A Holy Disruption

Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable — if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy — dwell on these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you. -Philippians 4:8-9

Christmas carols paint an idyllic picture of Jesus’s first few months, but how accurate are they? Mary had to find a place to give birth, then a bunch of strangers came to visit her newborn baby. She heard foreboding prophecies from Simeon in the temple, and later the little family had to run for their lives. Christmas was a holy disruption.

Jesus’s “holy disruption” continued into his ministry. He behaved counter-culturally in many ways: by eating with rejects and sinners or conversing with a woman from the “wrong side of the tracks.” Just eating and talking with certain people sidelined by their ethnicity, history, or employment was enough to get him blackballed by the religious leaders.

The counter-cultural king died and rose and went back to his throne in heaven. But he sent his Spirit to empower and equip his people with the truth and with the power to love well. God wants us, citizens of heaven, to turn our earthly cultures upside down by loving others. What does loving your neighbor look like for you?

Love offers grace and forgiveness and seeks justice. Love brings diverse people together, breaking down the cultural walls that divide us. Love also results in joy, hope, and contentment—none of which depend on current circumstances. So even when we face difficulty, grief, or uncertainty, we can be sure that God’s way is still the best and keep on living with gratitude. We are challenged to think on what is true, pure, honorable, just, and lovely… but to recreate those things out in our world. Identify at least one situation in your daily life in which you can offer peace, forgiveness, and to extend grace.