I first brought this up here last year and feel it more strongly now.
In our denomination, we claim to be people of the Book. In our Mission Statement, we say we are committed to "establishing churches on the New Testament plan."
So, let's face these facts:
In the New Testament, disciples, indeed, did focus on the incarnation of Jesus but not on His nativity.
Even the Gospel accounts of the nativity, presented the story of the birth of Jesus to show the power of God's promises and God's prophecy and to proclaim Jesus as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and as the suffering servant.
For the most part, the people I know who groove on the Christmas schmaltz, are serious about their faith but see Jesus in terms of the manger, as a baby, the height of innocence and weakness, one to be cuddled,...
...not as a Lord who gave up divine power to be a sacrifice and to command the men and women who follow Him to seek greatness by serving others.
What most of the people of the church today have made of Christmas makes me want to hurl.
I believe that they are a prime reason that the church today is weak and that it declines.
So, I ignore the High Church Holy Day, Christ Mass to embrace the entirely commercialized, sentimental, secular, celebration of Xmas,...
...of chestnuts roasting on an open fire, of letting my heart be light, of five golden rings (ba da bum bum), of presents on the tree, of Snoopy making a temporary truce with the Red Baron, of giving thanks to the Lord above cuz Santa Claus comes tonight, of dreaming of a White Christmas, of poor old grandma with incriminating Claus marks on her back.
And, all the while knowing that to be the greatest among His disciples is not to snuggle a baby, but to be the slave of all.
So, go, if you must. Pollute the truth of the incarnation by thoughts of cuddling God-as-baby. Comfort yourself with that easy and false gospel.
And, watch as your children and grandchildren grow up never knowing the One Who will, one day, separate the sheep from the goats.
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