We want Christmas to be perfect, lighting, music, decor and meals.

Rowena has decorated our home incredibly

Illus: Ben/Eldon’s perfect picture

How many pictures/editing to get this picture? Is it accurate?

It’s the sanitized version of the day.

We’ve done the same to the Christmas Story

Luke 2:6–7 (ESV) And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

TITLE: The Problem With Sanitizing

PRAYER:

“Wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger?”

• An extremely pregnant woman traveling days via donkey exposed to the elements.

• Traveling for a census, imposed by the Romans occupying their land:

  • Roman citizens legally compel non-Roman to do almost anything

  • Legally confiscate, property, require sexual favors and kill with no punishment ○ Execution was common and extreme, often for sporting purposes, including burning people alive, sewing then in animal skins and attacked by dogs, impalement, crucifixion

• Traveling with her fiance who broke off the engagement - the baby is not his

• They are traveling to his family’s region, and her pregnancy is scandalous

• Upon arrival, no room with family/friends - that says it all

• No room at the inn, gives birth in a stable, outside, animals, etc

• Medicine was poor. Diseases were rampant. Life expectancy was 40

• Placed the baby in a manger, a long open box or horses or cattle to eat from

• Host of angels show up and absolutely terrify them

• Massive groups of shepherds keep showing up wanting to see the baby.

Sanitizing: the process of enhancing the perception of a thing in order to make it more appealing and valuable.

• Shrewd marketing

• Deception -counterproductive to our best lives

It turns it into Instagram story that is irrelevant to those of us living real lives in real situations, in a real world than glamor

Sanitizing Is Not The Language Of The Kingdom. But Truth Is.

The Bible might be the worst promotional book ever. If it were for a pamphlet for a cruise line, you would discover:

• Most captains unqualified to navigate boats

• Most boats have significant health outbreaks

• Instances of staff mistreating passengers

• Ships regularly under attack by pirates.

• Storms are frequent

• Some ships never make it to their destination.

Consider Ananias/Sapphira

• Acts 4:34–35 (ESV) There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

• Acts 5:1–5 (ESV) But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.

• Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart?

  • They were sanitizing their life.

  • They wanted to Impress others

  • They wanted their giving to look bigger than it was

  • They wanted to be connected to an elite groups

• Ananias/Sapphira were New Testament virtue signalers.

  • To do something to be perceived as virtuous you otherwise would not do.

  • To do something in public that you don’t do in private.

Many of our current political leaders are guilty of this. Gaven Newsome and his medical officials laid out some of the most extreme lockdown measures in the country regarding social distancing, limiting exposure, banning inside dining at restaurants, suggesting you cancel thanksgiving and mask even while eating - but celebrating his birthday at a high end restaurant with over 20 of those same medical officials creating policy present, every one or them breaking every rule.

• His public and private life are contradictory.

• He’s virtue signaling.

• He’s sanitized His public persona because his private one would not be accepted. ● He’s also a man like me somewhere in the process of God - I’m believing for his BEST!

COVID RELATED THOUGHTS FOR OUR CHURCH:

Some have good reason to distance and not be in church

• Underlying health issues

• Around people with underlying health issues

• Around the infected and you are trying to protect others.

• Decided risk is too high

• We support you, Live Stream etc.

Illus: Alison Welter

Some have tremendous CONVICTION not to distance and to be in church in person

• Conviction: gathering is the command of God

• Conviction: gathering is necessary for their well well-being and equipping

• Conviction: gathering allows me to serve the well-being of others.

• Decided the risk is worth it.

● We support you. We will take the risk with you (physical, social and legal)

Illus: 85 year old couple greeting families in Texas

Choose your course, but don’t navigate like Gaven Newsome.

• It is double minded and hypocritical

• It will diminish your leadership influence in the lives of some

• It infects others with your same brand of duality

Sanitizing Repels The Supernatural Work Of God. Truth Attracts It.

When the imperfect is exposed to God, He races in to perfect it.

• James 5:16 (ESV) Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

• Transparency with the right people in the right environment unlocks the supernatural power of God.

Declaring truth in love unlocks the perfecting work of God in lives.

• The truth about who you are

• The truth about who they are

• The truth about God

• The truth about God’s world

Sanitizing any of the above leaves people trapped in their imperfection because we fail to faithfully proclaim a better option.

Consider 3 Hebrews and Nebuchadnezzar,

• King was encouraged to demand people worship golden statue at sound of band

• Unredeemed leaders crave power and control, not the best for their people

• Three young men who follow God - violates commandment 1 & 2, so they don’t bow

• Left the country

  • Steer clear of the idol and avoid taking a stand

  • Bow down, but don’t mean it in your heart

  • Bow down, repent later

  • All examples of sanitizing.

• They refuse to bow, Nebuchadnezzar meets with them and demands they bow. Daniel 3:16–18 (ESV) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.

• Fiery furnace is heated up

• They are thrown in

• Nebuchadnezzar notices four in the fire and calls them out

• Fire had no power over them, hair, clothes, no smoky smell

• Daniel 3:28–30 (ESV) Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

When we risk declaring truth in love, up close, we unlock the perfecting work of God in peoples lives.

Luke 5:13 (ESV) And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him.

Jesus benign born in such an imperfect environment

Gives us confidence that He in your life and through your life can do the miraculous Don’t sanitize.