As Christ followers, we are called to live differently in comparison to how the world lives. Think about that for a second. Every aspect in our lives should look different. Where we spend our time. Where we invest our resources. How we raise our kids. What we say, think, and do. It should all look different. (2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Peter 1:15-16, 1 John 2:15-17)
But are we different?
As American Christians, do we look any different than the culture we are living in?
Since Christmas is approaching, my mind started to ponder: What would it look like if Jesus came into the world as a baby now? And, how does the life of an average American Christian differ from the life of Jesus?
Let’s day dream a little…
It was a cold and snowy night. Mary had been preparing for Jesus’ birth for months. She had stalked Pinterest for the perfect decor, and layered the paint and accent wall with wall paper in the nursery. The clothes were washed and hung in the closet. And the books were lined on the shelf, ready to be read 3 to 4 times a day as recommended by the experts.
Her husband had been working extra hard. After all, with a baby coming, they needed to make sure his job was secure. The extra income they saved assured that the medical bills would be paid, since they had drained their previous savings when they took their babymoon.
Mary too prepared to leave her job, but have no fear, she would be back in three months following her maternity leave. She needs to work. It is part of her identity. It is who she is. Besides, she recently found the perfect in home daycare that specializes in robotics and producing early readers.
She was just looking through her latest pregnancy bump pictures to post on instagram when she felt the first contraction. It was time. He was coming.
They ran to gather the hospital bag filled with a sound machine, calming playlists, essential oils, and the perfect outfit for Jesus to come home in— tiny cacti dotted on a white onesie and paired with black pants. She had thought long and hard about what he would wear for his first instagram debut. Cacti were all the rage.
The labor was hard, but she got through it. As she held her sweet boy, she wondered what he would become when he grew up. Would he be athletic like his father? Would he love the arts like his mother? So much potential in one tiny bundle.
The days were long, but goodness the years went fast. They had Jesus in every activity under the sun. He was an all star baseball player at 12. He kept up his academics even while traveling with his competitive team. They didn’t get to church as often as they would have liked, but keeping up with his schedule took sacrifice and dedication.
Both Mary and Joseph continued to work hard, but they also enjoyed the fullness of life with several vacations throughout the year. You know what they say, “Work hard. Play hard.” Besides, competitive sports and private school are not cheap, someone had to fund those.
Jesus went on to play college baseball and his gifting in academics took him to the perfect university. They were so proud of his accomplishments. He didn’t go to church or make God much of a priority, but can you blame him? He was just too busy and couldn’t do it all.
He graduated and landed the best job in robotic engineering at Tesla. Mary guessed the robotics in daycare had really paid off. Jesus works hard and plays hard. Mary and Joseph taught him well. If you were to ask Mary what he values most, she would say hard work, money, athleticism, and fun. She is certain Jesus will instill those same values in his own children one day.
I can see the story of the American Christian Jesus unfold, and it both shocks and saddens me. This story looks nothing like that of Jesus from the Bible.
Jesus of Nazareth, born to a humble, young mother and father. Laid in a manger. Taken home to a carpenter father and faith-filled mother. We don’t know much about Jesus’ upbringing, but we do see him arrive at the temple in Jerusalem at the age of 12, speaking and teaching about God’s truth. His parents took him to the temple. They served and loved God and prioritized their faith in their home.
We also do not know much of Jesus’ activities or past times, but we see him step into ministry and begin to lay down His life through service and the healing of many people. We know how His life ended on a cross, and many of us profess a faith in Jesus that brings about salvation from His resurrection.
We know his story, but have we ever considered his story in comparison to ours? I know He was Jesus, God’s son. Clearly, none of us are birthing Jesus like Mary, or raising him like Joseph. But, we are Jesus’ followers and called to live in a way that was modeled to us through Him.
“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2
Be imitators. Follow in his steps.
Does my life imitate the life of Jesus? Am I raising my children in a way that imitates Jesus’ life— focused on service, worrying not about possessions or money, trusting God for everything, and walking in step with the Father?
Goodness, I don’t know about you, but I can do better. I want to live in a way that is more like Jesus and less like this world.
My heart’s desire is to focus more on the one in the manger— Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Lord of Lords, Immanuel, and less on the wallpaper in the nursery or the baseball scholarship.
Lord, help us raise our kids to love you, to value what you value, and treasure what you treasure. Start your good work right in our own hearts as we lay down our desires and focus on you. And, help us to live differently because you lived differently.