One of the things I look forward to at this time of year is gathering with family and friends over holiday meals. The food, the laughter, the food, the company, THE FOOD, and the joy of lingering at the table remembering and reminiscing.
But our gatherings at home and in public have been invaded with offense.
In the past 5-10 years it has been our personal mission to be offended at one thing or another. Waitress says, “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”? There goes her tip. Someone shortens “Christmas” to “X-Mas”? Must be a Jesus hater. Holding a political view different from my own? You clearly do not understand/know/believe The Bible the way I do, and I will ruin a gathering with my offense.
Throughout the holiday season (and all year) we are invited to sit at the table of Justified Offense over and over. We are encouraged to partake in indignation, arrogance, and ungraciousness to our heart’s content. We can overindulge and fatten up on unforgiveness. The table is always ready. Time after time, I sit. I am ready to feed my anger and bitterness.
I am ashamed to say how many times I willfully sit and treat myself to looking down on people, impatience, irritation, self-righteousness, and ingratitude. Then I am lured into the post-gluttony nap of justifying my actions with a false sense of being “right”.
But this is an invitation I am learning to refuse. Do I refuse by abandoning what I know to be true about God and His character and word? No. I refuse by sitting at a different table. The meal set before me by Jesus.
How do I know at what table I am sitting. Well, I just look at the meals that Jesus had.
Am I able to dine peacefully with people who believe/behave differently than I do? Jesus did. In Luke 5:29-32 he dines with Levi and other sinners. When asked why he would do this, Jesus responds that he has called the sinners to repentance. When we dine with our own people and the self-indulgence of people you only agree with, you miss opportunities to be a voice of invitation to repentance. Your hospitality would be the same as a doctor healing people who are already well (Luke 5:31).
Do I want my guests to affirm my opinion? Do I bring up heated topics because of my desire to be “right” and to share my need to show off my proximity to what I believe is only way to view a divisive argument? Jesus thoughtfully asked questions and revealed the way of The Kingdom in his discussions (Luke 14). It wasn’t about him being right, but where he pointed others’ focus. When your opinion becomes the focus of your argument, you are not leading people to God, but to your way of thinking.
Is my abundance an opportunity to praise my financial position and wag my finger at others for “poor decision making”? Jesus fed hungry people. He didn’t lecture about how they should have made sure they ate before they came to his sermon. He didn’t get irritated that he didn’t plan on having to feed so many people. He took what he had, blessed it, and fed people. Not mad, not upset and not stingy in his provision. Remember, there were leftovers.
Finally, Jesus comforted over meals. Do I sit at a table that seeks to comfort or convict people? Is my meal one of shame and guilt? Do I serve anger and self-righteousness to my guests? If I do, I can’t possibly be partaking of the meal that Jesus has set out.
Jesus sets out a table that encourages, loves, challenges (gently), includes, has more than enough, listens, fills, and satisfies.
I encourage you this holiday season to not only plan your meals, but plan at which table you will sit. Will you sit with Jesus?
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