This past summer, I totally rocked out at a weeklong Christian music festival in my hometown. It was awesome: huge crowds were singing along to bands such as Switchfoot, Starfield, Family Force 5 and David Crowder. So many believers united that week to worship, hang out and sport T-shirts that boldly proclaimed their faith.
But in the midst of all the fun and sun, I noticed something. The T-shirts and some of the songs had something in common; they all seemed to be one huge battle cry. They proclaimed that we were at war in our schools, in our workplaces and in our homes.
“We’re fighting a battle,” I heard people say. “A battle against teachers who won’t allow us to pray in school and politicians who support abortion and our classmates who make fun of us for wearing WWJD bracelets.”
And they told us we need to fight back. Our weapons? The Bible and our voices. We have to show them that Jesus is the way and that we’re going the right way!
Called to Love
And they were right. It’s true that we’re constantly being told Christianity is intolerant and not cool. It’s true that we’re being fed the lukewarm theology that Jesus was a good man, but He isn’t the only way to get to heaven. And it’s also true that we have a responsibility to bring God’s message of salvation to a fallen world.
And in a way, the anti-Christian jargon that the world spits out is a declaration of war. Paul even tells us in Ephesians 6:11 to “put on the full armor of God,” clearly a likening of our lives to battle. But that same chapter also says something interesting that sometimes we overlook.
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). This verse identifies our enemies as “spiritual forces of evil”—as the demons that the Bible warns us about roam the earth as well as the deceptive philosophies that Paul warns us about in Colossians 2:8.
This verse reminds us that our battle isn’t against people but against wrong ideas and beliefs. We’re called not to hate the sinner but to hate the sin. To fight those spiritual forces of evil but not the people who mistakenly listen to them!
Maybe you feel called to fight against the legalization of abortion. Try praying for the girls who have had abortions and, if you feel led, personally comfort them! Lovingly show them the forgiveness and acceptance of Christ. Hate their sin, yes—but love them!
How Do We Love?
So the question is, how do we love people who don’t support Christianity? They might seem to be full of hate, but they’re people—just like us—living in a world that’s cold and cruel. They need love.
Just look at what Jesus tells us are our two greatest commandments: to love God and to love others (check out Matthew 22:36-40). Our greatest commandment is to simply love. During this season of celebrating Christ’s birth, let’s make an effort to put our faith in action by serving others.
We’re called to serve and put the needs of others ahead of our own (Philippians 2:3). We’re called to help a friend with her English assignment, to help Mom with the dishes after the Christmas feast or help teach a younger sibling to read the nativity story. We’re called to donate a toy to a needy child or to bake Christmas cookies for the busy mom who lives next door. As Christians, we’re called to help! This world is a rough place to be, Sisses—we know that! And it can be especially hard around Christmas for people who are lonely, hungry or cold. Let’s help each other out!
The great thing is that when we do these things—when we help, serve and love—people start seeing Jesus, even if we haven’t mentioned His name! Jesus is a part of our service. He uses it to show himself to people. We are His arms and legs and mouth and elbows and funny bone and kneecaps when we serve.
Christ is serving humanity through us! Kids at school who have already decided that Christianity isn’t cool might not listen to you quote Scripture, but they’ll hear it loud and clear when you help them with a school project or when you refuse to fight back when they poke fun at you.
The Bible sums it all up when Jesus tells us, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).
May love be our battle cry. Let’s get out there and show the world His love this Christmas season!
