Thoughts on Christmas eve

Christmas-- a time of celebration for birth of our Lord Jesus into this world, a time of remembrance for Him who came to die for us so we can be saved from our sin.

As Christians, we recognize that sin is pervasive in this world (and in us). This can get me down sometimes, until I remember that this is the reason that Christ died for us.

Tim Keller sums it up well in Every Good Endeavor, "the gospel worldview equips [us] for a unique combination of optimism and realism about life. The gospel is more globally pessimistic about human nature than virtually any other view of things. There is no one class or group of people responsible for the world's situation; we all are responsible. Each of us is capable of the worst kind of evil, and there is nothing we can do to change ourselves, or even see ourselves in our true light, without God's help. And yet, on the basis of God's salvation in Christ, the gospel allows us to be at the same time deeply optimistic, envisioning not simply heaven but a perfectly renewed material creation."

I also liked that Keller talks about appreciating works of non-Christians, because God's common grace to everyone allows them to create beautiful work and excel sometimes even more than Christians.
"In the Christian story, the antagonist is not non-Christians but  the reality of sin, which (as the gospel tells us) lies within us as well as within them."

Also because one of my good non-Christian friend N just got engaged recently and we celebrated together last weekend at party that consisted of drinking game (wine) and Cards against Humanity, I been thinking about how to interact with non-believers in situations such as these. Should I just not play these games?  Again, Keller says it well....
"too much emphasis on wholesale withdrawal from culture increases the likelihood of slipping into other more "respectable" idolatries. A theologically "thick" view of sin... sees it as compulsive drive of the heart to produce idols. This view should lead neither to withdrawal nor to uncritical consumption, but rather to humble, critical engagement with culture."

And I thought one of my set of cards were well-played! I didn't win that round, but at least some people learned what "Rapture" means...
If there was the Rapture, there would be an end to harsh light of day.