Parades. We have them all the time. We have them whenever we want to honor the people or events of which we are the most proud.
For example, we have parades honoring the United States of America and her citizens. As well we should. As Americans, we are proud to be living in a free and independent nation.
We have parades honoring the soldiers who fought in America's wars, past and present. As well we should. We are proud of their service to this country and grateful for the sacrifices they gave to protect the freedoms of their fellow countrymen.
We have parades honoring the workers in this country. As well we should. We are proud of those workers who keep America's industries, businesses and economy going strong.
Cities, both large and small, have parades honoring their establishments. As well they should. Each one is proud of having built a strong, working community for its citizens.
High school students have parades honoring their football teams, homecomings and proms. As well they should. These young people are proud of their accomplishments leading into their adult lives.
And some communities have parades honoring special--and sometimes strange--events that are unique to each community. Usually, some events pertain to a local industry that the community depends on for economic survival. Or it could be a local tradition that brings the community together. In some places it is cranberries. In some places it is soap box derby racing. In some places it is hardware. And in my boyhood home of Burlington, Wisconsin, it is chocolate. And as well they should. Each community is proud of having such industries and traditions as part of its culture.
Yet for all that we do celebrate with parades, I find it ironic that we never have a parade for the one thing of which we should be proud above all else: God's free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Granted, Christians are already celebrating Jesus with Sunday worship services, evangelism outreaches, gatherings and music concerts. Even so, I'm sure Jesus would appreciate it if we had a parade in His honor. After all, Jesus did it for Himself when He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and was cheered on by the people.
Of course, there are people out there who would protest against such an idea. As a Christian, I am well aware that a lot of people in our society today consider the Christian faith, its ethics and its message offensive. Such people say that we Christians ought to keep our faith to ourselves and not bother other people by making an outstanding display of that faith.
However, that is never the suggestion made whenever people have parades that honor truly offensive and immoral beliefs and practices. For example, many cities have parades honoring so-called "gay pride", even though homosexuality is not something of which to be proud. Also, certain college towns have parades honoring the use of marijuana, even though drugging your body for kicks is not something of which to be proud. And nowadays certain places within the United States have parades honoring the hatred among Americans against the very country in which they live and against the president who leads their country--never mind that treachery is most certainly not something of which to be proud.
Apparently, people can have parades to honor anything they want to honor. So, why then can't we Christians have a parade to honor Jesus?
There really is no reason why we should not have such a parade. In fact, the Bible teaches that we Christians are supposed to be bold when it comes to professing our faith in Jesus Christ. And a parade for Jesus would be a bold profession of faith indeed.
Yet, sadly, there are those Christians who don't want to be bold for Christ because of an imaginary fear of being insensitive towards unbelievers. But those same Christians don't seem to understand that unbelievers will never be as sensitive towards us and will continue to blatantly glorify their "prides". As a result, we Christians appear as a people with no pride at all.
It should not be that way. As the Apostle Paul wrote: "For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." He also wrote that we should never be ashamed of the Gospel. Therefore we should never be afraid to publicly declare our faith in Jesus Christ, no matter what the rest of the world may say. So paint the banners, build the floats and strike up the marching band. We need to have a parade honoring our Lord and Savior. And as well we should, for we are proud of His sacrifice on our behalf and His resurrection that gave us the victory over Satan.
So be it, in Jesus' Name. Amen.
