One of my favorite Christmas fables is about a man who went to a local church during the Christmas season and asked if he could join. The pastor said, “Yes, if you can answer a Bible question.”

The man said, “I’m not too good at Bible facts, but I’ll try.”

The pastor asked, “Where was Jesus born?”

The man guessed, “Lancaster?”

The pastor said, “Sorry, you can’t join our church.”

So the man tried to join another church, and again the pastor said, “You must answer a Bible question. Where was Jesus born?”

This time the man guessed, “Allentown?”

The pastor said, “Sorry, you can’t join our church.”

The man was discouraged, but he decided to try one more church. This time, the pastor said, “We welcome you with open arms.”

“I don’t have to answer a Bible question?”

“No,” the pastor replied.

“Then let me ask you a question,” the man said. “Where was Jesus born?”

“Bethlehem,” replied the pastor.

“I knew it was somewhere in eastern Pennsylvania!” the man exclaimed.

Actually, there is a test we need to pass, but it’s not Bible trivia. The Bible says, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you not recognize for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless you fail the test.” (2 Corinthians 13:5, HCSB)
Yes, the key to being a Christian is not knowing that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but knowing Jesus has been born in your heart — “Christ in you.”

Would you pass that test?

Copyright 2009 by Bob Rogers. Email brogers@fbcrincon.com. Read this column each Friday for a mix of religion and humor. For more “Holy Humor,” go to the webpage of First Baptist Church of Rincon at www.fbcrincon.com.