"Why" answers
Nate and I often challenge ourselves with the question, “Why?” Why am I doing this? Why are we creating this? Why are we saying that? The other “w’s,” who, what, when, and where are often the easy answers but the WHY? That answer is thought-provoking and inspiring. As a culture we put a lot of pressure on the “why” answer. We make it into mission statements, words for the year, and cute sayings to post on Instagram and hang on walls. But what happens when you don’t have the “why” answer?
“The other “w’s,” who, what, when, and where are often the easy answers but the WHY? That answer is thought-provoking and inspiring.”
Almost 10 years ago, Ronnie Freeman, an American singer/song writer, self-described “nerd for Christmas”, and missionary in Potsdam, started a Christmas concert in partnership with our local church plant - mittendrin. At its height the concert hosted 3 nights of a sold-out, 500 seat concert hall. After Ronnie returned stateside, mittendrin continued to host the concert, and continued to sell out each performance. In recent years, the music director at mittendrin changed the name to Lichtmomente, or Moments of Light.
In 2019, I sat around a table with 8 others as mittendrin planned for that year’s Lichtmomente concert. I came home and shared with Nate all about the meeting but noted that something just felt “off.” I couldn’t name it, but as Nate and I prayed and discussed the concert together it became clear to Nate.
I quickly scheduled a meeting with our music director. After praying with her, I asked, “Why are we doing this concert?” That is what was missing. The planning team lacked the articulation to the question, “Why are we doing this concert?” She gave full and robust answers to who, what, when, and where, but I never heard her “why.” I gently asked again, framing the conversation by repeating what I had heard her share, “Why are we doing the Lichtmomente Concert?”
What followed was her silence, like thoughtful question marks hanging in the air. As we continued the Spirit led discussion she said, “Jesus’ name is Light of the World.” Then we agreed, we were doing this concert “so people could come into contact with The Light of the World.”
The Hebrew Scriptures are full of images that link God with Light – pillars of fire, burning lamps, consuming fire. John’s Gospel portrays Jesus as the embodiment of the divine light, a light so powerful that it cannot be overcome by the darkness of sin and death. Matthews says of Jesus, “His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.” Matthew 17:2
When Jesus spoke to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” John 8:12. Therefore, one of Jesus’s names is Light of the World, and that special phrase only appears three times in the New Testament (Matthew 5:14-16, John 8:12 and 9:5). It is a distinctive phrase spoken only by Jesus, who uses it twice to refer to himself and once to refer to his disciples. Don’t miss Jesus’s “why” for his disciples, “to reflect His light.”
“Don’t miss Jesus’s “why” for his disciples, “to reflect His light.””
In Potsdam, there is hardly a time in the year when people are as open and receptive to the church and Jesus as they are at Christmas! I believe that is true in America, too. This season is a great opportunity for both Potsdamers and Americans to experience the Light of the World.
Jesus speaks to us as He did His disciples, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16
He invites us to not simply rest in his light, but to become light bearers ourselves. We are to express his heart and his character to our families, to our neighbors, to our coworkers, throughout our city, to everyone. We are to roll back the darkness with the light of Christ's presence in us.
Yet tragically, we often lose the urgency for the world's grief. We get comfortable or busy. We don’t want to offend or be irrelevant and so the light in us wanes. Reflecting His light takes diligent work within our daily routines. As 1 John 1:6-7 denotes, “‘walk in the darkness” and “walk in the light’ are two distinct lifestyles. One is characterized by wickedness and error and the other by holiness and truth.
“Yet tragically, we often lose the urgency for the world’s grief. ”
Christmas provides the same opportunities to you as Lichtmomente provides for Potsdam. An opportunity to shine light, further develop connections within the city, spread the message of the church and Jesus, and bring people in contact with the gospel. To live out what it means to “walk in the light.”
Nate and I pray that you will take time this Christmas to reflect on your “why” answers. “Why do/don’t I share the gospel with my neighbor?” “Why do I spend so much money at Christmas?” “Why am I going to this activity?” Let us ask, “Why is it important to shine my light?” Then let’s PRAISE God for shining his light into the world and for the ways he has shed his light on you / me / others!