with peace on earth (christmas part 2)

These days it is very popular to talk about the true meaning of Christmas. Especially in Christian circles. We want Jesus back in Christmas. What right do retailers have to say “Happy Holidays”? When did Christmas become all about Santa? Why is it that political correctness has taken over the celebration of the Savior’s birth?

Maybe we are asking the wrong questions.

I want to be very clear in stating that the date we use to celebrate Christmas, December 25^th, is rooted in pagan tradition. Many pagans used this date to celebrate the birth of the Sun. Some would argue that the Christian celebration is somehow undermined by this. However, I believe there is power in using a pagan holiday as a vehicle to worship the one true God. Paul used pagan poetry and even pagan idols to lead others to worship YHWH (Acts 17:22-34). Doing so declares YHWH as the one true God among the powerless imitations, and it challenges the false gods head on revealing them for what they are.

The reason this is important is that today Christmas stands as the pinnacle of American worship of consumerism. As a nation, we spend an average of $450 billion on Christmas every year. The United Nations Development Program has estimated it would cost $20 to $30 billion to provide clean water and sanitation universally to the entire world. These figures are incredible. Is it any wonder that Christmas has become what it is? Imagine this, God who is rich in all things becomes poor (born in a manger in the backwoods of Israel) so that we can become rich. Then, those living in the richest country in the world celebrate by running around buying gifts for each other. The rich who have more than they need, buying more things for the rich who have more than they need. It seems ludicrous. It screams mockery of everything that God intended the birth of the Messiah to represent. The birth meant to represent the sacrifice of YHWH because of His love for His people, has become the birth representing the American worship of the almighty dollar.

The questions we should be asking are questions of ourselves. How can I give as Jesus gave? How can I love as Jesus loves? What things can I sacrifice to tell the story of God’s ultimate sacrifice? It is once again time for those who are declaring the story of the incarnation, to use a pagan holiday as a vehicle to tell the true story of God’s love. To live the story by truly giving – our time, our money, and our resources. To use Christmas to worship the one True God. To celebrate the coming of the Messiah.

inspired by www.adventconspiracy.org

with peace on earth (christmas part 1)

It has been two thousand years since this child was born, the child who would change the course of history. A child who many debate the validity of, but none can ignore. And if His claims were true, if the claims of the Scriptures are true, then His birth was, is, and will be the most significant event in all of history.... the center point of the cosmos... the meeting of heaven and earth in a stable... wedding the visible and invisible...

I cannot argue that the air felt different that night. I cannot tell you how the shepherds felt or what went on in the minds of the young couple as they had to wrap the baby and keep him fed. I do not know if they knew how this event would impact the next two thousand years. But I believe that this was the most powerful and central event in the course of all of the world.

Thirty three years later this one who claimed to be the Jewish Messiah and King of all creation, would hang from a cross that Roman guards had nailed him to. After taking relentless beatings and scorn he would cry out, as any would in this situation, "My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me?"

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The God known as YHWH (the God of covenant faithfulness). The God who claims to keep His promises. How could he allow this to happen? This man was purely Jewish. He preached love and goodness to all around him. He healed the sick, gave to the poor, made the lame walk... Now God forsakes him? Leaves him to die on a Roman cross with Jewish and Gentile accusers?

Over his head hangs a sign mocking his claim to be the Messiah. "My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me?" This had to be a slap in the face of any Jewish listener. They knew exactly what it meant. Jesus (the true Israel) was in the same place as every Jewish person around him. They were in exile... Where was the God who kept his promises? Where was the God of their fathers? They would wake up every morning in service to the Roman emperor. This is not the way it should be. The Romans worshiped every god except for the one true God. Had YHWH abandoned them? They had been waiting for this Messianic figure for so long, and now the man who claimed to be Messiah and had power to restore the deaf and lame and even dead was a blood soaked criminal - a political prisoner bound to suffer the death of an insurrectionist.

The real criminals on both sides mocked him. "My God!!! My God!!! Why have you forsaken me? " Not only did the Jews understand Jesus words, but I understand his words. It is two thousand years later, there is war all around us, nothing makes sense. People are starving and dying of AIDS. The innocent suffer. The wicked prosper. Money, sex, and power are the gods trusted for salvation... and this man claims to be Messiah?

Has God forsaken us? Did God turn his back on his son? Is this time of year in vain?

The answer came three days after this man should have breathed his last. It came in power. It came in victory. "He is not here! He is risen!!!" The powers of death have been destroyed. The head of the serpent crushed. Jesus the Christ had not been forsaken! God did not turn his back on his Son! He did not turn his back on his people! He has not turned his back on us! The creation of God will be redeemed once and for all through Jesus the Messiah! The baby born in the manger in Bethlehem came out of the grave in power! The baby born in Bethlehem will return to fix his world and to rule and reign with justice! The wrong will fail and right prevail with peace on earth, goodwill to men!

"Behold, He makes all things new."