Things have changed since I attended public high school in New
York City.
Things have changed since I attended public high school in New York City.
Twice a week the whole student body met in the auditorium. The meeting started with the Lord’s prayer. I remember the RC kids all ended with “…deliver us from evil.”
While the protestant kids continued, “…for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever.” Everyone understood it was a difference in the translations and no one made a big deal out of it.
In the meetings before the Christmas vacation, the whole student body belted out Christmas carols. It was a competition to see who could sing the loudest!
There was excitement. We had a Christmas dance in the gym. Little Christmas trees popped up in the classrooms. Everyone was happy!
Now the internet is filled with messages about efforts to take Christmas out of Christmas! A friend suggested a bumper sticker, “It’s ‘CHRISTMAS!’ Get over it.”
My parents’ generation was raised on the admonition, “Don’t talk about politics or religion.” I always thought that was dumb. Aren’t civil and religious liberty supposed to be the most important things in America?
As I grew older, it appeared to me those who avoided talk of politics and religion might be doing so to cover up their ignorance. Lots of my friends were Democrat or Republican because that is what their parents were.
It was the same with religious denominations. When I would ask a question, they seemed not to have a clue how civil government worked, or impacted things they felt were important. The same was true of their relationship to God.
Well, I believe the God of Christmas wants us to talk about religion. If there is something I can learn about God that is true why wouldn’t I want to hear about it?
Setting aside the gift giving part that supports a big chunk of retail sales, what is it that makes the whole world celebrate Christmas?
What makes the Christmas story, (Bethlehem, wise men, shepherds, angels, baby in a manger…) so significant?
Here is what I found out. A product demands a producer. We can study a product and discover attributes of the producer.
If I study a guitar (product), I can learn lots about the guitar maker (producer). Matter of fact, were I to take all the components of a guitar (wood, paint, screws, strings, etc), put them in a box and shake them. Would they ever come out a tuned guitar? Of course not. So the product demands a producer.
If we look at the universe as a product, the attributes of the producer are impressive! Bring it closer to “home” and study the human body as a product.
Anyone who believes that complex system evolved without intelligent design is ‘educated’ beyond his intelligence! The human body produces 300 billion cells every day. It has the capacity to repair, rebuild and restore itself!
Therein rests the significance of Christmas.
The magnificent, intelligence, we call God, whose benevolent, loving concern for His creation, prompted Him to enter His own creation as a human baby is ample reason for the world to take note.
The three decades of life and character of that baby serve as a standard of excellence for our own life and character.
If there is a better standard, I agree in advance to accept it! Not to accept the best, most proven, standard would be foolish.
Why then, is there so much effort to take Christmas out of Christmas and Christ out of Christmas? Accepting the best standard makes our life and character fall short. That hurts our “pride.” It makes us guilty. We don’t like that and would rather hold under the truth than face up to it.
That brings up the second conclusion I have reached. That “baby in a manger” lived a sinless life and took on himself my penalty for falling short.
Forgiveness is available to those who will but accept it. No wonder there is rejoicing around the world!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
