After seeing the shepherds on trial in last Sunday’s Christmas musical, I was prompted to ask a familiar question, “If you were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” I cited Don Cherry as an example of someone who went public on Hockey Night In Canada with his faith on December 17 when he said, “At this time of year we have fun with Santa Claus, but Christmas is about Jesus being born.” If Cherry is ever put on trial for being a Christian, the prosecutor will certainly introduce last week’s “Coach’s Corner” as evidence.
Actually, every Christian is always on trial. People are watching. Angels and demons are watching. God is watching, too. We’re under constant surveillance in a world that wants to know if we’re really Christians.
But how can you tell?
In the book of Acts, Christians were repeatedly arrested for telling people that God raised Jesus from the dead. Their courage was exceptional; they refused to be silenced. Like the shepherds, they had to spread the good news of great joy about a Saviour, Christ the Lord.
Their example forces you and me to question our willingness to witness to others about Jesus. To whom and to what extent do we proclaim Jesus with our words?
Speaking about Jesus isn’t enough evidence, though. Christian faith is more than words, just as an apple tree is more than wood. The real thing is always proven by its fruit, as Jesus once said.
What kind of fruit convicts someone of being a real Christian?
According to Martin M. Davis, a retired family therapist, author and workshop leader living in Mississippi, “the indisputable proof that we are Christians is that we love each other as Christ loves us.” He bases this on what Jesus said in John 13:34-35, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this will all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Here’s where I find an inconsistency in Don Cherry. I have no doubt that he believes in Jesus. I just don’t see anything particularly Christ-like or loving in his Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em videos. Apparently kids singer Raffi is also not impressed. In fact, Raffi, the author of songs like Baby Beluga and The More We Get Together is asking fans to mute the tv whenever Don Cherry comes on. “For years I’ve been watching him get louder and louder,” he told The Toronto Star last week. "He sounds and acts like a bully. That’s not fun and it’s not a good example for the kids who are watching. In this day and age of all the hockey violence, we should be putting a stop to this."
I love Don Cherry and I love the courageous way he reminded hockey fans what Christmas is really about. But his pugnacious approach to Canada’s game has to change if he wants to be convicted of obeying Christ’s new commandment and using the power of Christ’s love to help bring God’s peace on earth and finesse to the rink.
With good words and works, we show a watching world that we might be Christians. By avoiding immoral and illegal activities, we show a skeptical world that we might be followers of Jesus. But only Christ’s love in us for both the loveable and the un-loveable is conclusive proof that we’re Christians “for real!”
My Christmas wish for one and all is that we would be guilty as charged of loving everyone as Christ loved us!
- Pastor Peter
Actually, every Christian is always on trial. People are watching. Angels and demons are watching. God is watching, too. We’re under constant surveillance in a world that wants to know if we’re really Christians.
But how can you tell?
In the book of Acts, Christians were repeatedly arrested for telling people that God raised Jesus from the dead. Their courage was exceptional; they refused to be silenced. Like the shepherds, they had to spread the good news of great joy about a Saviour, Christ the Lord.
Their example forces you and me to question our willingness to witness to others about Jesus. To whom and to what extent do we proclaim Jesus with our words?
Speaking about Jesus isn’t enough evidence, though. Christian faith is more than words, just as an apple tree is more than wood. The real thing is always proven by its fruit, as Jesus once said.
What kind of fruit convicts someone of being a real Christian?
According to Martin M. Davis, a retired family therapist, author and workshop leader living in Mississippi, “the indisputable proof that we are Christians is that we love each other as Christ loves us.” He bases this on what Jesus said in John 13:34-35, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this will all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Here’s where I find an inconsistency in Don Cherry. I have no doubt that he believes in Jesus. I just don’t see anything particularly Christ-like or loving in his Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em videos. Apparently kids singer Raffi is also not impressed. In fact, Raffi, the author of songs like Baby Beluga and The More We Get Together is asking fans to mute the tv whenever Don Cherry comes on. “For years I’ve been watching him get louder and louder,” he told The Toronto Star last week. "He sounds and acts like a bully. That’s not fun and it’s not a good example for the kids who are watching. In this day and age of all the hockey violence, we should be putting a stop to this."
I love Don Cherry and I love the courageous way he reminded hockey fans what Christmas is really about. But his pugnacious approach to Canada’s game has to change if he wants to be convicted of obeying Christ’s new commandment and using the power of Christ’s love to help bring God’s peace on earth and finesse to the rink.
With good words and works, we show a watching world that we might be Christians. By avoiding immoral and illegal activities, we show a skeptical world that we might be followers of Jesus. But only Christ’s love in us for both the loveable and the un-loveable is conclusive proof that we’re Christians “for real!”
My Christmas wish for one and all is that we would be guilty as charged of loving everyone as Christ loved us!
- Pastor Peter
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