What I Believe About the Incarnation

We just had Christmas. We all know that. In fact, I am enjoying the recovery time that is necessary after Advent and the Christmas holiday. One of the things that is so important after Christmas, and this works in conjunction with the new beginnings that January 1 invites, is a time of reflection. I spend a lot of time reflecting on the last year. Did I accomplish all that I planned? Did I do all that I could? What are my plans for the future?

But one of the reflection areas that often gets overlooked is theological reflection. We say things at Christmas time that we say we believe, but do we understand them? There is the virgin birth, the miracle star, angelic appearances and the most important one, the incarnation, Emmanuel.

Our English word, incarnation, comes from the same Greek root that gives us carnival, carnivore and chili con carne. It means flesh, or meat. When we affirm our faith in the incarnation of Christ, we are saying that we believe that God literally became a human. The implications of this are mind-boggling and not to be forgotten or taken for granted. God, who lives in splendor, chose, of his own volition, to forsake all that glory, and become human. Philippians 2.5-11 gives us a wonderful summary picture of what this meant for God.

This also has significance when we consider the life and ministry of Jesus while he was on earth. We believe that Jesus was completely human, having voluntarily relinquished his claims to the throne of God. But at the same time, he was still God. He had the option at any time to re-claim his rightful position as the Almighty. Thankfully for us, he never did. This thought helps us and confuses us as we consider that Jesus often prayed. If he is God, who does he pray to? If he knows what will happen, why does he pray?

Finally, we need to consider the incarnation as it pertains to the crucifixion of Jesus. The law of the Old Testament makes it clear that sin requires a perfect sacrifice. Being perfect, and being God, allowed Jesus to become that sacrifice. He was able to take all our sins on himself because he was (and is) the holy and perfect God of the universe.

Jesus is God. God is with us. Emmanuel.

Being Content

So here it is. I have figured it out. Advertising, and all marketing for that matter, teaches us that we are unhappy. We may not know it, but we cannot be satisfied unless we have the latest gadget, wear the best designer clothes and wash with the best smelling soap. It is the job of the Madison Avenue gurus to tell us this. They want us to be happy, and to attain that end, they must show us how unhappy we are.

Now when we come to this realization, we grow unhappy. There are problems with this of course. It is impossible for us to ever be truly happy if we equate happiness with possessions or acquisitions. As soon as we acquire all the things that we are told will make us happy, there is a whole new series of advertisements for new gadgets, clothes and soaps. It is a never-ending cycle of chase the happiness carrot.

And so now, a few days before Christmas, the marketing has reached a fever pitch. And now we all realize, somewhat unhappily, that we will not receive every gift that we want. We cannot afford every item that will make us happy. What should we do? Can we ever be happy? Will we ever attain personal fulfillment?

There is a passage in the Bible that summarizes what is the best approach to this difficulty. Philippians 4.11 says, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." This is not a promise that we will get everything we want. It does not even mean that the one who follows God will have no problems in life. No, the significance here is much greater than both of thoughts.

When we find our life in Christ, we do not need to rely on temporal things to be happy or fulfilled. We can, and should be, content with the blessings of God and the things that he has given us. There can be no better Christmas than to be content with the things of God.

Merry Christmas to you!

Mary's Anxiety

It’s not fair!
Everything is wrong. I mean everything!
First, there is this pregnancy thing.
I’m worried about my baby.
I don’t understand what is happening to me.
This is a lot of trouble.
How do I know that was an angel
who told me about the baby?
How can I be sure this is the son of God?
Wouldn’t God have thought of a better way to do this?
Now there is this registration thing.
I don’t understand it at all.
Joseph says it’s another way to collect taxes.
I know they can’t get much more from us.
And the trip. O, the trip!?!
I am in no shape to travel, but everyone must go.
Will this hurt the baby?
Where will we stay when we get there?
What if the baby comes while we are away from home?
How will I care for him?
What will the baby wear?
How will I clean him?
How? How? Why?
It’s not fair!

Reclaiming Christmas

In the hubbub of the Christmas season, we sometimes lose sight of Christmas. Our tendency is often to over-react the commercialization and secularization of the holiday. But I believe that all hope is not lost. Christmas can be reclaimed by those who love the season and all that it represents. All is not well, but there is hope.

To begin with, the commercialization of Christmas is a sort of positive sign. After all, millions of people in America and around the world celebrate a holy day. Even if they do not recognize the spiritual nature of the holiday, they cannot deny origins of the Christmas observance. In addition, the traditions associated with Christmas all have their genesis in the story of Christianity.

• Santa Claus is not only a character based on a Christian saint, Nicholas, he is also a sign of the desire of men and women everywhere to know God, the Father of us all and the ultimate Gift-giver.
• Giving gifts reminds us of the gift given by God on that first Christmas day. Not only that, giving and receiving gifts reflects the graciousness of God and the fact that we are all given the desire to love and share with others.
• The emphasis on lights and stars remind us of the darkness of the world around us and our desire to bring light into the darkness.
• Family celebrations have become synonymous with celebrating Christmas. This reflects the gathering of the Holy family so long ago.

Be cautious with your Christmas celebration this year. Be careful to not allow it to become commercial, superficial or secular. Make certain that Christ permeates every part of your time of rejoicing. But above all, celebrate! Rejoice! Give! Love!

Mary's Lament

What am I to think? What am I to do?
Why is it now, God? Why is it from you?
When my life is just beginning, this signals its end;
No more time for myself, no more time for friends.
I’m still too young to be so old,
My years too few, my story not told.
And now that the spring time of my life is through,
I can do nothing but bring my grief to you.

What am I to think? What am I to do?
Why is it now, God? Why is it from you?
I am not ready, the problems must wait.
The cares of motherhood are much too great.
What do I know about caring for a son?
I am a child myself, I am too young.
I cannot do it, I cannot cope.
Where will I get help? Where will I get hope?

What am I to think? What am I to do?
Why is it now, God? Why is it from you?
I have kept myself pure all of my days,
I have always been righteous in all my ways.
But people will think things, they always do.
People will talk, regardless of the truth.
I cannot survive amid the gossip and the talk.
I need your help. Lead me as I walk.

My Favorite Christmas Songs

I have said that I love the holidays and I especially love music. The combination of Christmas and song is a fertile area with lots of variety. I have made a list of my favorite Christmas songs, but there are too many. Therefore, I have divided the list into sacred carols and secular songs of the season. The songs appear in no particular order.

My Favorite Sacred Carols-

• Joy to the World
• Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
• Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella
• Il est ne
• Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
• Once in Royal David's City
• O Come, All Ye Faithful
• Labor of Love
• Messiah (all, or any part)

My Favorite Secular Christmas Songs-

• Christmastime is Here
• I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
• Run, Run Rudolph
• Blue Christmas
• Feliz Navidad
• You're a Mean One, Mr Grinch
• Happy Christmas (War is Over)
• Same Old Lang Syne
• White Christmas
• Please Come Home for Christmas

Some Problems I Have with Christmas

For the most part I join in with everyone else and enjoy Christmas completely. I like the lights, the music, the cheer, the warm feelings, time with family. I like all of that. I am not one of those Christian bah-humbuggers who gets upset and uptight about every little secular detail. In fact, I love the secular details. I think that it is a good sign when the world is looking to Christmas a time time of hope and peace.

But, I do have some pretty serious problems with the current celebration of Christmas.

• Commercialization. From the evening news to our family celebrations, we are encouraged to spend too much money and to commercialize Christmas. If we do not spend enough money on gifts, we will certainly end up in economic recession. Not only stores and malls, but also restaurants, hotels, movies and more have become dependent on holiday spending. Heaven forbid.
• Gift giving. We are told over and over again that giving is the purpose for Christmas. I give gifts. I love giving gifts to the people that I love, but I never want gifting to be the reason behind my celebration, or anyone else's for that matter.
• Secularization. Too many people around us have no idea why we take the day off work on December 25. From our greetings of 'Happy Holidays' to Winter programs at our public schools, we are thoroughly secularizing one of the most holy of holidays. The nativity story and the redemption that followed must never be forgotten.
• Selfishness and Insensitivity. I do not think that I even need to expound on this one. Avarice and greed are the top two guests at many Christmas parties. What did I get? Why didn't I get more? They could afford more than that. And more thoughts and comments just like these characterize the attitudes of a whole lot of people.