Tis the day before Christmas and the preparations are almost complete for the celebration of the first arrival, the birth, of God's Son. I like this time of year. I enjoy the lights on people's houses, the smell of fresh baked cookies and the decorated tree in the living room. I also appreciate the carols at the stores. At least most of them. Historic, theological accuracy, and logic are, at times, thrown to the wind, however, I can endue most "Christmas" music with a smile. "Santa Baby" is an exception, this song should be reserved for making terrorist confess. Even with the thought of "Peace on earth, good will toward men" some find the season an irritation. Even this morning I received an email railing on the pagan celebration called Christmas. I was reminded that Yeshua Messiah was likely born in the spring and this celebration is a commercial travesty if not outright blasphemy. So, once again I admit that there is a lot of stuff that does not jive with Scripture and that the Lord was probably born in the spring. Still, a time to celebrate what God has done does not seem like a bad thing. However, it did get me to thinking.
Perhaps we could set out to do things differently, to start a new tradition. In April we could bring an evergreen tree into our homes to be reminded of the everlasting life we have in the risen Savior. We could put bright lights on it and on our homes to proclaim that He is "the Light of the world". Just for fun we could exchange gifts in memory of the gift of life we have as Messiah conquered death. How about a ring of prickly holly on our doors to be reminded of the crown of thorns, the red berries could remind us of His shed blood. Some simple visual reminders of the passion of our Lord and the new life we have in Him. Obviously, we would want to share the good news and celebration with others.
Just imagine a group of churches banding together to go to the mall in April and begin singing "Amazing Grace" to the tune of "Joy to the World". I will pause here so you can do this in your head, "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound ..." See, it does work. Or better yet have the group gather at the center of the mall on multiple levels and sing the "Easter Song" from Second Chapter of Acts. Give it a listen, it is a great song from 1974. Easter Song Now imagine one hundred or so voices from a variety of churches echoing this praise through the mall and then quietly dispersing leaving the mall dwellers to ponder the message. He is risen, Hallelujah!
The resurrection celebration should certainly superseded that of Messiah's birth. Without it Christmas is is just another story of a poor baby born 2000 years ago. Even His death only makes Him a martyr, it is His resurrection that makes Him savior. In the midst of our Christmas celebration do not forget the rest of the story. Maybe you should read Luke 2:8-14 and then Luke 24:1-6. The Child of the Christmas story is the risen King, Messiah and Lord.
Have a joyous Christmas and maybe I will see you at the mall come April to share in some Resurrection carols.
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 24, 2019
Friday, December 13, 2019
Are You the Best Gift Ever?
We are fast approaching the celebration of our Lord's birth. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Crowded stores, crowded parking lots, distraught consumers, dismayed retail associates, all prettied up with twinkling lights and Christmas trees. We are told to remember the "Reason for the Season" and search for ways to keep that real. Some find help in advent calendars that now have every flavor of our desires behind little doors we can open each day. Doors that reveal cute cats, Sesame Street characters, Disney favorites and chocolate desserts. All these are to remind us of the first arrival of God's Son. If it somehow helps I suppose there is no harm. No matter how you consider the holiday celebration it is always good to reflect on Messiah Jesus. It is always good to be drawn into worship and the presence of our Heavenly Father. It has been well said that Jesus is the greatest gift of all. For those who believe, reflecting upon this Gift of God should be a daily occurrence not an annual remembrance. But what of the many, the very many, who do not know or understand this Gift offered by the grace of God?
We, as the children of God, are to be a thankful, grateful, people. The lack of gratitude is an affront to God and an indication of the downward spiral toward destruction. Paul warns the Romans of the dangers of lacking a thankful spirit. "because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened" (Romans 1:21, emphasis mine). In contrast we are to follow the instructions given to the Thessalonians in 5:18, "in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." I have heard many messages on how we are to give thanks even in the most dire of circumstances in reference to this verse. It is indeed a challenge to be thankful in times of difficulty, however, the verse suggests more than that. It says, "in everything", give thanks. Gratitude is to radiate from our lives all the time. We have the greatest reasons for a thankful spirit that can possibly be imagined. Rescued from sin and death, given hope and purpose, knowing that the God of the universe loves us beyond measure, how much more do we need to produce a consistent attitude of gratitude?
Living a thankful life is more challenging than it might seem. We may not be constantly grumbling but are we constantly grateful? The mundane and routine stuff of life lulls us into a living coma that puts our attitudes into neutral. This is not God's intention for our lives. Gratefulness in everything should be the mark of our existence. It is a mark that can quite literally change the lives of people around you. It can be lived out in very practical ways and can be even more powerful at this time of year. As you go about life, dozens of people serve you every day. They prepare your coffee at Starbucks, stock your grocery stores, pick up after careless shoppers; does anyone really think a head of lettuce belongs with the pasta? Someone has to cart it back to produce. Every sales associate, gas station attendant, police officer at the mall or directing holiday traffic is there serving you. Add restaurant servers, bank employees, people who pick up the trash around the parking lots all add to the quality and convenience of our lives. Just how grateful are we for their service? I know they get paid but that doesn't change the fact that they choose to be there to help you. Are you an inspiration or an irritant to that person who stands for hours to help people with their purchases at the register. Are you a complainer or encourager as you rub against the lives of all those who serve you. Being neutral is not being thankful.
As followers of Messiah we have an amazing opportunity numerous times a day to show some gratitude to some worn and likely badgered individual who is there to serve an ungrateful public. Put it to the test. Take a moment with the next person who serves you and be grateful. Stop a super market employee and say, "I know you have a difficult job. I just wanted you to know I really appreciate what you do. Your being here makes my life a little easier and I am grateful for what you do. Have a blessed day and a merry Christmas." It only takes a moment to pass on thanksgiving. It may seem like a small thing, however, it may well be a powerful message to a tired retail worker. I told an older employee at Walmart that I honestly appreciated her being there at the checkout and that I was thankful for her working on this cold night instead of being home with her family. I was grateful that she made my life a little easier. and wished her a blessed Christmas. She actually got misty eyed and said, "God bless you." I have little doubt that she shared my encouragement when she got home that night. There is a reason God tells us to be grateful. Showing appreciation to all those folks who serve and provide in countless way shows the love and power of God.
The world is a pretty cold and dark place filled with self centered weary people. We are not to be like the world. "But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good" ( 2 Thessalonians 3:13). Words of appreciation, verbal thankfulness, and kind encouragement are good things. Do not be so distracted and weary that you miss the opportunity to express your gratitude to someone who is serving you. You might just be their best Christmas gift ever.
We, as the children of God, are to be a thankful, grateful, people. The lack of gratitude is an affront to God and an indication of the downward spiral toward destruction. Paul warns the Romans of the dangers of lacking a thankful spirit. "because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened" (Romans 1:21, emphasis mine). In contrast we are to follow the instructions given to the Thessalonians in 5:18, "in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." I have heard many messages on how we are to give thanks even in the most dire of circumstances in reference to this verse. It is indeed a challenge to be thankful in times of difficulty, however, the verse suggests more than that. It says, "in everything", give thanks. Gratitude is to radiate from our lives all the time. We have the greatest reasons for a thankful spirit that can possibly be imagined. Rescued from sin and death, given hope and purpose, knowing that the God of the universe loves us beyond measure, how much more do we need to produce a consistent attitude of gratitude?
Living a thankful life is more challenging than it might seem. We may not be constantly grumbling but are we constantly grateful? The mundane and routine stuff of life lulls us into a living coma that puts our attitudes into neutral. This is not God's intention for our lives. Gratefulness in everything should be the mark of our existence. It is a mark that can quite literally change the lives of people around you. It can be lived out in very practical ways and can be even more powerful at this time of year. As you go about life, dozens of people serve you every day. They prepare your coffee at Starbucks, stock your grocery stores, pick up after careless shoppers; does anyone really think a head of lettuce belongs with the pasta? Someone has to cart it back to produce. Every sales associate, gas station attendant, police officer at the mall or directing holiday traffic is there serving you. Add restaurant servers, bank employees, people who pick up the trash around the parking lots all add to the quality and convenience of our lives. Just how grateful are we for their service? I know they get paid but that doesn't change the fact that they choose to be there to help you. Are you an inspiration or an irritant to that person who stands for hours to help people with their purchases at the register. Are you a complainer or encourager as you rub against the lives of all those who serve you. Being neutral is not being thankful.
As followers of Messiah we have an amazing opportunity numerous times a day to show some gratitude to some worn and likely badgered individual who is there to serve an ungrateful public. Put it to the test. Take a moment with the next person who serves you and be grateful. Stop a super market employee and say, "I know you have a difficult job. I just wanted you to know I really appreciate what you do. Your being here makes my life a little easier and I am grateful for what you do. Have a blessed day and a merry Christmas." It only takes a moment to pass on thanksgiving. It may seem like a small thing, however, it may well be a powerful message to a tired retail worker. I told an older employee at Walmart that I honestly appreciated her being there at the checkout and that I was thankful for her working on this cold night instead of being home with her family. I was grateful that she made my life a little easier. and wished her a blessed Christmas. She actually got misty eyed and said, "God bless you." I have little doubt that she shared my encouragement when she got home that night. There is a reason God tells us to be grateful. Showing appreciation to all those folks who serve and provide in countless way shows the love and power of God.
The world is a pretty cold and dark place filled with self centered weary people. We are not to be like the world. "But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good" ( 2 Thessalonians 3:13). Words of appreciation, verbal thankfulness, and kind encouragement are good things. Do not be so distracted and weary that you miss the opportunity to express your gratitude to someone who is serving you. You might just be their best Christmas gift ever.
Thursday, December 27, 2018
"The Sweetest Gift of All"
The Christmas Celebration has come and gone. Relatives are heading home and the tree is a little bare. For many the Christmas celebration is bittersweet. It is a time to celebrate the Savior's birth, however it can be a time of reflecting upon the shadow of the loss of a loved one. A spouse, parent, child, friend, the ones passed on who leave that vacant spot on Christmas day. A good friend shared a music video that speaks to that reality. It was a source of comfort for me. Perhaps it will be for you as well. Consider it a belated Christmas gift from Torah Paranoia.
Saturday, December 8, 2018
Christmas all Year Long
Tis that most wonderful time of the year. We are in the midst of what has become known as the Christmas season. It is a time of peace on earth and good will toward men, just ask anyone in retail. It is a time of confused celebration and traditions that have questionable origins. Even the time of the celebration of the Lord's first advent comes from Constantine's desire to somehow blend Christianity with the solstice celebration. The Scriptures give us no definitive time of the Savior's birth but it was not December 25th. More likely the spring time so some find the celebration unseemly. They have a feeling of pride that they reject this holiday and all of it's pagan roots and traditions. I have written before that celebrating the birth of the Savior seems like a good thing. It is a good thing to remember that John 3:16 is true. God did did love the world and did give His only begotten Son so we could believe and have life eternal. That, in and of itself, is a reason to bring God praise and a cause for celebration.
One of the common marks of the Christmas season is that of giving. We buy gifts to exchange and little things to tuck in those stockings hung with care. Thanks to Samaritan's Purse, many now give shoe boxes filled with fun stuff so children around the world can experience Gods love. We give change to the chilly folks ringing the bell outside grocery stores and shopping malls so the Salvation Army can spread God's care. We may exchange names as a "Secret Santa" in the place we work. These are all good things. Our God is a giving God. He gives the sun and the rain. He gives life to the fields and brings the harvest. He gives hope and joy and the fruit of His Spirit into the barren lives of His children. He gives comfort to the wounded and forsaken. For those who believe that Messiah Jesus has come, giving is one of the most powerful tools available to reveal the Son of God.
Giving in the simplest and most practical moments of life has multiple benefits and can cause a ripple effect in making the Savior real. For the giver, it is a reminder of God's sacrifice and gift to us. For the recipient there is a little joy added to their lives and a little light to shine into their darkness. I am aware that life is short and that we want to be efficient in the use of what time God has given us. However, maybe we need to remember that it really is God's time given to us. It is really not our own. It is a gift to be shared with others. So perhaps our goal should be to give up that prime parking space and enjoy a brisk walk from the distant parking lots while humming a Christmas carol on the way. It is a time to help someone unload their overloaded cart and then take the cart back to the store. Time to hold open a door, put a dollar in a kettle and smile a lot. take God's time to surprise the person ahead of you in the checkout line and let them go first. Even if their seventy-two items seems to outweigh your seventeen. Ask how their shopping is going. Take note of the contents of the cart and comment on how much someone will enjoy the choices they made. They may be resistant to step ahead of you but you can gently persuade them to take your spot. Imagine the conversation they will have when they share the story at home of how someone put them first. Be the thankful encourager to the retail associate. They really are making your life easier by working that day. Watch their countenance change when you express your gratitude for being there and wish them a Merry or Blessed Christmas. I for one want to be the story of the kind and grateful customer when they get home rather than the irritated, grumpy demanding one. All five of my children and my wife have worked retail. My wife and daughter still do. I get to hear the stories of the outrageous and demanding people who set out to ruin their day. However, I also hear of the kind, patient and pleasant folk who appreciated them for their help. Which one does God want you to be?
Whether you enjoy the season or are somewhat offended by the questionable roots and history that surrounds this time of year, the celebration should not rob you of the opportunity to let some light shine in the darkness. Take a queue from Linus and read the account from Luke chapter two and let this be what Christmas is all about. You can read it again in April when the event is more likely to have occurred. In fact you could read it once a month just as a way to refresh the wonder of Messiah's arrival and the joy it brought to simple shepherds just outside Bethlehem. We could actually celebrate Christmas everyday of the year. Always being giving to those around us. Always offering a helping hand to the guy trying to tie a mattress onto his Prius outside of Sam's Club or hep the woman with her seventy-five pound bag of kitty litter. Philippians 2:3 gives us the plan, "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." Putting others first. That is what the Lord did for us. Remember the story? He left the glories of heaven and took on the form of a child. Born to a poor young woman in a stable there in Bethlehem. No glitz, no glory, just a few shepherds reporting a multitude of the heavenly host singing, "Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth, good will toward men". It really is good news of great joy for all people. A joy we can share all year long by simply giving others the gift of being more important than ourselves. Humble service when we shop, when we drive, when we park our cars, when we hold a door or help the little league youngster with a $20 donation as we leave the grocery store and watch their eyes light up. The joy of Christmas giving can be ours every day of the year.
One of the common marks of the Christmas season is that of giving. We buy gifts to exchange and little things to tuck in those stockings hung with care. Thanks to Samaritan's Purse, many now give shoe boxes filled with fun stuff so children around the world can experience Gods love. We give change to the chilly folks ringing the bell outside grocery stores and shopping malls so the Salvation Army can spread God's care. We may exchange names as a "Secret Santa" in the place we work. These are all good things. Our God is a giving God. He gives the sun and the rain. He gives life to the fields and brings the harvest. He gives hope and joy and the fruit of His Spirit into the barren lives of His children. He gives comfort to the wounded and forsaken. For those who believe that Messiah Jesus has come, giving is one of the most powerful tools available to reveal the Son of God.
Giving in the simplest and most practical moments of life has multiple benefits and can cause a ripple effect in making the Savior real. For the giver, it is a reminder of God's sacrifice and gift to us. For the recipient there is a little joy added to their lives and a little light to shine into their darkness. I am aware that life is short and that we want to be efficient in the use of what time God has given us. However, maybe we need to remember that it really is God's time given to us. It is really not our own. It is a gift to be shared with others. So perhaps our goal should be to give up that prime parking space and enjoy a brisk walk from the distant parking lots while humming a Christmas carol on the way. It is a time to help someone unload their overloaded cart and then take the cart back to the store. Time to hold open a door, put a dollar in a kettle and smile a lot. take God's time to surprise the person ahead of you in the checkout line and let them go first. Even if their seventy-two items seems to outweigh your seventeen. Ask how their shopping is going. Take note of the contents of the cart and comment on how much someone will enjoy the choices they made. They may be resistant to step ahead of you but you can gently persuade them to take your spot. Imagine the conversation they will have when they share the story at home of how someone put them first. Be the thankful encourager to the retail associate. They really are making your life easier by working that day. Watch their countenance change when you express your gratitude for being there and wish them a Merry or Blessed Christmas. I for one want to be the story of the kind and grateful customer when they get home rather than the irritated, grumpy demanding one. All five of my children and my wife have worked retail. My wife and daughter still do. I get to hear the stories of the outrageous and demanding people who set out to ruin their day. However, I also hear of the kind, patient and pleasant folk who appreciated them for their help. Which one does God want you to be?
Whether you enjoy the season or are somewhat offended by the questionable roots and history that surrounds this time of year, the celebration should not rob you of the opportunity to let some light shine in the darkness. Take a queue from Linus and read the account from Luke chapter two and let this be what Christmas is all about. You can read it again in April when the event is more likely to have occurred. In fact you could read it once a month just as a way to refresh the wonder of Messiah's arrival and the joy it brought to simple shepherds just outside Bethlehem. We could actually celebrate Christmas everyday of the year. Always being giving to those around us. Always offering a helping hand to the guy trying to tie a mattress onto his Prius outside of Sam's Club or hep the woman with her seventy-five pound bag of kitty litter. Philippians 2:3 gives us the plan, "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." Putting others first. That is what the Lord did for us. Remember the story? He left the glories of heaven and took on the form of a child. Born to a poor young woman in a stable there in Bethlehem. No glitz, no glory, just a few shepherds reporting a multitude of the heavenly host singing, "Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth, good will toward men". It really is good news of great joy for all people. A joy we can share all year long by simply giving others the gift of being more important than ourselves. Humble service when we shop, when we drive, when we park our cars, when we hold a door or help the little league youngster with a $20 donation as we leave the grocery store and watch their eyes light up. The joy of Christmas giving can be ours every day of the year.
Monday, December 25, 2017
Forgotten Heroes or God's Mercy on Mary.
I honestly love this time of year. I am aware of the commercialism and the fact that this is the celebration of the first advent, the birth of our Lord and not His precise birth date. However, I enjoy the lights and the trees and the crisp air. For at least twenty-five years I have done an Advent series leading up to Christmas Day. As an aside, I also do a resurrection series leading up to the Resurrection so there is balance in my preaching. I have had a few of these seventy-five to eighty lessons share a common theme, but I have never reused a message. There is always something new to consider. This year I spoke on the forgotten Heroes, the background folks from the Christmas story. People like Zacharias,Elizabeth, Simeon, and the messengers God sent to alert a few chosen people of the birth of His Son. In the process I spent some time looking at the visit of the angel, Gabriel, to the young maiden, Mary. It was in this exchange that I was given a fresh appreciation for the grace and mercy of our Heavenly Father. Tucked into Gabriel's message is a profound message for us as well. Just a reminder of the tenderness of the God who loved us an sent His Son, Emmanuel, God with us, on that first Christmas Day.
In order to appreciate the power of the angel's message you must do two things. First, you must remove Mary's halo and allow her to be just a young Jewish girl who is looking forward to becoming the wife of Joseph, the town carpenter. Second, you must drop out of your American Culture and become a Jew form 2000 years ago. and for good measure, pretend you never read this account before. You are now Mary. A teen-aged young woman.Your marriage was arranged, as all marriages were, by your parents some time ago. A binding covenant had been publicly signed and a dowry paid. All that remained was for you to become of marriageable age and for Joseph to have a home and business to support you and the family you would build together. That time was drawing near. Today begins like any other day until you have an angelic visitation. The account is recorded as follows:
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.” Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her (Luke 1:26-38).
Mary is a Godly young woman. She is remarkably well versed in Scripture. Just consider how many verses and books she quotes from when she shares her praise with Elizabeth. She has just been told that she will give birth to the long awaited Messiah. Her son will reign on David's throne forever and ever. Quite a bit to take in as a teenage girl. She asked her obvious question. "How can this be as I have never known (had sexual relations with) a man?" Gabriel explains that this will be a supernatural God thing. And the child she bears will be called the Son of God. Mary accepts the assignment and the angel Gabriel departs. An amazing story of an amazing young woman.
As you read the story were you touched by the tender thing that God does for this young virgin? Did you see the depth of God's compassion and concern for a unwed girl who is to be found with child before her wedding night? She is a human woman. She is not "Super Girl" or some special genetically enhanced being. She is a young woman about to go through her first pregnancy as an unwed mother with a story that no one in town has been made aware of. And then there is Joseph. How could he ever accept her story? With all that in mind God does the most tender and compassionate thing He can do. Were your emotions stirred as you read verse 36? Let me highlight it for you as it may have been lost in the text and with the familiarity you may have with the story, "Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren." If you did not catch what God did, Mary did. See Luke 1:39-40, "Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth."
God tells Mary there is a place to go. There are only two people on the whole planet who know who the Angel Gabriel is. There are only two people on the planet who know of the soon arrival, of the birth of Messiah. And one of the two cannot talk. Gabriel's message from God the Father is, Mary, you are not alone. You have a close relative who knows of the power of God, especially in matters of conception. She is a short distance away. Mary obviously knows of the couple, The Godly priest and his wife living close by in the hill country of Judah. Mary understands and heads to the house of Zacharias and Elizabeth. She is greeted with exuberance and confirmation that the child she now bears is Emmanuel. She spends three months there with no questions to answer and time to get through those first months of pregnancy. Now, I do not know if Mary had morning sickness, odd cravings, or got nausea from the smell of gefilte fish. However, Our Lord did enter this would as a baby and He grew inside Mary's womb like any other child. So, just maybe Mary shared in some of the joys and challenges of those first months. The point is, God in His tender compassion did not have her go through this alone. She and Elizabeth shared a sacred bond that no one else could. Each carrying a son announced by God's Angel Gabriel, before they even conceived. Each aware of the hurtful things people can say. Each aware that the truth about their pregnancy would not be believed by those around them.
Mary returns home, after three months of comfort, encouragement, understanding, and the blessings of being with the older Elizabeth to face the town that would not understand. To face the man who was under a covenant to take her as his wife. To know an answer that could not be explained. God's mercy stretches to Joseph with a dream of an Angelic messenger telling him why Mary is with child. He does not hesitate to believe the angel and quickly takes Mary as his wife, knowing the questions would not go away.
We could play the "what if" game here. What if God had not directed Mary to Elizabeth? How challenging would those three months have been? Instead, in His great compassion and mercy the Lord gives Mary and Elizabeth each other. Mary had the comfort of an older woman who absolutely believed her, without question. And Elizabeth had a friend who understood the importance of her little one coming in the power and spirit of Elijah. It also gave her someone to talk to, Remember, Zacharias wasn't saying much.
The Story of our Lord's birth has a number of forgotten or overlooked heroes if we read the familiar passages too quickly. Take some time this Christmas Day, or even in the days to come, and reread the stories, Read them a bit more slowly. Think about the people and the times they lived in. Perhaps you will see the wonder of God's tenderness and grace in a new or surprising way. Merry Christmas and may the peace of God keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In order to appreciate the power of the angel's message you must do two things. First, you must remove Mary's halo and allow her to be just a young Jewish girl who is looking forward to becoming the wife of Joseph, the town carpenter. Second, you must drop out of your American Culture and become a Jew form 2000 years ago. and for good measure, pretend you never read this account before. You are now Mary. A teen-aged young woman.Your marriage was arranged, as all marriages were, by your parents some time ago. A binding covenant had been publicly signed and a dowry paid. All that remained was for you to become of marriageable age and for Joseph to have a home and business to support you and the family you would build together. That time was drawing near. Today begins like any other day until you have an angelic visitation. The account is recorded as follows:
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.” Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her (Luke 1:26-38).
Mary is a Godly young woman. She is remarkably well versed in Scripture. Just consider how many verses and books she quotes from when she shares her praise with Elizabeth. She has just been told that she will give birth to the long awaited Messiah. Her son will reign on David's throne forever and ever. Quite a bit to take in as a teenage girl. She asked her obvious question. "How can this be as I have never known (had sexual relations with) a man?" Gabriel explains that this will be a supernatural God thing. And the child she bears will be called the Son of God. Mary accepts the assignment and the angel Gabriel departs. An amazing story of an amazing young woman.
As you read the story were you touched by the tender thing that God does for this young virgin? Did you see the depth of God's compassion and concern for a unwed girl who is to be found with child before her wedding night? She is a human woman. She is not "Super Girl" or some special genetically enhanced being. She is a young woman about to go through her first pregnancy as an unwed mother with a story that no one in town has been made aware of. And then there is Joseph. How could he ever accept her story? With all that in mind God does the most tender and compassionate thing He can do. Were your emotions stirred as you read verse 36? Let me highlight it for you as it may have been lost in the text and with the familiarity you may have with the story, "Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren." If you did not catch what God did, Mary did. See Luke 1:39-40, "Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth."
God tells Mary there is a place to go. There are only two people on the whole planet who know who the Angel Gabriel is. There are only two people on the planet who know of the soon arrival, of the birth of Messiah. And one of the two cannot talk. Gabriel's message from God the Father is, Mary, you are not alone. You have a close relative who knows of the power of God, especially in matters of conception. She is a short distance away. Mary obviously knows of the couple, The Godly priest and his wife living close by in the hill country of Judah. Mary understands and heads to the house of Zacharias and Elizabeth. She is greeted with exuberance and confirmation that the child she now bears is Emmanuel. She spends three months there with no questions to answer and time to get through those first months of pregnancy. Now, I do not know if Mary had morning sickness, odd cravings, or got nausea from the smell of gefilte fish. However, Our Lord did enter this would as a baby and He grew inside Mary's womb like any other child. So, just maybe Mary shared in some of the joys and challenges of those first months. The point is, God in His tender compassion did not have her go through this alone. She and Elizabeth shared a sacred bond that no one else could. Each carrying a son announced by God's Angel Gabriel, before they even conceived. Each aware of the hurtful things people can say. Each aware that the truth about their pregnancy would not be believed by those around them.
Mary returns home, after three months of comfort, encouragement, understanding, and the blessings of being with the older Elizabeth to face the town that would not understand. To face the man who was under a covenant to take her as his wife. To know an answer that could not be explained. God's mercy stretches to Joseph with a dream of an Angelic messenger telling him why Mary is with child. He does not hesitate to believe the angel and quickly takes Mary as his wife, knowing the questions would not go away.
We could play the "what if" game here. What if God had not directed Mary to Elizabeth? How challenging would those three months have been? Instead, in His great compassion and mercy the Lord gives Mary and Elizabeth each other. Mary had the comfort of an older woman who absolutely believed her, without question. And Elizabeth had a friend who understood the importance of her little one coming in the power and spirit of Elijah. It also gave her someone to talk to, Remember, Zacharias wasn't saying much.
The Story of our Lord's birth has a number of forgotten or overlooked heroes if we read the familiar passages too quickly. Take some time this Christmas Day, or even in the days to come, and reread the stories, Read them a bit more slowly. Think about the people and the times they lived in. Perhaps you will see the wonder of God's tenderness and grace in a new or surprising way. Merry Christmas and may the peace of God keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Sunday, November 26, 2017
The Christmas Question, Is it Biblical?
It is that time of year of colored lights, brightly wrapped packages, cookies and carols. It is also that time of year when social media and my email account is invaded by the Christmas question. I have had believers come to me and ask if it is okay to celebrate Christmas. They have friends, fellow believers, who see Christmas as somewhat appalling. Their friends explain that the roots of Christmas stem from paganism and its symbols are elements of pagan worship. They are concerned with Christmas trees, Christmas wreaths, Christmas lights, mistletoe, and those stockings hung by the chimney with care. These folks grew up with the celebration but their well meaning Christian friends present a good case to abandon, if not actively oppose, this "pagan based" festival. They do enjoy the holiday and focus on Christ but they want to be true to God's Word, thus the Christmas question.
The anti-Christmas scholars usually have three arguments to enlighten those who are trapped in this unbiblical tradition. First, unlike celebrations like Passover, there is no clear call by God in the Bible to set aside a day of celebration for Messiah's birth. Second, the festival was originally the celebration of the winter equinox, tied to the worship of Roman and Greek goddesses. And third, December 25 could not possibly be Christ's birthday. The arguments have a grain of truth, but is there more here than we might see at first glance?
I should make it clear that I have no objection to those who have an objection to the Christmas celebration. They are free to hold their opinion and to be obedient to their conscience and convictions. I do get concerned when they somehow feel that they have a better standing with God or that those who disagree are somehow immersed in some unbiblical celebration. That by celebrating the arrival of God's Son, Messiah, in December is an affront to God, if not an out and out sin. Let's take a look at each of these objections.
First, there is no call of God to have this Celebration. True, but does that make it wrong? There are required celebrations in God's Word. The three pilgrim festivals of Passover, The Feast of Tabernacles, and Pentecost. There is also the Feast of Trumpets, Yom Kipper, Rosh Hashanah, among others. God also commanded an observation of the New Moon, (which, by the way has parallels among the pagans) and a weekly seventh day Sabbath observance. If these are commanded in Scripture shouldn't we observe these? It seems that, if no Biblical basis can be found for a Christmas celebration, we should eliminate such a celebration, then shouldn't finding a Biblical command for celebrations obligate us to those Biblical celebrations?
Speaking of celebrations, it seems reasonable to consider a well known Jewish holiday called Hanukkah. This tradition comes from Maccabees, writings that are recognized as valuable but not on the same level as Scripture. Also, the celebration of Purim comes from a decree signed by Queen Esther and Mordecai (See Esther 9). The Lord never commanded either of these celebrations, but God's people, the Jews, follow them faithfully. They are reminders of God's deliverance and His faithfulness. I could point out that Mary, Joseph, the angels, the shepherds and some Gentile Magi celebrated the birth of Messiah. If we choose to do so, it seems we are in good company. Many of those who find aspects of the Christmas traditions unpalatable tend to ignore the commanded celebrations and few would take off every new moon as a day of rest and reflection (Numbers 29). I am told, that the reason that these Biblical and traditional celebrations are not required, is that we are under grace, not the Law, so such legalities do not apply to believers today. So grace applies to celebrations we ignore but not to one, Christmas, we might choose to celebrate. I'm not sure I follow the logic in that argument.
Second, the festival was originally the celebration of the winter equinox tied to the worship of Roman and Greek goddesses. Actually this is not quite true. It is true that there was a long standing celebration in both Greek and Roman mythology of a goddess of fertility or love, or some such variant, who needed to fulfill her obligation to go to the god of the underworld at the time of the winter equinox. Her absence would bring cold and the apparent death of the earth. Come spring she returned and everything came back to life. The winter celebration was a sort of goodbye party filled with drinking and no small amount of debauchery. The Romans en masse enjoyed the celebration. Enter Constantine. Constantine credited his rise to power to an epiphany he experienced before a major battle. Constantine became a believer in God and His Son. He declared his empire to now be the Holy Roman Empire and required all Romans to believe. He was also no political novice. To retain favor he, along with the early church fathers, proclaimed a day of celebration for the birth of Christ to be held at the same time as the equinox celebration. The tradition of this Christmas celebration has been observed for the many centuries that have followed. Is there some element of a connection here? Well, yes and no. It was to appease the masses who wanted the equinox celebration to continue, but the celebration was not to honor the gods or goddesses of Greek or Roman mythology. It was to honor the birth of God's Son.
Third, December 25 could not possibly be Christ's birthday.This one is true and is backed up by scripture. Luke 2:8 informs us that the shepherds were in the fields keeping watch over their sheep. The only time of year this would be true would be the fall, around September, or the spring, around April. It would not have been true in the winter, in December. I lean toward the spring time due to the temple service of Zacharias and the timing of Elizabeth's and Mary's pregnancies. The reality is we do not know the precise date. It is also true that December 25 is not even close. Yet, the day was set up as a celebration of His birth, not necessarily His birthday. However, it is an event worth celebrating. By the way, you may have noticed the pagan goddess celebration pretty well died out. Few still honor her on the winter equinox. However, much of the world celebrates the birth of God's Son. I guess Constantine's idea won.
God's people, the Jews, determined that the events of God's deliverance in the days of Esther were worth remembering. They also decided that God's miraculous burning of the oil in the time of the deliverance in Maccabees was likewise worth celebrating, even if God did not command them. It seems the arrival of The Deliverer would be worthy of celebrating as well.
If you disagree, I am fine with that. I am actually a bit more miffed that we ignore the Jewish calendar for Passover, leading up to the resurrection of our Lord. Many call the day Easter, which is a variation of the name of that pagan goddess returning from the underworld she went to in December. But that is for another day. For now I wish you all a Merry Christmas, or not, I will leave that up to you.
The anti-Christmas scholars usually have three arguments to enlighten those who are trapped in this unbiblical tradition. First, unlike celebrations like Passover, there is no clear call by God in the Bible to set aside a day of celebration for Messiah's birth. Second, the festival was originally the celebration of the winter equinox, tied to the worship of Roman and Greek goddesses. And third, December 25 could not possibly be Christ's birthday. The arguments have a grain of truth, but is there more here than we might see at first glance?
I should make it clear that I have no objection to those who have an objection to the Christmas celebration. They are free to hold their opinion and to be obedient to their conscience and convictions. I do get concerned when they somehow feel that they have a better standing with God or that those who disagree are somehow immersed in some unbiblical celebration. That by celebrating the arrival of God's Son, Messiah, in December is an affront to God, if not an out and out sin. Let's take a look at each of these objections.
First, there is no call of God to have this Celebration. True, but does that make it wrong? There are required celebrations in God's Word. The three pilgrim festivals of Passover, The Feast of Tabernacles, and Pentecost. There is also the Feast of Trumpets, Yom Kipper, Rosh Hashanah, among others. God also commanded an observation of the New Moon, (which, by the way has parallels among the pagans) and a weekly seventh day Sabbath observance. If these are commanded in Scripture shouldn't we observe these? It seems that, if no Biblical basis can be found for a Christmas celebration, we should eliminate such a celebration, then shouldn't finding a Biblical command for celebrations obligate us to those Biblical celebrations?
Speaking of celebrations, it seems reasonable to consider a well known Jewish holiday called Hanukkah. This tradition comes from Maccabees, writings that are recognized as valuable but not on the same level as Scripture. Also, the celebration of Purim comes from a decree signed by Queen Esther and Mordecai (See Esther 9). The Lord never commanded either of these celebrations, but God's people, the Jews, follow them faithfully. They are reminders of God's deliverance and His faithfulness. I could point out that Mary, Joseph, the angels, the shepherds and some Gentile Magi celebrated the birth of Messiah. If we choose to do so, it seems we are in good company. Many of those who find aspects of the Christmas traditions unpalatable tend to ignore the commanded celebrations and few would take off every new moon as a day of rest and reflection (Numbers 29). I am told, that the reason that these Biblical and traditional celebrations are not required, is that we are under grace, not the Law, so such legalities do not apply to believers today. So grace applies to celebrations we ignore but not to one, Christmas, we might choose to celebrate. I'm not sure I follow the logic in that argument.
Second, the festival was originally the celebration of the winter equinox tied to the worship of Roman and Greek goddesses. Actually this is not quite true. It is true that there was a long standing celebration in both Greek and Roman mythology of a goddess of fertility or love, or some such variant, who needed to fulfill her obligation to go to the god of the underworld at the time of the winter equinox. Her absence would bring cold and the apparent death of the earth. Come spring she returned and everything came back to life. The winter celebration was a sort of goodbye party filled with drinking and no small amount of debauchery. The Romans en masse enjoyed the celebration. Enter Constantine. Constantine credited his rise to power to an epiphany he experienced before a major battle. Constantine became a believer in God and His Son. He declared his empire to now be the Holy Roman Empire and required all Romans to believe. He was also no political novice. To retain favor he, along with the early church fathers, proclaimed a day of celebration for the birth of Christ to be held at the same time as the equinox celebration. The tradition of this Christmas celebration has been observed for the many centuries that have followed. Is there some element of a connection here? Well, yes and no. It was to appease the masses who wanted the equinox celebration to continue, but the celebration was not to honor the gods or goddesses of Greek or Roman mythology. It was to honor the birth of God's Son.
Third, December 25 could not possibly be Christ's birthday.This one is true and is backed up by scripture. Luke 2:8 informs us that the shepherds were in the fields keeping watch over their sheep. The only time of year this would be true would be the fall, around September, or the spring, around April. It would not have been true in the winter, in December. I lean toward the spring time due to the temple service of Zacharias and the timing of Elizabeth's and Mary's pregnancies. The reality is we do not know the precise date. It is also true that December 25 is not even close. Yet, the day was set up as a celebration of His birth, not necessarily His birthday. However, it is an event worth celebrating. By the way, you may have noticed the pagan goddess celebration pretty well died out. Few still honor her on the winter equinox. However, much of the world celebrates the birth of God's Son. I guess Constantine's idea won.
God's people, the Jews, determined that the events of God's deliverance in the days of Esther were worth remembering. They also decided that God's miraculous burning of the oil in the time of the deliverance in Maccabees was likewise worth celebrating, even if God did not command them. It seems the arrival of The Deliverer would be worthy of celebrating as well.
If you disagree, I am fine with that. I am actually a bit more miffed that we ignore the Jewish calendar for Passover, leading up to the resurrection of our Lord. Many call the day Easter, which is a variation of the name of that pagan goddess returning from the underworld she went to in December. But that is for another day. For now I wish you all a Merry Christmas, or not, I will leave that up to you.
Monday, December 19, 2016
The Biblical Evidence For Santa
It is that remarkable and wonderful time of year when millions of Christians around the globe anticipate the celebration of the birth of the Savior,Yeshua, Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is that time when the community of believers has the opportunity to find new and old ways to disagree and separate one from another. The time to celebrate "Peace on earth and good will toward men"
can be replaced with judgemental attitudes and divisions over traditions
and questions of worship. Believers vary from those who immerse themselves in virtually every tradition to those who piously proclaim that they will have no part in a celebration that was once based in paganism. "To tree or not to tree, that is the question." What of lights and wreaths and stockings and presents? And what of the big guy in the red suit. What should be done about the Santa Question? Wouldn't it be nice to have some clear Biblical guidelines to clarify these questions? What if I told you that you could find some Biblical answers to the Santa question and some other sticky issues Christians face? Interested? Then keep reading.
The Santa question is answered in Zechariah 2:6, "Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD." This has to be the clearest Scriptural evidence to prove the existence of Santa Clause you could ever find. Who else goes "Ho, ho" and flees to the north? Who else is spread abroad the four winds of heaven bringing gifts to all the good boys and girls? Seems pretty convincing to me. And if you really want that expensive gift like a sports car or motor cycle, remember Isaiah 58:14, "then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land". I am not sure if the Triumph is a motor cycle or a sports car but I am sure they did find joy in the Lord cruising around on the heights of the land. If not a Triumph you could probably find joy in a Harley as well. While we are at it we should deal with the health issue of Santa's pipe. Lots of Christians think smoking is wrong. However, Genesis 24:64 says, "And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel." It appears Rebekah was so nervous when she saw Isaac she needed a smoke to calm her nerves. There seems to be little difference between lighting up a Camel and lighting up a pipe so maybe we have been a little too critical of Santa's smoking habit.
I do hope that you, my readers, recognize that this is all said in jest. Though, I must make a bit of a confession. For those who do not know me I have a pretty full and very white beard. I wear wire rimmed glasses from time to time and also wear a red sort of puffy coat on chilly days. I honestly get some pretty wide eyed looks from small children at the shopping malls. One day I could not resist when a little boy stared at me as we rode in an elevator. I held the door for him and his mom and leaned down to look him in the eye and asked, "Have you been good?" His eyes got really wide as he nodded yes. I winked at him and went on my way realizing, as I walked, that I had just embedded the reality of Santa in the heart of a three year old. The verse in Zechariah 2 has nothing to do with Santa. Isaiah does not refer to motor cycles nor does Genesis 24:6 justify putting dry tobacco leaves in your mouth and setting them on fire. It is obvious that these verses were taken out of context and made to say something other than what God intended. It is like saying Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” has anything to do with prayer or worship. We all know that is taken out of context and does not represent what Jesus intended. Right? Not so sure? Let's check out the context.
Jesus, the Jewish Rabbi, is talking to His Jewish disciples and a Jewish crowd about relationships. The passage is about forgiveness and restoration, Matthew 18:15, “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother." The Lord then goes on to give instruction should the brother not receive your instruction. “But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established" (Matthew 18:16). The italicized portion is a quote for Deuteronomy 19:15. The Jewish audience would recognized this instruction from Torah. The issue here is a violation of God's Law. The grievance is not because someone took their spot at the synagogue or that they said they had seen a high school girls' soccer team play better football than the Jets. It was understood that these petty things would be quickly forgiven and forgotten. The matter here is a sin that puts the brother at odds with God's Word and thus with God Himself. The next step is in verse 17, "And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector." One needed correction here. There is no church when Yeshua is speaking. The word is simply assembly referring to the Jewish community not a group of Gentile followers of Jesus. This is spoken to Jews who immediately thought of the passage in Deuteronomy. Failure to repent in the face of clear evidence confirmed by three or more witnesses of a clear violation of God's Law would compel the Jewish Community to treat their Jewish brother like a Gentile or tax collector. They would have to exclude the errant brother from the feasts, table fellowship, some business dealings, social events like weddings and bar mitzvah celebrations. It would be a crushing separation designed to bring the guilty brother to repentance and restoration. This is no easy thing and never to be taken lightly. However, if the procedures are followed, those who are leaders in the community and synagogue have assurance from Deuteronomy 19 that when two or three are gathered for the purpose of disciplining and restoring a sinning brother, the Lord, Himself is in their midst. They are not taking such an imposing action on their own. God's Word must be honored and God's community must be pure. There is nothing in Matthew 18 or Deuteronomy 19 that promises us that Jesus will be with us when two or three gather to pray or when we gather to worship. He is always with us and He inhabits the praises of His people. Right thought. Wrong verse.
Just a closing thought about the Christmas season.There is really no doubt that the birth of the babe, spoken of in Luke chapter 2, was born in the spring or fall. This winter birth date is highly unlikely. It is rare to find a Christian that thinks of druids when they see a Christmas tree, but believe me they are out there. I, for one, am fully convinced that the birth of the Savior was not on December 25th. We do not know when his birth occurred. However, I find it hard to find fault with setting aside time to worship the Lord and celebrate His arrival to live among humanity with the purpose of rescuing us from death. It seems any day is a good day to worship God's Son and to celebrate His love and grace poured out upon us. So, I wish you and yours a very blessed Christmas.
The Santa question is answered in Zechariah 2:6, "Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD." This has to be the clearest Scriptural evidence to prove the existence of Santa Clause you could ever find. Who else goes "Ho, ho" and flees to the north? Who else is spread abroad the four winds of heaven bringing gifts to all the good boys and girls? Seems pretty convincing to me. And if you really want that expensive gift like a sports car or motor cycle, remember Isaiah 58:14, "then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land". I am not sure if the Triumph is a motor cycle or a sports car but I am sure they did find joy in the Lord cruising around on the heights of the land. If not a Triumph you could probably find joy in a Harley as well. While we are at it we should deal with the health issue of Santa's pipe. Lots of Christians think smoking is wrong. However, Genesis 24:64 says, "And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel." It appears Rebekah was so nervous when she saw Isaac she needed a smoke to calm her nerves. There seems to be little difference between lighting up a Camel and lighting up a pipe so maybe we have been a little too critical of Santa's smoking habit.
I do hope that you, my readers, recognize that this is all said in jest. Though, I must make a bit of a confession. For those who do not know me I have a pretty full and very white beard. I wear wire rimmed glasses from time to time and also wear a red sort of puffy coat on chilly days. I honestly get some pretty wide eyed looks from small children at the shopping malls. One day I could not resist when a little boy stared at me as we rode in an elevator. I held the door for him and his mom and leaned down to look him in the eye and asked, "Have you been good?" His eyes got really wide as he nodded yes. I winked at him and went on my way realizing, as I walked, that I had just embedded the reality of Santa in the heart of a three year old. The verse in Zechariah 2 has nothing to do with Santa. Isaiah does not refer to motor cycles nor does Genesis 24:6 justify putting dry tobacco leaves in your mouth and setting them on fire. It is obvious that these verses were taken out of context and made to say something other than what God intended. It is like saying Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” has anything to do with prayer or worship. We all know that is taken out of context and does not represent what Jesus intended. Right? Not so sure? Let's check out the context.
Jesus, the Jewish Rabbi, is talking to His Jewish disciples and a Jewish crowd about relationships. The passage is about forgiveness and restoration, Matthew 18:15, “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother." The Lord then goes on to give instruction should the brother not receive your instruction. “But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established" (Matthew 18:16). The italicized portion is a quote for Deuteronomy 19:15. The Jewish audience would recognized this instruction from Torah. The issue here is a violation of God's Law. The grievance is not because someone took their spot at the synagogue or that they said they had seen a high school girls' soccer team play better football than the Jets. It was understood that these petty things would be quickly forgiven and forgotten. The matter here is a sin that puts the brother at odds with God's Word and thus with God Himself. The next step is in verse 17, "And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector." One needed correction here. There is no church when Yeshua is speaking. The word is simply assembly referring to the Jewish community not a group of Gentile followers of Jesus. This is spoken to Jews who immediately thought of the passage in Deuteronomy. Failure to repent in the face of clear evidence confirmed by three or more witnesses of a clear violation of God's Law would compel the Jewish Community to treat their Jewish brother like a Gentile or tax collector. They would have to exclude the errant brother from the feasts, table fellowship, some business dealings, social events like weddings and bar mitzvah celebrations. It would be a crushing separation designed to bring the guilty brother to repentance and restoration. This is no easy thing and never to be taken lightly. However, if the procedures are followed, those who are leaders in the community and synagogue have assurance from Deuteronomy 19 that when two or three are gathered for the purpose of disciplining and restoring a sinning brother, the Lord, Himself is in their midst. They are not taking such an imposing action on their own. God's Word must be honored and God's community must be pure. There is nothing in Matthew 18 or Deuteronomy 19 that promises us that Jesus will be with us when two or three gather to pray or when we gather to worship. He is always with us and He inhabits the praises of His people. Right thought. Wrong verse.
Just a closing thought about the Christmas season.There is really no doubt that the birth of the babe, spoken of in Luke chapter 2, was born in the spring or fall. This winter birth date is highly unlikely. It is rare to find a Christian that thinks of druids when they see a Christmas tree, but believe me they are out there. I, for one, am fully convinced that the birth of the Savior was not on December 25th. We do not know when his birth occurred. However, I find it hard to find fault with setting aside time to worship the Lord and celebrate His arrival to live among humanity with the purpose of rescuing us from death. It seems any day is a good day to worship God's Son and to celebrate His love and grace poured out upon us. So, I wish you and yours a very blessed Christmas.
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