A Simple Misunderstanding…
(December 15, 2009)
This morning, Kara (my 4 year old) and I were riding in the truck listening to music. You have to understand that It is Christmas time and the radio station is 100% holiday music right now. So there I am mindlessly driving down the road listening and thinking about who knows what when Kara asks me if Jesus is the King?
She was asking about one of the songs she just heard. It was a variation of “Angels from the Realms of Glory.” In that song one stanza speaks of worshipping Christ, the newborn King.
Of course, being the proud father I am, I tell here she is correct and I am secretly basking in the fact that my daughter has connected all the Sunday School lessons and can equate Christ with Jesus with King! I know I shouldn’t be prideful….
She then adds…”so if baby Jesus is the Newborn King then who is the dad?” I answer, “God.” Here is the rest of the conversation….
Kara – “If baby Jesus is the Newborn King, and God is the dad, then who is the queen?”
Me – “There is no queen.”
Kara – “How can there be a king without a queen?”
Me – “It can happen.”
Kara – “But who else is there?”
Me – “There is the Holy Spirit.”
Kara – “What’s A Holy Spirit?”
Me – “That is the PRESENCE of God and Jesus with us?”
Kara – “Oh you mean PRESENTS like from Santa?”
Me – “No, the PRESENCE of God and Jesus not Santa.”
Kara – “Oh, then the PRESENTS of people.”
Me – “No, It is a person – sometimes called the Holy Ghost.”
Kara – “But I don’t see a ghost.”
Me – “It is because he is invisible, but he is with us and helps us.”
Kara – “I don’t like ghosts.”
Me – “This is a good ghost that you can’t see.”
Kara – “Oh…so it’s really small.”
Me – “Yeah, something like that.”
Kara – “Dad?”
Me – “Yes, Kara?”
Kara – “I think there should be a queen….”
It was then and there that I realized how impossible it is to grasp the idea of the Trinity when you are 4 years old. In fact, I realized how hard it is to grasp the idea when you are 40 years old.
Too often in the church we use language that is simply misunderstood by those we are trying to share the love of Jesus Christ with. How often do the things we say and the ideas we try to communicate go straight over the heads of those we are talking to?
Last week at “declaration!” we watched the movie “Elf” and had the opportunity to talk about child like faith. Matthew 19:14 says “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” The emphasis is on “like these children.” It is a child like faith.
It is the simple innocence and belief in what you tell them is true. They don’t care about big theological terms or concepts. They just care that they are loved.
This Christmas season is a reminder that we should all just believe. Believe in a baby born in a manger long ago. Believe in the man that baby became and believe in the story that man told.
It really is a simple story and one that we often misunderstand…
Until next time….
Barry
Pastor Barry's Blog 