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REPORT CARD 2019 CHRISTMAS AND 2020 NEW YEAR

Victor Choudhrie - India

Now that the Christmas hullaballoo has quieted down, how did Jesus calibrate his birthday celebration?
The urban traditional church: There was a lot of wining and dining, cakes, cookies, candles, fancy dress, decorating the church, programs, suggestive dancing, dramas, fireworks, last minute shopping, community dinner and giving of gifts to each other. The church, of course was doing what it knows best – collecting funds. Interestingly, everyone was so busy celebrating Jesus birthday that they completely forgot to give him a birthday present of his choice. We know that he does not care about gold or silver or fancy clothes or sumptuous food. He said, “My food is to do the will of the Father who sent me and finish the task he has given me. John 4:34) And the will of the Father is that none should perish but come to the knowledge of truth (Jesus) and be saved. (1Tim. 2:4) And the task is to disciple all nations (Matt. 28:19,20). What he would like most as a gift from each one of us is at least one saved soul. Sadly, he got none. There was no room for him at the inn then and no room in the church now.
On the rural front: the simple little house churches in the villages also celebrated His Birthday with singing accompanied with simple musical instruments, storytelling about His miraculous birth, about the wisemen from the East offering gifts worthy of a King and loving Father who gave us the gift of his dear Son.  The humble shepherds also visited. They came empty handed, but they did what Jesus appreciated most. The Shepherds spread abroad the good news of the birth of the Lamb of God, the saviour of the world (Luke 2:8-18).  It was not 10 AM to 12 AM formal service, but groups of people from different villages kept dropping at all hours of the day and even night. The icing on cake for Jesus was that many brought their friends and relations of other faiths. Many heard about Jesus for the first time, while others got baptized. Singing, storytelling, dialogue, discussions, food fellowship, baptisms, saving souls, all happened seamlessly. To Jesus’ delight many saved people were added to the Kingdom while others went with the resolve to share their newfound faith with their oikos (extended family and friends). (Acts2:46,47)
Mocking and Scoffing: Just before Christmas, three famous Bollywood actresses in a TV show scoffed at the word “Hallelujah”. The entire Indian Christendom cried foul in self-righteous anger. Actually, this should not have surprised us as the Scripture says, that in the last days scoffers and mockers will arise (2 Peter 3:3,4), but it also says that God cannot be mocked, and he says that “vengeance is mine (Romans 12:17-19). And it is a fearful thing to fall in the hands of living God. (Hebrews 10:31) We all know what happened to Titanic when its designer boasted that not even God could sink it. It sank the first night out in the ocean.
Blessing in Disguise: The actresses quickly repented and apologized, and God turned all the mocking and scoffing into a huge blessing in disguise. Through the social media, millions heard the word Halleluiah and its meaning “Praise the Lord” for the first time. Not only that, huge “Halleluiah Rallies” were taken out by people of all faiths shouting Halleluiah in some cities. Even the Hindu Chief Minister of Delhi, the Capitol of India, was so moved that he gave a long speech on Christmas and said we have been running Delhi Government on principles of love, tolerance, justice, service for the poor, forgiving even our enemies, as taught by Lord Jesus. These mockers and scoffers did more to spread the good news of Christmas than all the Indian Christendom put together.
Jesus likes saved souls: The real shameful part was that these self-righteous Christians themselves mocked and scoffed Jesus by not giving him his greatly desired birthday gift of “saved souls” (Matt. 16:26; Luke 19:10,15:7,10). If the Christians want to enter the Kingdom, then the only option they have is to shift their families including children from the hedonistic tradition of giving expensive gifts to each other and navigate themselves to give greatly desired gift of “saved souls” to the King of kings, not only on his birthday, but all the year around.
Finishing the Task: If a fraction of the two billion Christians of the world decided to save just one lost soul and give as a birthday gift to Jesus every year, then in a very short time, “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (Hab. 2:14). To achieve this, we won’t need Santa Claus and other traditional garbage, collected through the centuries. All we need are mentors, movers and shakers who are purpose driven and have the passion for the Kingdom. Interestingly, to kick start, you do not have to wait for the next Christmas, you can offer your belated gift anytime, anywhere.
New Year’s resolve: “Each one save at least one lost soul and give to Jesus as a gift this year and every year.” In ten years, you will save a thousand souls and, in the bargain, will have your name written in the Book of the Lamb, be raptured when the celestial trumpets blow and get a free ride to paradise. (Isaiah 60:22)
Shalom.

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