Isn't Christmas supposed to be a time of hope and joy? A time when we remember that the impossible is possible? A season for rejoicing that God isn't content to be some far-off, impersonal being, but cares so much about us that He showed up among us?
Yes, it is all of those things. But Jesus was born into the same world that you and I live in today. Jesus was born to a broke teenage mother. He was born into an occupied nation ruled by outsiders. He was born in a world that was not so merry -- the diseased were outcasts, women were stoned at even the suspicion of impropriety, and children were senselessly slaughtered.
Some time in the past 2,000 years, we've forgotten the reality of the first Christmas -- its stark juxtaposition of joy and pain.
We see the glittering side of Christmas in all the bright displays, in the commercials on every channel and the songs that permeate our public spaces.
But the pain of Christmas is there just below the surface.
Just beneath the glitter and the paper and the ever-cheerful tunes, we hurt again with the news of another police officer killed in the line of duty while serving a college that has seen more than its share of tragedy.
News of another trusted coach accused of assaulting another innocent child.
Stories of women on the other side of the world whose repeated rapes are perpetrated as another senseless act of another senseless war.
But so much of the pain is more personal. It hits much closer to home.
A dear friend is rejected for that much-needed, much-prayed-for organ transplant.
A parent is facing her first Christmas without a beloved spouse.
A neighbor is losing his house, and so much more, to foreclosure.
Our Christmas cards don't show this reality. And we do our best to look the other way, too. We'd often much rather fa-la-la our way through the Christmas season. But that's not real Christmas. One of the most amazing things about Christmas is that God chose to come into this world that is so full of injustice, violence and disappointment. Jesus wasn't born into a utopian society to well-to-do parents. He was born right here among us.
So He gets it when you hurt. He feels it when anger wells up in you because of life's injustices. He grieves right along with you through your losses and discouragements. He lived it, so he gets it.
That's the Jesus of Christmas. That's the Jesus of the Bible.
I believe we can celebrate Christmas more fully when we appreciate the Jesus whose birthday it marks. There's much more to Jesus than just a perfect baby born in a perfect manger on a perfectly silent night. If that's all we ever see Him as, we've missed the whole point of Christmas.
This Christmas, I challenge everyone to get to know the real Jesus who came into the real world for the sake of real people. Why not read what happened after the manger? His story is as close as the nearest Bible.
Sounds like Afghanistan. Praise religion!
The Prophet, Muhammad, once said, "Even a smile is charity."
Wishing all a blessed season!
I'm not saying he did not exist. Heck, I do not find it so unbelievable that an itinerant rabbi by the name of Jesus wandered about the Roman-dominated lands of the Middle East, preaching his particular brand of Judaism. However, I certainly do not believe that he was able to perform "miracles," raise the dead, walk on water, or come back to life after being crucified. I would need to be presented with some very compelling evidence in order to believe that.
There is no historian, secular, atheist, christian, buddhist or whatever, presently teaching at any University, or anyone who has published in any academic press who has suggested that Jesus as a man (thought without the miracles that were frequently added to important people's actions in antiquity) didn't exist. I am therefore at a loss as to what exactly you mean by "anyone with any background in history".
I think we should remember the teachings or Christ, and that he was of humble beginnings. Some choose not to believe, others chose not to believe in organized religion and still others have totally lost sight of what Jesus is suppose to have stood for.
He would not have been welcome at RNC events.
"Conclusion: In any event, on the date Mary conceived, which was December 25, 5 B.C., the Word became flesh and that flesh was born on September 29 in the year of 4 B.C. and tabernacled, dwelt, or resided among man as the prophets had predicted."
http://www.israelect.com/reference/WillieMartin/NEWS-4.htm
Have a joyous, Christ-centered Christmas! Jesus has Risen!! Praise his holy name!!
I happen to be doing some opposition research at this very moment, listening to some audio by a powerful state Religious Right group about their supposed responsibility to the nation.
Does this supposed responsibility focus on helping the hurting, and the lowly, and the needy? No, it's focused on how best to vanquish the "secular world view" and impose religious values upon the nation by force.
The concerns that Christ would have put first are kicked aside and replaced by a lust to play God themselves, imposing their beliefs by force rather than redeeming themselves to the "pagan" world with their love and their positive actions.
There is no Christ there, just worldly, carnal lust for power.
I *LOVE* it when true Christians speak out, because it so powerfully puts the Pharisees to shame.
The article also says that Jesus (that Mythical Jewish guy) “…was born into the same world that you and I live in today.” I find this to be a completely ridiculous statement because our modern society, and the world we live in today, is nothing like the Middle East of 2000 years ago.
Assuming Jesus actually lived; he was born into a culturally primitive society where most problems were solved through violence. It was a very myth and superstition based culture that attributed absolutely everything to the supernatural.
They believed in demons (evil and good) witches, and magical creatures. Sure, we still have people like that in today’s world, but they are in the vast minority and our society is not built on these beliefs as they were 2000 years ago.
As long as you do not try to foist your beliefs upon me or those I care through legislation, we're cool. As long as you do not come to my doorstep to proselytize your beliefs, we are square.
But the moment that compact is broken, I reserve the right to publicly ridicule those beliefs.
Let's remember the Magnificat of the Virgin Mary, Luke 1:51-53:
“He has brought the mighty down from their thrones, and lifted the lowly, he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away with empty hands.”
Let us remember Jesus Parable of Lazarus and Dives. Let us remember what Jesus told the Billionaire: "Sell all you have and give to the poor."
Let's reflect on one of my favorite Bible verses, the words of the Prophet Isaiah:
"Woe to you who legislate evil, who pass laws that make victims -- laws that bring misery for the poor, that rob my destitute people of dignity, exploiting defenseless widows, taking advantage of homeless children. What will you have to say on Judgment Day, when Doomsday arrives out of the blue? Who will you get to help you? What good will your money do you?" (Isaiah 10:1-3)
And let's remember the words from the Book of James: "The workers in the fields whom you cheat of their pay will raise their laments to Heaven and their cries will be heard by the Lord of Hosts."
The GOP has declared war on Christmas.
When I go to Christmas Eve services, I will remember the Book of James. I will lament the way the GOP has treated the poor, the disenfranchised and the unemployed.
May the Lord of Hosts hear my prayers.
It's the height of hypocrisy for them to want to use the State to force their way into our personal lives, yet cry foul when someone suggests that the state be involved in helping the needy or limiting greed.
Last I checked, 1 Timothy 6:9-10 is still in the Bible.
The bible on the other hand is full of imagery no child should ever have to experience. It is basically the opposite of a traditional Christmas celebration. The brillance of marketing has made Christmas a wonderful world of make-believe, and should no longer even be attached to real belief in myth.
What country would you guess now has the third largest number of Christians? That nation will soon pass Nigeria which is number two into second place behind the U.S.
Its China with 58 million Christians and the number is growing rapidly. Yes it is indeed a wonderful story and the reason we celebrate Christmas, regardless of the time of year Christ was actually born. A time of love and joy that 2.2 billion people around the world have found.
There is a spiritual revolution going on that is not reported in the media, that being the millions yearly that are coming to realize that Christ is the only hope of this world.
Merry Christmas, and Praise God for sending our savior.