God Has A Heart For Grinches

Remember, How The Grinch Stole Christmas? It's one of my favorite Christmas stories and annual T.V. shows. Thank you, Dr. Seuss. As to why the Grinch stole Christmas, Dr. Seuss offers several possibilities. But he concludes with this assessment, "But I think that the most likely reason of all, may have been that his heart was two sizes too small."

Well, the Grinch is not the only one with a heart problem. It's evident in our families, churches, communities and world. And that may explain why over the past couple of weeks, an image keeps recurring. It troubles my heart.

Picture the Roman Colosseum, a massive amphitheater. Through Wikipedia I learned it could hold 50-80,000 people. Most of you have heard about or watched movies that showed sporting events, like gladiators fighting to the death. And there are stories of Christians being devoured by lions, for sport. They were fed to hungry lions as punishment for following Jesus, instead of bowing to the emperor.

By now you're starting to think of me as one more grumpy Grinch. But wait, and I'll give you more ammo. This is the image that keeps recurring to me. Picture the colosseum. The spectators are our children, grandchildren, neighbors, colleagues, friends and ones curious about Christianity.

Now, into the amphitheater picture a group of Christians, hauled into the center of the arena. Picture ones you know, and with whom you disagree. Their crime? They differ from you in looks, voting choice, views on sex, environment, health, immunizations, abortion or some theological viewpoint. But, when the gates to the cages are lifted, not one lion charges. Instead, out come other Christians, armed with words. They tear into their brothers and sisters in Christ with accusations, hatred, distrust, shame and threats.

And I wept at the image and even more so when I thought about times I've been one of the "lions." And I remembered a verse from the Bible, "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (I Peter 5:8, NIV) See why I wept? As I've written before, we all have the same Enemy and it's not each other.

Now, picture another image, which also keeps returning. It's a large round table with stacks of leaves that can be added to make room for more people. And Jesus is there, welcoming and listening. So, every day while the Evil one works to divide us, turn us into his little lions, we have a choice. We have daily opportunities to set a table or a trap. To be a lion, hungry for the kill or a lover, hungry to love as Christ loves us.

So, back to the Grinch. What grew his heart from being two sizes too small to a whopping three sizes one day? The Grinch heard the Whos singing. They sang without the trimmings and trappings of Christmas. They sang without cursing the Grinch. And suddenly, the Grinch realized Christmas was different than he thought it was. And so were the Whos.

Well, dear Whos and Grinches, we are each capable of being both on any given day. And so I pray for us to find ways to sing somehow. To praise God for his goodness, and grace to us, no matter how Grinchy we feel, or how right we think our cause. And to encourage the Grinch in or around us to let the stuff go and catch a fresh glimpse of what Christmas and Christianity is all about.

And if you need a reminder, get hold of a Bible or Google Luke 2. But if you're pressed for time, just read Luke 2:10-11. It's a massive dose of good news. The best, actually. You and I have a Savior and it is Christ, the Lord. So do as the angels said, "Fear not." The Messiah, born in Bethlehem is as close as a prayer, friend or church. And watch your heart start to grow. Because after all, the heart of Christmas is the heart. God's heart so full of love for us. And our hearts, so hungry for God, whether we know it or not.

So, I wish you a healed and growing heart during this Advent season. Jesus welcomes heart to heart talks. He knows there's so much more to the story of every Grinch or Who. So consider inviting the Grinch in you or others to come to a Who Feast. There's one every Sunday at Christ Church. Not the kind of feast in the story by Dr.Seuss, but the kind of feast we all need even more. It's one rich in mercy, forgiveness and love.

And like the title reads, "God Has A Heart For Ginches."

Like me.

And maybe you, too.