A Rahab Christmas

But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho—and she lives among the Israelites to this day.

Joshua 6:25

Rahab was a sinner and a Gentile… yet she was welcomed into the people of God. This foreshadows Jesus’ ministry in significant ways. In Luke 5:32 Jesus says, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” And much later in 1 Timothy 1:15, the Apostle Paul says “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...”

Too often we fall into the trap of thinking that God’s love, mercy and forgiveness are only for "good" people. People who have it all together. Church people. But Rahab’s story reminds us that God loves sinners too. And He sent His Son Jesus to be born in Bethlehem, to live and die, not to save the righteous but sinners!

That’s the scandal of the gospel and the scandal of Christmas. That the Almighty, Eternal, Holy God would love people like Rahab... and you and me. That He would send His son to die for people like us. People who don’t deserve His love, who aren’t worthy of His love, and have no claim to it.

As a Gentile, Rahab had no claim on the promises God had made to Abraham, and yet she was adopted into Israel. She became part of the people of God. And we find this theme of bringing the Gentiles into the people of God in the Christmas story as well. When Mary and Joseph bring baby Jesus to the temple to present Him to the Lord, Scripture tells us that Simeon took Jesus in his arms and said He would be “a light for revelation to the Gentiles...” (Luke 2:32)

Jesus came not only to save sinners, but to save sinners from both Israel and the Gentiles. And to make them one body, one people. This was Jesus’ mission, made clear even when He was a baby at the temple. And we find that hidden purpose of God hinted at, way back in the life of Rahab.

A Heritage of Faith

Hebrews 11 is sometimes referred to as the Hall of Faith chapter... a kind of hall of fame for the Christian faith. It lauds the faith of individuals like Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Rahab and others. But at the very end of the chapter, after telling us all about their great faith, the author of Hebrews says this:

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Hebrews 11:39–40

None of those precious saints received the fullness of the promise. Not yet anyway. The complete fulfillment and culmination of all of that God has promised to His saints... waits for you and me and for countless other believers, so that only together with us will the believers of old be made perfect.

This is a tremendously helpful reminder that the Christian faith isn't truly “personal” in the strict sense of the word. It's communal. Your faith is connected to all those who came before you and to all those who will come after. You have a spiritual heritage that has been passed down to you by your spiritual ancestors. And now you have a responsibility to pass it down to the next generation as well.

Do you connect your faith to those who came before you? Do you read the great Christian books and treatises and sermons of the past? Or is your Christian faith shaped solely by the pastors, teachers and authors alive today? You are privileged to have access to the writings and sermons of many of the greatest Christian thinkers, preachers and missionaries of the last two millennia. You would do well to expose yourself to at least some of them.  

And what about the generation that will come after you? Are you doing anything to hand the faith down to them? You should be. Whether you volunteer with the children's ministry at your church, or pray for and minister to your own kids and grandkids, you have a responsibility to help pass the faith down to the generations that come after you. Through service, giving and prayer make sure you do your part to pass the baton of faith to those who will still be running their race long after you are gone.

The Church isn't Burger King

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.

Hebrews 13:1

When I go to Burger King, I go through the drive-thru because (1) I want to get in and out as quick as possible. And I’ve never once asked the person taking my order what his name is or started a conversation with him, because (2) I’m not there to build relationships. I’m just there to get what I want and get out. And speaking of what I want. Burger King is famous for the slogan “Have it Your Way.” So, when I go to Burger King, (3) I tell them exactly what I do and don’t want. I don’t like pickles. So, I tell them, “No pickles.” And if they mess that up and put pickles on my burger, then (4) I may not go back, because I’m the costumer and if I’m not happy with the service why would I go back?”

Now, some people treat the church the same way. (1) They want to get in and get out as quick as possible. If the church had a drive thru line, they’d use it. They don’t come for Sunday School, only the worship service, because they don’t want to be at church any longer than they have to be. (2) And just like me at Burger King, these people don’t ask anybody’s names. They don’t talk to anybody, because they aren’t there to build relationships. (3) And these people think Burger King’s slogan ought to apply to church. They want to have church "their way." So, if the sermon or the music isn’t how they like it, then they let someone know. They aren't afraid to give special orders for how they want their music or someone. (4) And since they see themselves as “the customer,” they think it’s the church’s job to make them happy. And if the church doesn’t do what they want, then they might just leave and find another church that does it "their way."

That’s what I call a Burger King view of the church. It isn't biblical. The Bible gives us a number of metaphors that help us think about the church rightly. One in particular is the Family.

Over 150 times, the New Testament refers to believers as brothers and sisters in Christ. And Hebrews 13:1 commands us to "love one another as brothers and sisters." For more on this view of the church check out (Mark 3:35, John 1:12-13, 1 John 3:1, 1 John 3:16)

Thinking of the church as a family leads to a very different outcome than thinking of it as a Burger King. When you realize that the church is a family, then (1) you stop wanting to get in and out as quick as possible. You stop looking for a drive-thru church experience. (2) You start caring about the people in your church. You want to know their names. You want to start conversations with them and get to know them. (3) And you instinctively get that in a family you can’t always have it "your way.” You have to consider other people’s needs and wants. And often you have to sacrifice your wants to meet their needs. (4) And, obviously, you don’t walk away from your family and go find a new one when you don’t get your way.

So, please understand me when I tell you that your church is a family! You aren’t a customer at church. You're a part of the family of God. So, don’t treat your church like a Burger King or a drive thru worship experience. Take the time to get to know your brothers and sisters in Christ. Learn their names. Build relationships with them. Stop trying to get in and out of church as quickly as possible. Join a Sunday School class or a Wednesday night Bible study. 

God didn't invite you to participate in a business transaction from arm’s length. He invited you into His family. Those are two very different things.