on anyone's accepting. Christmas morning comes and parents say, "Here! This is for you!" Children receive it gladly, yes, they even accept it, because it's theirs. The Giver said so. The label on the package says so. And if younger brother or sister makes a move on it, children know how to say, It's MINE. They speak that way, because someone has said, "This is yours."
God gave His Son to the world, even when that world was fast asleep in ignorance. He promised long ago - even to our first parents, Adam and Eve - that He would do that. All along, He kept promising.
Most paid no attention. Still, He gave His Son; not only to the few who were awake. The Bible says, "In this way, God loved the WORLD." You can read that in John 3:16.
In the fullness of time, Christ was born. The Bible says, "He came to His own, but His own did not receive Him." (John 1:11) Still, God gave His Son. The Gift is NOT dependant on anyone's accepting. God gives, and we receive because God gives. The Bible says, "To all who received Him He gave the right - the authority - to be the sons of God." (John 1:12)
Did you catch that? To the ones who received Him, to them God gave the right - the right to act that way; like children of the household who can bound downstairs and behave as if the presents underneath the tree are theirs. After all, that's what God has given us and said . . .in Jesus!
Yes, even our receiving, even our authority and right to be God's happy children receiving His Everlasting Gifts in Jesus . . . even THAT is something that God gives us. Even FAITH is a Gift. You can read that in Ephesians 2:8-10.
When God's giving is understood, no one steals Baptism from babies, claiming that gifts must first be accepted. As freely as parents give THEIR name to infant children, so freely does God place HIS Name on sinners of all ages, through Holy Baptism. He is giving out His authority - His right to be children - which Jesus said is His, as a gift from His Father in heaven (Matthew 28:18). In that authority, Jesus sent out His disciples to make children of God, freely, baptizing and teaching, wrapping up sinners - even babies - in Christ Jesus, as if it's Christmas morning, and God is saying, "Here! This is YOURS! I say so!"
Take that away from anyone, especially children, and you're only playing the Grinch!
Please watch out for the Grinch this Christmas. Pay attention to the giving in your home, and know that God is even MORE giving than you are!
Listen to your children, and learn from them. None of them run around, saying, "Look what I had to accept!" They all run around and say, "Look what Santa gave me!" As if GIVEN is the ONE thing gifts must be! If only we believed like that!
We have a lot of Grinchy sounding Christians in the world. If what they say is true, no child could wake up to presents underneath the tree. Instead, there'd have to be a note - right next to the crumbs that mark the cookies Santa kindly accepted. The note would have to read: "Sorry I couldn't leave you anything. You weren't awake and so you couldn't accept what I was giving. But I accepted your gift to me. Thank you. Next year, maybe you will be awake and alert and old enough to understand . . .A gift must be ACCEPTED before it's given!"
Of course, the note would have to be signed, The Grinch, wouldn't it? That's how most preaching should be signed. I mean, who else would hold back God's Gift of Baptism, life, forgiveness and salvation from little children JUST because they aren't yet old enough, awake enough, aware enough to do that most grinchy of things . . . ACCEPT it?
So, please . . .
Watch Out for the Grinch
Call Pastor Sawyer at (601) 992-4752, or email him. He'd be glad to speak with you about God's free giving through Holy Baptism - even for children.