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The First Christmas Carol
19 December 2008
The following FNT first appeared last year. We have decided to reproduce it this year, partly because FNT now has another 1200 subscribers for whom it will be new, but also because our thoughts on Christmas have not changed and we believe that it is a message that needs repeating.
Do you ever wonder if we've got Christmas seriously wrong? I don't mean whether
Jesus really was born of a virgin, or whether there really was a guiding star, or whether the angels really did appear to Mary, Joseph and the shepherds. I'm confident of those things - but I'm not so confident about the way we celebrate the birth of the Messiah.
Let's be honest. What is the following week going to involve? For the majority of us, there will be copious amounts of eating, drinking, partying, celebrating and giving and receiving of presents. Now I've nothing against these things, not least because I'll be enthusiastically engaged in them all myself, and also because Jesus was clear that Christianity is about a celebration of life. When he wanted an image of heaven, he chose a wedding banquet as his theme (Matthew 22; Luke 14). So I don't think Jesus has a problem with a bit of eating and drinking.
But is that what Christmas is about? In Philippians 2, Paul recites one of the earliest carols. It begins, 'Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant.' Theologians debate the precise meaning of these verses, but one thing they all agree on is that some sense of self-emptying is present in them. The technical theological term for this is kenosis.
It speaks of Christ's 'giving up' or 'self-denial' for the sake of others. If Christmas means anything, then surely it means this. Yet is that what we find? No doubt many of us will have bought goats or toilets for some of our friends and family. Perhaps some will have given up their time and helped feed the homeless and the poor. But I suspect it will remain the case that for most of us, consumption rather than sacrifice will be the order of the day.
Yet when in Luke 12:33 Jesus encourages us to give to the poor, it is not out of our excess, but rather by selling what we already have, and presumably want. When was the last time any of us actually did that - sold something we owned and wanted (or even 'needed') in order to give to the poor? That is self-giving for the sake of others, that is kenosis.
So, I worry. I worry that in all the tinsel, the lights, the wrapping paper, the food and wine, we have all completely missed it. That if Jesus were to return today, his word would not be 'good and faithful servant', but 'weep and wail you rich people because of the misery that is coming upon you' (James 5:1).
I worry that we've traded the God of Jesus Christ for the 'god' of consumption and I worry that somehow we've turned a message of self-denial into one of self-filling. Maybe, just maybe, we need a serious re-think.
Justin Thacker, Head of Theology
Justin & Susannah wish you all a very blessed Christmas.
We will be back on the 9th January.
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(The views below are the authors', and not necessarily those of the Evangelical Alliance.)
| Written by David Young on 21 December 2008 at 12.30 |
| The discovery that a clean water supply was the key to arresting myriad infectious diseases is a near-perfect example of the application of scientific method. Cities had developed quite a long way since the Romans when that breakthrough was made, so your use of them as an example is almost creationist in its logic. Now where in the gospels did Jesus ever encourage critical thinking, the whole basis of scientific endeavour? I think you'll find it was nowhere. |
| Written by Justin Thacker on 20 December 2008 at 19.17 |
| David, i'm afraid that if you think our recent increase in life expectancy is primarily due to scientific advance then all you're demonstrating is your ignorance of the most significant factors for human health. have a look here (http://www.eauk.org/theology/key_papers/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=12801) , and you'll find that the provision of clean water and suitable sanitation are the most significant determinants of better health and neither of these has got much to do with modern science, not least cos the Romans had both. Science helps, but simply being more loving to our fellow human beings helps a lot more - now, who was it said that, and extended the principle even to our enemies. I think you'll find it was Jesus. |
| Written by Bill Smith on 19 December 2008 at 16.46 |
| Apart from being encouraged by Jesus not to worry, I am in full agreement with all you have said!!! Let me encourage you. I know of a case this year where a brother gave away his car to a needy friend. (His wife had one as well.) I know of a brother who gave a substantial amount of equity from a prolonged, greatly reduced( due to the current economic crunch) house sale, to overseas mission work. I would suggest there is,perhaps, more happening than we generally are aware of. Nonetheless, this is a word for life, not just for Christmas. What a transformation there would be in society if the church lived out this vital message. Abba's richest blessings to you at this season.fyqas |
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