Evangelism is a scary word for many of us. We have faith and love God, but find it hard to share it with others. There are plenty of forces working against us, for sure. We have a hard time entering a conversation about faith for fear of rejection. We make the process way too complicated and over-think how to talk about our faith. We are trapped in a culture that generally has a bad opinion of Christians, making it nearly impossible to find a safe space. And, there are terrible things that happen in our world that we all struggle to understand through a Christian lens on our own, much less in a conversation with a non-believer.

Like so many of the things I talk about, I think we can learn a lot from observing how kids see and do evangelism. Here are a few simple observations.

1. Kids don’t start with a judgment. How often do we look at someone and form an opinion of that person before we even realize what we are doing? I think this prevents us from doing much work for God. Children see all people as beautiful and unique creations. The “weirder” someone is, the more a child’s curiosity will draw him near.
2. Kids seek common ground.  Don’t you love how kids will walk right up to a stranger and ask “Who would win a fight between Iron Man and Spider Man?” Or “Why is the sky blue?”  When kids make these overtures, they seek a common ground. This is the easiest way to begin a discipleship with another. Just find something you have in common; not necessarily a matter of theology or faith.
3. Kids don’t make it overcomplicated. Kids welcome confusion as it leads to curiosity and discovery. And, they are willing to discover new things with someone, together, without worry of being wrong, not knowing the right answer or being rejected.
4. Kids are capable of unconditional love. Kids don’t hold grudges or avoid someone after a bad experience. Adults, however, have a much harder time. And, if we try to talk with someone about our faith and get rejected, most of us crawl back under the rock we came from. We don’t let go and move forward…and we sure need to.

The Bible tells us to be more like kids in a lot of different ways and when we really think about the profile of a child, we see a striking number of similarities with the characteristics of Christ, himself. I guess to get others to understand the real meaning of being a Christ-follower, we just need to act a little more like Him. If that sounds like too lofty a goal, then we can always take the much easier path and act like children!

Sunrise is an event that calls forth solemn music in the very depths of our nature, as if one’s whole being had to attune itself to the cosmos and praise God for the new day, praise him in the name of all the creatures that ever were or ever will be. I look at the rising sun and feel that now upon me falls the responsibility of seeing what all my ancestors have seen, in the Stone Age and even before it, praising God before me. Whether or not they praised him then, for themselves, they must praise him now in me. When the sun rises each one of us is summoned by the living and the dead to praise God.

~Thomas Merton, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander, quoted at http://www.plough.com/en/subscriptions/daily-dig/odd/april/daily-dig-for-april-30

I'm a "let's get to work and change things" kinda guy. It shapes my spirituality, and my theology. I love new things, new experiences, new designs, and people with a passion for the future—and a willingness to sacrifice for the future, combining patience with passion. It's about sociality, not nature, for me. So, I've often found folks who talk about finding God in sunsets, or sunrises, or hikes in the woods or walks on the beach, or in repetition and stability and preservation . . . curious. I believe them (you?), but don't really feel what you feel. Now it must be said: I do enjoy sunrises, and sunsets, and woods, and beaches, and singing familiar songs and remembering well. I find beauty there, and am moved. But I tend (tend . . . not exclusively, but mostly) to find "God" in action. Beauty comes in repetition for me. God comes in change: Godly change, that is: positive, dynamic, love-creating, justice-making change (not the change of destruction and loss).

But I also know that mine is one form of the faith. It tends to be the kind of hardwired spirituality that created Protestant faith. But it's not the only way. That other form, the one you might be hardwired for, tends to go to beauty first. It tends to let beauty, remembering, preserving, and celebrating be the way in which change is welcomed—rather than the other way around. And that's the spirituality that has given us traditions more open to art, ritual, and structures designed to preserve things.

We kinda need each other, don't you think? We need to remind each other of the ways God reveals Godself, and balance each other now and then. We need to let God be in the sunrise, reminding us of who we are and who God is and so giving us courage to face a day of following Jesus. And we need to let God be in the work following Jesus gives us to do, which gives us reason to accept the sunrise as a call on our lives to keep open and keep hopeful and keep going toward the future that God imagines. Let the 'sunrise' metaphor apply to other things, too.

The contemplative monk and active writer, Thomas Merton, wrote the quote at the beginning of this post. Merton was well known for his commitment to wedding faith and concern for social change, for the poor, and for creating just communities. Yet he was also a great advocate for connection among all things. His comment here about the sunrise, about beauty and the reassurance it gives is a nice reminder that all things praise God: what is given us that does not change, what reminds us of our connection to all who've seen the same, and in our urgent, humble acts in response.

All good. All God. 

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
  the moon and the stars that you have established;
 what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
  mortals that you care for them? ~Psalm 8: 3-4

 As I was pulling the trash bin out to the street in the dark of morning today, I looked up at the sky and paused for a few moments to notice the stars. I am no astronomer—far from it actually. Ignorance can be bliss. You see, without all the scientific details in my way, I can look at the stars with amazement and ponderous awe in a God who could create something so majestic. I see these lights as majestic reminders of an amazing Creator.

How often do we really stop and notice the stars of the night sky? They are always there, yet we rarely see them as more than little meaningless dots in the sky.  I don’t often stop to notice the stars, but when I do the “ah hah” moments they inspire remind me of how deep and wide God’s reach truly is. Even more generally, how often do I stop and marvel at any of God’s creation? The answer is, “just not often enough.” Unfortunately, it is easy in life to become desensitized to the world around us. This lackadaisical perspective seems especially relevant during the holiday season where we ineffectively seek to balance secular and worldly responsibilities. Living out our lives prevents us from living out our faith by truly pausing to honor God’s will for the season.

In Matthew 2 we are introduced to the Magi, who have come seeking Christ, guided only by the “Christmas Star.” The three Magi are remarkably the only ones mentioned in scripture who noticed this special star. Bible scholars and scientists dissect the meaning and possibilities of such a phenomenon, but I choose a simple explanation. The Magi saw this star because they took the time to notice it. The rest of the nation was likely too preoccupied with ordinary life to notice the extraordinary all around them. Just like Christmas today, on the first Christmas, people were too overwhelmed with worldly concerns to see the miracles transpiring right in their midst. They probably never looked up at the night sky to see God’s amazing creation, too focused on where their feet were pointing and not where their faith could have been leading them.

As you read this blog, another Christmas has already come and gone. Like most of us, I am already consumed with after-Christmas sales and New Year’s plans. While those things do have significance in my life, I also need to keep my eyes on the sights and signs of God’s presence as much today as I did on Christmas. Jesus may have only one birthday, but I need to celebrate this love each and every day in my heart. Perhaps if I pay more attention, I can see lights guiding my faith, just like the Magi did 2,000 years ago.

So much of Christmas is expected to be joyful. The search for the perfect Christmas gifts to watch our loved one’s face light up when they receive it. Receiving the gift you really wanted and needed on Christmas morning. Singing carols, going to Christmas parties, decorating our homes, and getting into the “Christmas Spirit.” But surrounded by the joyful parts of Christmas is struggle, loss and pain which make the Christmas season difficult.

I recently heard a story about a terminally ill five-year-old boy and his visit with Santa. The boy was dying and his final wish was to see Santa. His parents told the nurse and she called a professional Santa that she knew. The Santa with his real beard came over without donning the traditional red Santa suit because there wasn’t enough time. He knew that his job was to make sure the boy got Christmas since he wasn’t supposed to live until December 25th.

When Santa arrived the boy’s mom gave Santa a gift to give the boy and Santa went in. He began by saying “What’s this I hear, you’re going to be missing Christmas this year?” The boy explained that he was going to die. Santa said that he wasn’t going to miss Christmas because the elves already got his present ready. He gave the gift to the boy and helped him open it since he was too weak to take off the wrapping paper. The boy smiled. It was exactly what he had hoped for.

Santa then told him, “When you get up to those pearly gates you just tell them you’re Santa’s number one elf.” The boy answered by saying, “I am?” Santa said, “You sure are! I’m sure they’ll let you right in.”

The boy gave Santa a big hug and looked in his eyes and said, “Can you help me?” The boy died in Santa’s arms.

This story reminds me what Christmas is really all about. I love the joyful gift giving and receiving, singing carols, going to parties and decorating for the anticipation of Jesus’ birth. These things are important to prepare us, but they are not what the season is about.

Advent and Christmas are about faith. Faith that Jesus came to be with us through those joyful times and the really hard times. The belief that Jesus wants to be with you through whatever your Christmas season might include. Joy or sorrow. Pain or pain free. Hurting or recovering. Courageous or afraid. Worried or trusting. Grieving or hopeful.

No matter what this season holds for you. You are number one to God. Jesus is here for you. Merry Christmas! 

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.     ~Matthew 18:1-5               

I know it is the Christmas season and I should have something “Christmasy” to write about. I will get there, but you’ll have to bear with me…because I want to start off by talking about a little girl. Those who come to the 10:00 am service might notice her. Every time she enters the sanctuary I can’t help but watch and smile.

I remember the first time I noticed her entering the sanctuary because she came running in, not like most kids running crazy to the playground, but ran in with an eagerness and joy in her eye. As she entered worship, I looked to see where her mom was, as I did not see her. Sure enough, a few seconds later her mom came following behind. I didn’t say anything, but for some reason it made me smile. The next week the same little girl came running into the sanctuary with the same joy and eagerness in her eye, and a few steps behind her was her mom.

For the next few weeks I found myself looking for her to enter the sanctuary, and one week I finally had to say something to her mother. So, I stopped her and said, “I just want to let you know how much joy it brings me to see your daughter enter worship. I wish everyone entered this space with the same joy and excitement each week that she does.” Her mom responded by saying, “Every week she is so excited to come to church. She can’t get enough of it, whether on Wednesday night or Sunday morning, she just loves being here and learning about God.”

Every time I see this little girl I am reminded of Jesus’ words to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Often times we hear this or read it and think, “This is not me - I am not a child, I am an adult”, or, “I don’t have time to act like a child.” We think this way because we confuse being like a child with being childish. See, there is a huge difference in being like a child and being childish. I know many children as well as adults that are good at being childish. Childish is being selfish, self-centered, and having a feeling of entitlement - things appropriate for children. When we read Jesus’ teachings, we learn that being childish is the furthest thing away from what He teaches.

However, to be like a child means to see everything with joy and excitement. It is as a child on Christmas morning, seeing the spender and magic of what took place the night before. To be like a child means not being cynical or feeling like we have to know it all. Children aren’t born with a sense of fear or hate - it is something they learn. To be a child means to have big dreams, to believe that God can do anything, to not fear judgment, ridicule or even failure.

 So, when Jesus tells us to be like a child, He is telling us we should love more than hate, dream more than fear, trust more than be cynical. Being like a child means that when we come to worship, we come in awe and wonder of a God who created the heavens and earth - not to be entertained, out of a sense of obligation or because it is routine.

 I had a pastor friend who would randomly ask youth and children, “Do you know what today is?” and without fail, they would say, “Monday” or “Sunday” or whatever day of the week it was. To that, he would say, “No…today is the day that the Lord has made, so we should rejoice and be glad in it.” As Christians, every day is the Lord’s day and we should live every day filled with wonder and joy. We get to live our lives in relationship with the creator of the universe, who was born in a manger and died on a cross, all so we might know Him and love Him.

Let us be more like a child and less childish in our relationship with God and in our relationships with each other. If you need help figuring out what I am talking about, I would encourage you to come early to the 10:00 service and look for the little girl running into worship with a sense of joy and excitement on her face Then you will know.