COMMENTARY: A pastor opens his heart to the Christmas church-goer

c. 1996 Religion News Service (Charles Austin is a journalist and a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He is pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, Ridgefield Park, N.J.) UNDATED _ You are welcome; and yes, we know who you are. But be assured, that from where I stand in the pulpit _ as […]

c. 1996 Religion News Service

(Charles Austin is a journalist and a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He is pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, Ridgefield Park, N.J.)

UNDATED _ You are welcome; and yes, we know who you are. But be assured, that from where I stand in the pulpit _ as your pastor, your priest, your minister _ you are more than welcome.


You are the Christmas church-goer.

Maybe you slip into the rear pews. Maybe you make some nervous joke shaking hands with us as you leave. Maybe you say your name somewhat sheepishly when after the service we ask,”Do I know you?”Maybe you try to avoid us altogether.

But believe me when I say that you are welcome in church on Christmas Eve. You may get a few disapproving glances from the regulars who are there nearly every Sunday. You may have to suffer the sharp edge surrounding their greeting like the prickles of holly on a Christmas wreath.”Nice to see you!””It’s been so long!””See you next week?” Forget about all that. Let me tell you what your presence at Christmas means to me.

It means that you have not totally abandoned your faith. Perhaps you feel alienated from your church or have doubts about its teachings. Perhaps the bustle, heartache or trauma of life has kept you from being as faithful as you ought to be.

When I see you in church on Christmas Eve, my heart is gladdened because I know that something in you still cares. You may not be active in the way that I would prefer, but spirituality is still a part of your life, and in these days of widespread skepticism, that is enough. At least it is a start.

It also means that the great stories of our faith still have the power to draw you into their mysteries. Sunday after Sunday, we pastors, priests, and ministers preach these stories, sometimes to what appear to be uncomprehending congregations. But at Christmas, you and everyone else there _ perhaps you more than the others _ seem moved and touched by the tales of our heritage, the stories that are the foundation of our faith.

Your presence in church at Christmas tells me that faith survives where it is needed most, in the lives of ordinary people, people who make the effort _ in the midst of holiday madness _ to be in church, people who still feel drawn into the special wonder of faith that is manifest this season. As long as I see you there at a time like this, I believe you are open to having God with you at other times _ when you are sick, when you plan a marriage or face a divorce, when your life seems bereft of hope and promise.

We understand what you are going through as you enter the church on Christmas Eve. Let me tell you a secret. Pastors, priests, and ministers _ more often that you know _ also wonder whether we ought to be here, whether we have any business dealing with sublime matters of spirituality or eternity.


The truth is that none of us _ whether we lead the worship or whether we show up only on Christmas Eve _ has the”right”to stand before God this way, so we are all in the same boat.

So do not feel uncomfortable about coming to church at Christmas. Sing the carols, hear the stories, bask in the sights and smells of the season.

You are welcome. And even if your own faith seems shaky, your presence means it hasn’t collapsed completely. That makes you important, for you are a sign to the world that faith survives.

See you in church.

MJP END AUSTIN

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