Christmas hasn't come easy for me this year. To be completely honest, I don't feel like I deserve to be here before you this evening, telling you the good news about Jesus' birth, because I've done so little to deserve a position of such honor. In the past, I've spent the season of Advent in anticipation of the celebration to come. Like many Christians, I usually make devotion time a priority during Advent. Some years I've taken up a fast of some sort to mark the season. At the very least, Kristin and I have lit an advent wreath at suppertime and enjoyed its quiet light as we look out on the darkness that surrounds our house more and more each night. But not this year – and I'm feeling the difference. I'm not feeling particularly righteous or worthy when it comes to Christmas this year. It feels like Christmas is happening whether I’m ready, prepared, looking forward to it, or not.
It doesn't feel right for Christmas to happen like this. How can it be Christmas without the holiday spirit? How can it be Christmas without the sounding joy? How can it be Christmas I am more Scrooge than Cratchit, more grave than gravy? This isn't how it's supposed to happen!
As this feeling has enveloped me the past week or so, I have thought more and more about Joseph and his own struggle with what happened in his life. We know precious little about Joseph from the scriptures: we know he was a carpenter, a righteous man, engaged to Mary but struggling to make sense of what he was supposed to do once her pregnancy was revealed. As one pastor reminded me this week, "Here's the rule about what happens if you think the woman to whom you're engaged is bearing someone else's child: both the woman and the man whose child it is get death by stoning -- assuming you know the identity of the father, and that the woman is seized in an area in which someone could have heard her screams if she cried out. Joseph [wa]s a righteous man, but he refuse[d] to expose Mary to public disgrace to carry this out."[1] I can't help but think that Joseph also wondered how his life had gotten so complicated so quickly, and why it had to be that way. You all know the feeling you get when you're forced into a disastrous situation through no fault of your own: you can't sleep, you can't eat, your mind keeps returning to the disaster over and over again until you begin to wonder if you're ever going to be able to fix it and start to live again. Don't you imagine that's how Joseph felt? He was a righteous man, according to Matthew, a man who followed the commandments scrupulously and had every right to expect that his wife-to-be would do the same. Every life has its seasons, and for Joseph, the season in which he would be married and look forward to starting a family had come. He must have expected there would be some difficulty along the way, but surely nothing like this.
In the midst of Joseph's torment over how to handle this disastrous situation, God intervened. "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you will name him "Jesus," for He will save His people from their sins." The answer Joseph was given did not make anything easier: in fact, it complicated the matter even more. The righteous man who had a painful choice between accusation or quiet rejection was given a glimpse into the purposes of heaven and told that his choice was more important than he had ever imagined. If Joseph took the righteous path, he would save himself and his reputation but deny the voice of God telling him to have faith: if Joseph took the faithful path, the price would be even harsher: a new wife and child of dubious origin and the risk of losing his reputation and the goodwill of a society that valued righteousness above almost everything else. It couldn't have been an easy choice for Joseph. It certainly wouldn't have seemed "right" to be forced to make that choice in the first place. But Joseph was more faithful than he was righteous, and the child of God in Mary's womb came into the world protected by two loving parents, as God intended.
Christmas is the season that always seems to be promoted as the time when everything is "right." People show kindness to friends and strangers alike. Goodwill and harmony reign. The busy world ceases for one night of quiet worship of the beautiful child lying peacefully in a manger, lit by a heavenly glow and heralded by an army of angels singing praises to God. But at the time it wasn't righteous at all. It wasn't a moment of goodwill and harmony, nor did the busy world stop to notice, much less join the angel choir. It would have been no more right if it were to happen tonight, and there's a very good chance that you and I would have missed it as easily as most of the world missed it two thousand years ago.
God did not choose the righteous path when God chose to come into flesh and blood. We often miss the scandal of the Incarnation for the blessings that come to us through it. God redeemed the world through the birth, life and death of Jesus, but God chose to redeem the world from the bottom up, bringing light and salvation to all by the humblest means possible. Joseph and the world around him could have seen nothing but sin in the child Mary bore in her womb. But God used that seemingly unrighteous conception to claim all that is unrighteous for the kingdom of heaven. A child born out of wedlock and laid in a donkey's feed trough was named "God saves" and heralded as the Messiah, God's chosen One, Emmanuel: there is no irony or sarcasm strong enough to hold such a story if it weren't true. It seems right to us today because we've heard the story so often it bears its own authenticity and righteousness. But the wonder of the Incarnation isn't its righteousness: it is the faith of Joseph and Mary that this child was indeed the Messiah whom God had promised.
My friend and former seminary professor
Maybe you're not ready for Christmas this year, either. Maybe you, like me, have found yourself struggling to feel righteous enough to be worthy of the Christ-child. Maybe death has touched you with its cold fingers, or sin has surrounded you with its constant temptings, or you are afflicted with the despair of simply knowing that whatever the right way to feel about life may be, you're not there and it's just not going to happen this year. If so, then the angels have a message for you tonight, too: do not be afraid. Your righteousness is not the issue. Neither is death, sin, or despair. The Christ-child came once into a world that was not prepared for Him, and He comes again this night to you, prepared or not, willing or not, righteous or not. God doesn't ask us to be righteous when the Christ comes: God asks us to be faithful, to believe that He is what and who He claims to be: Jesus, the one named "God saves," the Messiah, Emmanuel, "God with us." Do not be afraid, friends, for unto us, unrighteous, unprepared, a child was born, Christ, the Lord, and let all you who are faithful join in the song to welcome Him. Amen.
That is good stuff, Scott.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to the three of you!
The Declaration of Dependence!
ReplyDeleteThere are many who believe that there is a “god” who “helps those who help themselves”. Now if they can “help themselves” why do they need help?
There are many “gods”, yet there is only “One True GOD, Father of ALL” and HE will help those who cry unto HIM for help. And all who truly believe in HIM know how “poor and needy” they truly are. And so, just as The Messiah did, they also declare their dependence upon HIM as they cry;
“Father Help!”
The Declaration of Dependence
And HE helps!
Now the ‘american way’, the worldly way, speaks of ‘independence’. ‘Do your own thing!’ ‘Just do it!” Problem is they serve “the father of lies”, and his version of independence but creates dependence upon him. And oh, how destruction and perversion has multiplied in his evil world and especially in his seductive religious systems, all of which are the product of mankind’s “imag”ination, which he rules.
Sadly, the perverseness of this day is but one ‘fruit’ of the "strong delusion" that those of this world call ‘independence’! She/he’s and he/she’s abound and money rules as multitudes of double-minded men head off to war declaring they do so in the name of “The Prince of Peace”. “If the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness?”
Those same men return to a “home” dominated by ‘independent’ women who have been given legal authority to rule over them and abort(kill) their children. The prophecy of Is 3:12 is fulfilled today for “women rule over, and children oppress, men”.
However, in spite of the dis-order that is of this world, The Order of The ONLY TRUE GOD yet bears witness to HIS Creation: “The Only True GOD is The HEAD of The Messiah, The Messiah is The Head of the man, and the man is the head of the woman”. And those who would pervert The Order of The Only True GOD’ must answer to HIM.
”The Declaration of Dependence” was proclaimed by The Messiah in both His Teachings and His Life example. He was truly dependent and subject unto “The ONLY TRUE GOD” WHO was, and is, The Messiah’s GOD and Father, and WHO was, and is, The GOD and Father of The Messiah’s Brethren.
The Messiah testified, "The words that I speak are not My words but they are the words of The Father WHO sent Me! The works I do are not My works but The Father WHO sent Me, HE does the works"! "Truly, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees The Father do: for what The Father does, the Son does likewise.“ The Messiah testified, “I can do nothing of mine own self”!
The Messiah testified, "Love The Lord your GOD with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, and questioned, "Why do you call Me, Master(Lord), Master(Lord), and do not that which i say"?
Are you now seeking to follow The Messiah? Or are you still a babe in need of “milk” and unable to ‘walk’?
The "sincere milk of the written Testimonies" needful for babes, must give way to the "strong meat" which is given those who have "exercised their senses (after 'drinking' of The Testimonies) in the discernment of that which is good from that which is evil."
Such ‘discernment’ will not reject “suffering as The Messiah suffered” for temporal worldly comforts, ‘discernment’ will not seek to “please man rather than GOD”, will not let intellect rule over the simplicity that is The Truth, nor will ‘discernment’ hearken unto the voice of a woman rather than GOD. Those who exercise ‘discernment’ will not love their own life in this world, or the things that are of this world. ‘Discernment’ will not allow its disciples to color their conscience gray any longer.
Many find reasons to avoid ‘discernment’ for 'discernment' convicts them of "their love for this world and it’s things" which is a byproduct of “independence” ;-(
"Then said The Messiah unto him. A certain man made a great supper, and invited many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were invited, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray you have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go to prove them: I pray you have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring here the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as you have commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, that none of those men which were invited shall taste of my supper.”
“And there went great multitudes with The Messiah: and He turned, and said unto them, If any man come to Me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross, and follow after Me, cannot be My disciple."
The Messiah testified: "As GOD sent Me, so send I you". Those who are ‘sent’ will trust and believe that The ONE GOD, Father of ALL, will “supply all their needs” as HE “works in them HIS Will and good pleasure". They are dependent upon, and subject unto Their GOD and Father, just like their Master(Lord) and Brother, The Messiah was.
And what of this world's religious ways?
The Only True GOD has given HIS Call!
"Come out of her, MY people"!
‘christianity’, ‘islam’, ‘judaism’,.etc., are but religious systems that are of this world and all alike they are. And so it is that the seed of death is sown of their religious ways, because life becomes but a pawn in the wicked game they play!
And you? Do you have your part in their destructive and perverse processes? Are you independent? Or are you dependent upon The Only True GOD, Father of ALL?
There is but confusion and stress(dis-ease, no peace) for those who believe in the imagined systems of ‘order’ established by mankind. Systems that were established in service to the “god of this world” and his “way”. And his “way”, his desire, is to destroy the Creation of The Only True GOD. And mankind’s worldly systems: religious, political, social, economic, judicial, educational,,,, are all systems ordered of mankind to suit “the god of this world’s” purposes, and play their part in his destructive processes. The Only True GOD, Creator of ALL has declared that HE will “destroy them who destroy and pervert HIS Creation(land, air, water, creatures, Truth, Love, Peace, .etc.)”. Most play their part in the destructive processes because of their “love for money” and “ease of life“. Simply, Truth IS, “You can not serve The Only True GOD and money(mammon)”.
There is hope for those who take heed unto The Call of The Only True GOD and “Come Out” of this world and it’s seductive religious systems. Hope for those who “set their affections on things above”, eternal things, heavenly things. Hope because those who do so will quit serving ‘time’ in the prison that is this world.
There is Peace and True Freedom, In Dependence upon The Only True GOD! All HIS Children are dependent upon HIM, and as their Brother and Master, The Messiah, so they also desire above all else, “Father, not my will, But THY Will Be Done”!
“Our Father”!
Reality, now and forever!
HalleluYAH!
Peace, in spite of the dis-ease(no-peace) that is of this world and it's systems of religion,
"for the WHOLE world is under the control of the evil one" indeed and Truth....... francisco
I like how you started this off. I am never prepared no matter what I do. I came to the fourth of Advent Sunday just feeling empty, and I thought I have to take something to these people when I feel nothing. Good sermon on your part.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas! I bet you really enjoyed it with your little one!
unto us unrighteous & unprepared... God I hope so because that is me too this year.
ReplyDeletebtw - blessing to you these next few weeks of transitions...