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Are you ready for Christmas? During the season of Advent – which annually begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and leads up to December 25 – followers of Jesus traditionally look for ways to prepare themselves for the coming of God’s own Son into the world. Throughout December we’ll ponder ways that we can ready ourselves to receive Jesus, once again, into our own hearts.
It seemed like such a good idea.
As the American Airlines 767 taxied toward takeoff at Los Angeles International Airport, the pilot was reflecting on the fact that he had just been part of an inspiring church-sponsored mission trip to Costa Rica.
As pastor J.D. Greear reports in his book Everyday Revolutionary, the pilot couldn’t stop wondering how he might help others experience the joy that was still flooding his heart.
He decided to try something. He picked up the intercom, glanced at his co-pilot, and launched into his standard pre-flight announcement.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he began, “I want to welcome everyone today to Flight 34 with direct service to New York City. I know this is a little crazy, but would all the Christians on board raise your hands?”
The passengers had never heard this one before. Neither had the co-pilot. A few people tentatively raised their hands.
“Everyone, look at these people with their hands raised. We’ve got four hours together. I’d encourage you to use this time to talk to these Christians about their faith. They can tell you everything you need to know about going to heaven when you die.”
With that, the pilot signed off – excited about his bold step to make a difference for God’s kingdom.
But, as Greear points out, “It didn’t land quite the way he had hoped.”
Let’s just say that it never goes over well when a pilot who is about to take you up to 35,000 feet starts talking about the wisdom of preparing to meet Jesus. A number of passengers whipped out their phones and called family members, just in case this was their last chance to say goodbye.
Flight 34 arrived safely and on time in New York City. A message was waiting for the pilot: “Your supervisor would like to have a word with you…”
That really happened. Hopefully, it will never happen again.
And hopefully, we will abandon the notion that serving God means doing something spectacular – something bold and showy that will really get people talking.
The New Testament asks for no such displays. Instead, our call is to “make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you…” (I Thessalonians 4:11).
The apostle Peter reminds us, “Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life in your neighborhood so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives” (I Peter 2:11-12, TheMessage).
J.D. Greear calls this the Kalos Life.
Kalos is a Greek adjective that means “good, beautiful, noble, excellent, and honorable.” We win people’s hearts not by trying to score points in the latest culture war, but by going through life graciously and faithfully. The bottom line? Greear suggests that we choose to “keep our heads down and do our jobs.”
The Bible is not a set of blueprints to argue people into trusting God. Or to shame them, push them, or scare them, either.
Peter goes on to say, “Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick” (I Peter 3:15).
Our aim should be to live in such a way, in other words, that people will feel drawn to ask about our lives.
That’s the beauty of kalos – quietness, faithfulness, and kindness that doesn’t require us to argue or shout.
In recent years, some Christians have experienced December as a series of pitched battles: Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays and traditional carols vs. secular Christmas hits. But our neighbors who are unacquainted with the love of God could hardy be expected to think our convictions concerning these issues have any relevance to their daily lives.
They do wonder, however, if God is really there. And if God can be trusted. And whether calling on God would turn out to be any kind of remedy for grief, depression, or loneliness.
Suffice it to say people in our culture aren’t looking for someone who has raised their hand and is saying, “I have all the answers.”
But they are definitely interested in drawing closer to someone whose life radiates a quiet and faithful beauty.
As Christmas approaches this year, may God bless each of us with a deeper vision of the Kalos Life.