Much of what the West includes in Christmas comes from fanciful extensions of what occurred in the biblically reported events surrounding the birth of Jesus. The Advent has carried an influence that is perceived in history to have been great, but it is far greater than is commonly believed when the whole story of Jesus’ life and teachings, from birth to death and resurrection, is factored into the ongoing story of the human race. At this writing, the two religions, with massive followings, are the Christian and Muslim faiths. The Christian faith has no reliance on the Muslim, but the Muslim faith includes consideration of Christ in recitation of history; in inclusion in Muslim theology; and, in interpretation of it by Mohammed that remains as part of the Muslim story and religion. The interpretation retains some factors in the life and meaning of Jesus but denies the basic claims about Jesus regarding both deity and God’s only route redemption. The Muslim view interprets the Christian Trinity as espousing three Gods, whereas the Christian view is that God is more than the concepts of personhood. Three Persons for God may be likened to three fingers of a hand – one hand, but three fingers. For the Christian the Muslim concept makes God too small, too human. Mankind bears something of the image of God. God does not bear the human image, except in Christ. That is an important observation. It can’t be clarified adequately to mortal mankind’s intellectual limitations, but it can be embraced in faith, and applied if accepted, to a magnificent theology for limited mankind. Finding that faith effective, the biblical Christian presses on. The departments of that faith are fed by answers to questions. The main questions are posited in Scripture, and implied in application. Jesus sometimes answered questions with questions that clarified contexts, or pointed in directions, or incorporated the understandings of mankind so to reserve some answers. Even the disciples pressed him for directness on occasion. When they were ready for purpose, he became quite direct. He may have become direct, on occasion, when they were not fully prepared. He had to reinforce some of this after the resurrection so to get them under way for the communication of the gospel to the world – the Great Commission, (Matthew 28:19) That Commission remains for the church.
The Christian world has embellished the recognition of the incarnation of Jesus. From the few pages of Scripture, from Matthew and Luke in opening chapters, and the foreshadowing of Isaiah, the story of the Virgin Birth is told with some of the accouterments of it. The rich and educated are represented in the Magi. The poor and limited in culture are represented in the shepherds; the officials and neutral merchants of state are seen in Herod and his staff, including soldiers; the secular publics are found in the innkeeper and his guests; the devout are found in Joseph and Mary and those from any segment of society who sensed what all this meant. There were evidences such as the angel voices to the shepherds; the bright star of special meaning; and, news of this or that concern, such as the edict ordering death to the children of Bethlehem, an edict issued by an old tyrant, Herod, who though months from his grave, feared that there might be an interloper. All this and more appear in a few verses of Matthew and Luke. This child’s story, taken with the events of a thousand days at the close of this life and ministry, changed the world.
As formed by mankind, Christmas may develop to trivialize the meaning of it all. It is easy because it offers a pleasant experience to cover solemn experience. Mankind struggles with giving up something good for something better. We like emphasis on children related to innocence, gaiety and materialism. We like Yuletide traditions, for the most part, but need warning that these can distract from what ought to be. The early colonists in America sometimes excommunicated members who kept Christmas. Our first goal is devout celebration of God with us. In this belief a pattern of worship that includes attitude, prayer and Scripture are in order. We can reach out to others, not only in practical charity and good will, but in the nature of our greetings, our emphases, our decorations. We can tie it to large implications related to the New Year, to Easter, and the whole of the Christian calendar. There ought to be meaning of victory shown in the visitation of God in Advent, and some reduction in lonely humanism. The point to the world is that: God is with us. The point related to mankind is: Are we with God? *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020