 | Elyse Cyr |
In this post, I’ve been asked to share a connection between the Christmas story and the Gospel. But before I dive into that, I want to set the tone with a little bit of “disability theology.”
God created all people in His image – with a mind to think, with emotions to feel, and with a will to make choices. He made all people with the ability to know Him. But all people, while created in His image, are also affected by sin. Sin is not relegated to those of certain race, ethnicity, skill, or ability level. And God’s grace, His free gift of salvation, is also not limited. It’s not bound by what we can or cannot do. It’s not bound by our IQ or our education. It’s a free gift for ALL people. Augustine wrote, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” That restlessness, and our need for a Savior is not something that is unique to a certain group of people; it’s a universal truth. As those who work with individuals with developmental/intellectual disabilities, we must realize that God has made all people with the ability to know Him. We don’t have to have a certain IQ to be saved.
Let me be clear: A diagnosis does not limit someone’s spirituality. It does not negate or impact someone’s ability to know and receive the free gift of salvation. In fact, I have found that sometimes, our students and residents have an even greater trust in and love for God because of their developmental/intellectual disabilities. God wants all people to know Him. And we, as those who work with those with intellectual/developmental disabilities, have a unique opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus with those who are precious in His sight.
What do you think of when you hear “Christmas”? Presents? Santa? Elves? Christmas parties? Lights and trees? Shopping malls and long lines? Black Friday and Cyber Monday? Caroling and time with family? Do you think of a baby in a manger, surrounded by shepherds and cows, a teenage mother and wise men? We’ve all seen the reenactments of the story. Kids dressed up like Mary and Joseph with bathrobes and towels on their heads, wise men and shepherds, angels and barnyard animals, singing about babies and mangers. It’s one of the best parts of any Christmas program; it warms our heart.
As Christians, we know the true reason for the season – the birth of our Savior. God became flesh and made His dwelling amongst us (Jn. 1:14). In both the Old Testament and the New Testament, the name “Immanuel” is given to Jesus. Immanuel means “God with us”. And in the Christmas story, we see God with us.
But there’s a mistake we often make. We relegate Jesus as a baby to the manger. We keep the smiley, roly-poly baby in the stable in Bethlehem. Jesus’ purpose was not solely to be a baby in a manger. His purpose was to rescue all people from their sins. The birth of Christ makes Good Friday and Easter Sunday possible. Unfortunately, though, what is often taught is only a sliver of God’s story without making connections to the whole picture.
A question I was asked recently was “How do you share the Gospel when you teach the Christmas story?” The answer: Easy! But it requires some intentionality. When teaching about the Christmas story, it is important to make connections between the Messiah in the manger and the Savior who rose from the tomb.
I’ve found it’s easiest to make those connections when the materials or curriculum I am teaching helps me make those connections. A chronological and systematic approach to God’s Word throughout the year makes it possible for connections to take place – connections between the sacrifices in the Old Testament and the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, between the substitute provided to Abraham and Christ as our substitute, between the Tabernacle as God’s dwelling place and Jesus as the one who dwelled with us. In the Roots of Faith class at Shepherds College, I tell my students that my favorite verse in Genesis is Genesis 3:15 and when I do, I get looks that tell me I’ve gone off my rocker. But once I explain that in that verse is God’s plan of salvation, His means of rescuing people and reversing the curse of sin, light bulbs begin to turn on and understanding begins to dawn. And as we trace that promise throughout the Old Testament to Noah and Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Moses and the Prophets, students are able to connect that God’s promise to crush Satan and send a Deliverer is fulfilled in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of the Messiah.
As you prepare to teach about the birth of the Savior this Christmas, let me encourage you to be as creative as you can! Here are some ideas I’ve found:
Let me close by sharing a couple of great resources to consider using as curriculum.
God created all people in His image – with a mind to think, with emotions to feel, and with a will to make choices. He made all people with the ability to know Him. But all people, while created in His image, are also affected by sin. Sin is not relegated to those of certain race, ethnicity, skill, or ability level. And God’s grace, His free gift of salvation, is also not limited. It’s not bound by what we can or cannot do. It’s not bound by our IQ or our education. It’s a free gift for ALL people. Augustine wrote, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” That restlessness, and our need for a Savior is not something that is unique to a certain group of people; it’s a universal truth. As those who work with individuals with developmental/intellectual disabilities, we must realize that God has made all people with the ability to know Him. We don’t have to have a certain IQ to be saved.
Let me be clear: A diagnosis does not limit someone’s spirituality. It does not negate or impact someone’s ability to know and receive the free gift of salvation. In fact, I have found that sometimes, our students and residents have an even greater trust in and love for God because of their developmental/intellectual disabilities. God wants all people to know Him. And we, as those who work with those with intellectual/developmental disabilities, have a unique opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus with those who are precious in His sight.
What do you think of when you hear “Christmas”? Presents? Santa? Elves? Christmas parties? Lights and trees? Shopping malls and long lines? Black Friday and Cyber Monday? Caroling and time with family? Do you think of a baby in a manger, surrounded by shepherds and cows, a teenage mother and wise men? We’ve all seen the reenactments of the story. Kids dressed up like Mary and Joseph with bathrobes and towels on their heads, wise men and shepherds, angels and barnyard animals, singing about babies and mangers. It’s one of the best parts of any Christmas program; it warms our heart.
As Christians, we know the true reason for the season – the birth of our Savior. God became flesh and made His dwelling amongst us (Jn. 1:14). In both the Old Testament and the New Testament, the name “Immanuel” is given to Jesus. Immanuel means “God with us”. And in the Christmas story, we see God with us.
But there’s a mistake we often make. We relegate Jesus as a baby to the manger. We keep the smiley, roly-poly baby in the stable in Bethlehem. Jesus’ purpose was not solely to be a baby in a manger. His purpose was to rescue all people from their sins. The birth of Christ makes Good Friday and Easter Sunday possible. Unfortunately, though, what is often taught is only a sliver of God’s story without making connections to the whole picture.
A question I was asked recently was “How do you share the Gospel when you teach the Christmas story?” The answer: Easy! But it requires some intentionality. When teaching about the Christmas story, it is important to make connections between the Messiah in the manger and the Savior who rose from the tomb.
I’ve found it’s easiest to make those connections when the materials or curriculum I am teaching helps me make those connections. A chronological and systematic approach to God’s Word throughout the year makes it possible for connections to take place – connections between the sacrifices in the Old Testament and the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, between the substitute provided to Abraham and Christ as our substitute, between the Tabernacle as God’s dwelling place and Jesus as the one who dwelled with us. In the Roots of Faith class at Shepherds College, I tell my students that my favorite verse in Genesis is Genesis 3:15 and when I do, I get looks that tell me I’ve gone off my rocker. But once I explain that in that verse is God’s plan of salvation, His means of rescuing people and reversing the curse of sin, light bulbs begin to turn on and understanding begins to dawn. And as we trace that promise throughout the Old Testament to Noah and Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Moses and the Prophets, students are able to connect that God’s promise to crush Satan and send a Deliverer is fulfilled in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of the Messiah.
As you prepare to teach about the birth of the Savior this Christmas, let me encourage you to be as creative as you can! Here are some ideas I’ve found:
- Make edible nativities (http://joleneengle.com/focusing-on-the-hope-that-has-come-this-christmas/)
- Act out the Christmas story from Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2.,
- Utilize an advent calendar or book
- Make a “Jesse Tree” (http://www.whychristmas.com/customs/jessetrees.shtml),
- Use books and movies that accurately portray the birth of our Savior, such as “The Nativity Story” (http://www.amazon.com/The-Nativity-Story-Keisha-Castle-Hughes/dp/B000MGBM1I)
Let me close by sharing a couple of great resources to consider using as curriculum.
- The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones. While created for children, this resource is one that I often use in my own time with God because of its profound simplicity of tracing God’s plan of redemption. (http://www.sallylloyd-jones.com/books/jesus-storybook-bible/)
- Another resource is The Roots of Faith curriculum by ABWE. In 50 Old Testament lessons and 50 New Testament lessons, the Roots of Faith curriculum traces God’s plan of redemption from Creation to the final judgment and the new Heaven and Earth. (http://www.goodsoil.com/resources/the-roots-of-faith-old-testament-instructor-kit http://www.goodsoil.com/resources/the-roots-of-faith-new-testament-instructor-kit)
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