'I Don't Know' Shouldn't Be An Answer

Troy Conrad
Troy Conrad

Materialism treats the temporal as if it were eternal and the eternal as if it were nonexistent.

"What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?" Matthew 16:26

The other day I asked my boys what they wanted for Christmas.

You know, when I was a kid Christmas was never this tough.

When I was asked what I wanted for Christmas I never once said, "I don't know." Which is the response that seems to the universally accepted phrase for most kids nowadays.

"Surely you want something," I said.

"I don't know" they all responded.

What in the world?

Whenever I was asked what I wanted I always had a list handy. A new Chewbacca action figure, a GI Joe jeep, a hand-held action football electronic game, a Hot Wheels race car set.

And, if I was really good, an electric train set!!!!! (Which rightfully deserves five exclamation points.)

Oh my goodness. It never, ever occurred to me to say, "I don't know," when someone asked me what I wanted for Christmas.

So I decided to do something I normally don't do. I started to watch Christmas commercials.

It used to be when Thanksgiving was over you'd see commercial after commercial of kids playing Operation or singing along to the newest Cabbage Patch doll. But not so much anymore. I looked and looked and looked for some Christmas commercials.

I found two.

Both for video games.

(Actually I think I found three, but I can't hardly understand commercials these days. They make no sense. I'm pretty sure it was an ad for new jeans.)

"I don't know" just isn't an appropriate response to anything.

When God called Isaiah, Isaiah didn't say, "I don't know." With confidence he said, "Here I am Lord!"

When David fought Goliath he didn't say "I don't know" when someone laughed at his little slingshot. With bravado he proclaimed, "God is with me!"

When John proclaimed the Gospel of the Good News of Jesus Christ he didn't say, "I don't know" when they asked him if he was the Messiah. He humbly said, "I'm not worthy to tie his shoes."

In life and in our spiritual lives, "I don't know" shouldn't be in our vocabulary. We should proclaim proudly what we believe. We should state solidly what we want in life. And we should humbly give all the glory to God.

Kids nowadays.

I just don't know.

Let us pray.

Dear God. We thank you for this day you've given to us. As we look forward to celebrating the birth of your son Jesus Christ we humbly come asking for your guidance in our lives. Let us proudly proclaim your name throughout the land and let your Spirit bring peace to this world. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

PASTOR TROY CONRAD IS MINISTER OF THE FARMINGTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.

Religion on 12/10/2014