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FIRST RESPONSE: Christmas 2007: Yes, No or Maybe? |
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Written by Don Williams
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First Response: Christmas 2007: Yes, No or Maybe?
By Don Williams
You will probably hear a few different takes on Christmas this year.
First, of course, is the traditional Christmas. The message of the angels, “Glory to God in the Highest and Peace on Earth”; the manger scene; the Holy Family surrounded by Disney animals, shepherds and exotic princes who followed the star; holiday festivities; Christmas Eve candle lit services; family reunions with special food; massed choirs; moments of cheer in a gloomy world. Add to this organized and disorganized football games, The Miracle on 42nd Street, It's a Wonderful Life and the package is complete. None of this is to be despised, especially when we look into the expectant faces of our children.
Second, there will be those who “Ba! Humbug!” the whole season. Some come at it from cynicism, others from despair. Their childhood memories are filled with conflict, separation, a drunken parent, with themselves shuffling back and forth between family brokenness. Some denounce the commercialization of the whole event, like the adult elves last week who warned Christmas shoppers not to buy at “The Grove” a major Southern California Shopping Center. They shudder at the cash value of our presents to ourselves and others, keeping consumer confidence and the economy above water. This includes year-end giving to beat the tax-man while masses of homeless get the left-overs of our Christmas cheer, one big meal a year and back to the shelters and streets.
Third, there will be those who see the bite in Christmas. Last year New Line released “The Nativity Story.” It explodes on the screen with Herod's soldiers murdering the new born in Bethlehem. Mike Erre, Teaching Pastor at Rock Harbor Church in Costa Mesa California confronts us with this bite in his book, The Jesus of Suburbia (W Publishing Co). Here are a few of his thoughts:
“Jesus' birth was a revolution. It changed everything. There is no better place to begin our war against the counterfeit Jesus of Suburbia than with the birth of the real one.” (p.4) “Luke wants us to know that there is a bigger stage than we realize for the birth of Jesus Christ. In one corner of this massive empire, Luke recorded for us... a new king, ushering in a new and revolutionary kind of kingdom. The world lived under the rule of Caesar Augustus, yet Luke wanted us to know that hundreds of miles away, something so significant was happening that it would shake every empire and affect every life from that day to today.” (pp. 8f) “The announcement in Luke's gospel is the announcement of a king born in direct opposition to the rule and reign of Caesar.” (p. 9) “The birth of Jesus Christ was simply revolution: the birth of a different king, ushering in a differing kingdom, and threatening the kingdoms of this world.” (p. 9) “The birth of Jesus is divine insurrection and outright revolution.” (p. 10) “Jesus Christ is the most subversive man ever to have walked the earth. This is revolution.” (p.15) Strong words, indeed.
Fourth, there are those who stop and listen with fresh eyes to the old story. They look it it from the angels POV. Or they ponder Herod's state of mind or what Joseph and Mary's kinsmen must have thought about an out of wedlock pregnancy. Someone may even consider what the sheep saw as the angels exploded on their hillside.
In meditating on Christmas, my mind went to Joseph. He is quickly forgotten in the Gospel story, but for a moment he takes center stage. What went on in his heart when he thought that Mary had been unfaithful to him? What did the village of Nazareth think when Jesus began to grow in her womb? What shame issues surfaced? Matthew tells us that Joseph, being a righteous man (one of the pious working class), decided not to vilify Mary publicly. He would quietly terminate their future together. Then something happened. Here is my take on the Christmas story.
First, there was divine intervention. An angel came to Joseph in a dream, announcing that the Holy Spirit conceived Jesus in Mary's womb. She, then, at this point, was still a virgin. God would save his people through the fetus growing inside her. Second, Joseph knew that he hadn't had sex with Mary. Regardless of how things appeared or what people thought, his piety and integrity were intact in his heart. Third, based on the Scripture which the dream-angel quoted, Joseph knew that he had been called out of himself, his simple life and faith, into the larger purposes of God. His little history was now a part of divine history and divine destiny. So for Joseph and so for us.
Like Joseph, God wants to intervene in our lives with his miracle. He wants to appear to us. Christmas must happen in our hearts: “O Holy Child of Bethlehem descend on us we pray. Cast out our sin and enter in. Be born in us today. We hear the Christmas Angels their great glad tidings tell. O come to us. Abide with us. O Lord, Emmanuel.” (O Little Town of Bethlehem) Jesus appeared in a dream to my Muslim friend Parvis and I later baptized him in the Pacific Ocean. God is not limited by race or religion. As with Joseph and Parvis he can get anyone he wants and change their lives forever.
Then, like Joseph, regardless of our circumstances or people's opinions, we know our own conscience, our own hearts, our own integrity. For many coming to Jesus from alien cultures this is severely challenged. But God knows us and by his grace we can know ourselves. Is your heart compromised? Come to the Savior. He will wash you clean and you can begin again, participating in his purpose for you.
Finally, Joseph found his little history united to God's great history. He became, for a moment, a central player in the divine drama. So when you come to Jesus this Christmas, ask him to place you into his bigger picture. Ask him to call you beyond yourself. The world is waiting and needs to hear the good news we know. Are you physically challenged, aged or infirm? You can become an intercessor. Are you overwhelmed with life? Reorder your priorities. Are you plugged into God's mission for you? Thank him and go for it in the New Year.
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First Response 
