The Christmas Service Only 5 People Came To

I remember standing there with chairs wall to wall in the event center that we were renting, our Christmas service was packed with probably the biggest crowd we’ve ever had at church. I got up to the stage and looked at the crowd and said out loud, “who are all these people?” When we sang, the halls echoed with voices in unison. It was electrifying, angelic, and astonishing to me. By the end of the day we had witnessed many people make decisions to follow Jesus, record attendance, and a faith filled team of people leading the church. But, that wasn’t my favorite or most memorable Christmas at our little church. This year’s was. 2020, of all the years, was the best.

Five people made it to service. Five.

All of which were my family. My brother ran the live stream and my wife and three small children took our places on X’s marked on the ground for us. With bright lights all around, a countdown from my brother, and three squirmy kids, the service opened with my little family wishing two cameras a very “Merry Christmas.”

Any other Sunday, if five people showed up, I’d be gutted. Any other Christmas, I’d feel like a failure - as a Pastor, father, and Jesus follower. But not this Christmas. This Christmas I was filled with peace, joy, and affirmation.

Peace because the decision had been made, the plans were set, and the time to change was past - it was in God’s hands now. Joy because it was the first time I’d taken the pulpit hand in hand with my whole family - and it won’t be the last. And affirmation because my children got it. They got it.

This Christmas we chose not to hold a large church gathering. We chose not to hold the parties we usually host. This Christmas we explained to our kids how the “world was sick” (that’s how they refer to covid-19), and that to protect those that we love, we wouldn’t have church like normal. In fact, this Christmas wouldn’t be like any before.

My small children understood. They weren’t upset, demanding, belittling, or offended. They were happy to do it. I was filled with affirmation from my Heavenly Father that teaching my children to lay down their lives, plans, “rights”, and preferences for our friends is an act of love - one exemplified best by Jesus himself. They know that the best way to love our grandparents is to distance ourselves. They know that the best way to show love to their neighbors is to wear their cute little batman mask when we’re out of the house (which is rare these days). They know that Zoom Preschool is our way of protecting our friends and teachers.

This was my favorite Christmas because it showed me that putting Jesus’ first and second greatest commandments to love God and my neighbor before my 1st amendment rights should have always been the priority. My commitment to follow Jesus supersedes all other allegiances. It showed me that the story of Jesus and His love for humanity is powerful enough to be broadcasted from a 600sf studio and still impact lives. It showed me that choosing faith over fear often means having enough faith to stay put and trust that God will be with us.

The way I have experienced faith over fear this year is to have faith that even though we’re not gathering in-person God will take care of us. I have faith that I’ll see my friends again, instead of fear of abandonment. I have faith that God will sustain our church financially, instead of fear that not gathering will affect our budget. I have faith that erring on the side of grace and mercy will prevail over the fear in my heart that I’m making the wrong decisions. I have faith that our best is ahead of us, not fear that it’s behind us.

And if I’m wrong, I’m willing to face the results I fear. Because I’ll still have the best people one could ask for all together to face our future side by side - just the five of us.