Sunday, December 27, 2015

As a City Set on a Hill

“A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” This is Jesus’ plan for his disciples. They are to be on display, unavoidably on display. This makes the introverts among us very uncomfortable. And, as the experts tell us that our society is split just about down the middle between introverts and extroverts, that means that there’s a good chance 50% of Jesus’ disciples are not thrilled with his plan. But this is the Master’s plan, so everyone needs to be “on board.”

One thing that will help is to understand that being on display for Jesus is not the same as being on display for Macy's. Jesus doesn’t place you like a mannequin in a window, inviting people to stop and stare. His interests run much deeper than marketing. What he displays are the new lives of those whom he has brought to God through the reconciling power of his cross. These are lives that are being shaped by the will of God. Lives, therefore, that are full of wisdom and understanding, bearing fruit to his glory. 

Since this is the case, it doesn’t matter whether you are an introvert or an extrovert. What’s going to make the difference is your knowledge and love of God’s will and your desire to have it mold you. The person you will become will be one who will stand out not because you feel comfortable telling jokes in a crowd, or are able to walk up to strangers and easily engage in small talk. You will stand out, whether extrovert or introvert, because “in the sight of the peoples” you will possess wisdom and understanding that comes from knowing and doing the will of God (Deuteronomy 4:6-7)

When Jesus speaks as he does about his disciples being a very visible city there is no “might be” about it. It is what we are. If Moses is correct, being faithful to pursue the will of God in our lives will make us a city that is to be envied, a place where people want to live. 

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Wilt Thou Love God, as He Thee?

Wilt thou love God, as he thee? Then digest,
My soul, this wholesome meditation,
How God the Spirit, by angels waited on
In heaven, doth make his Temple in thy breast.
The Father having begot a Son most blest,
And still begetting -- for he ne'er begun --
Hath deigned to choose thee by adoption,
Co-heir t' his glory, and Sabbath' endless rest.
And as a robbed man, which by search doth find
His stol'n stuff sold, must lose or buy 't again:
The Son of glory came down, and was slain,
Us whom he'd made, and Satan stol'n, to unbind.
'Twas much that man was made like God before,
But, that God should be made like man, much more.
— John Donne (1572-1631)

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

A Christmas Primer: Lesson 4, The Mystery and Mercy of Christmas

We know from personal experience the outrage felt when laws are wantonly disobeyed and the disobedience is met with a shrug. It roils the soul. We instinctively know that lawbreaking should not go unpunished otherwise laws would be meaningless. What is true in earthly justice, is true in the heavenly. From the beginning human beings have been breaking God’s law, and to allow such lawbreaking to go unpunished would make a mockery of the law and of the One who established it.

Though everyone from the first has been receiving the just penalty for lawbreaking, death, there is yet a day when the full force of the sentence will be carried out. When will that be? On the Day of Judgment. On that Day all lawbreaking will be brought before the Judge and dealt with according to the rule of His law. Every person will have to give an answer, to make a defense, and none will be found righteous, “no, not one” (Romans 3:10). Unless . . . unless they are found to be “in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

God has acted to provide evidence that the guilty can present to the Judge to escape condemnation. He has sent His Son to fulfill the law and allow those who place their trust in the Him to have His fulfillment of the law put on their account, therefore wiping out their record of lawbreaking (Romans 8:3). This representative accomplishment of the law’s demands is a gift of God’s mercy.

But what kind of person could this be who could actually accomplish all righteousness and so stand in our place on the Day? It would have to be one, as the Heidelberg Catechism teaches, who is “a true and righteous man and yet more powerful than all creatures, that is, one who is at the same time true God” (Q. 15). This is the mystery and mercy of Christmas. The baby born in Bethlehem had been sent to be Immanuel (God with us) so that he might be Jesus (Yahweh saves). God seeing our lost condition fully enters into our existence to do for us what we could not do for ourselves. In this, God is shown to be “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26). May we give thanks this Christmas for his grace.

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

A Christmas Primer: Lesson 3, Rejoice? or Reject?

The reactions recorded in the Gospels to the news that the time for the appearance of the long-awaited Messiah had arrived tell us much about the meaning of Christmas. They fall out in one of two ways: joy or dread. There is no middle ground. The strength of the responses suggests that the people involved knew what was at stake. The coming of the King meant that the status quo could no longer stand. For some, that prospect was thrilling; for others, deeply troubling. 

Though the implications of the advent of the Messiah have been layered over with all manner of cultural and religious practices, to the extent that many are not even aware of his arrival let alone the implications of his coming, the initial reactions remain appropriate. His name is Jesus, a name given to him because he came to save people from their sins. This salvation is not just to release people from the futility they might feel about their lives, but to provide them with a righteousness that will allow them to stand on the Day of Judgment. Without that righteousness no one will be able to bear the scrutiny of the holy judge. And the subsequent sentencing will be devastating. That is why the response to the coming of Jesus is just as vital today as when the Messianic age dawned.

Of all the people who rejoiced at the news, Mary is central and most compelling. Though a young woman (she is believed to have been in her teens), she exhibits a mature knowledge of Scripture, a discerning spirit, a humble heart, and extraordinary faith. At every turn she responds with a readiness to bear the cross laid upon her. “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord . . .” She will receive a great reward on that Day.

On the other hand, Herod is the prime example of those who felt threatened. Firmly ensconced as the ruler of a small patch of the Roman Empire, he desired to remain such, even if it meant killing members of his own family. Upon hearing of the Messiah’s birth, his only thought was to destroy him. He will have much to answer for on that Day.

The Messiah has come. As Simeon prophesied, he is “appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed.” This was fulfilled then, and continues to be now. But it’s ultimate fulfillment will come on the Day when all will stand before him and be compelled to declare him King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

A Christmas Primer: Lesson 2, Who? What? Where?

In his letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul reveals what motivated God to act as he did when he sent his Son to die on the cross: “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29). This teaching, offered to a church that was infected with a destructive pride, has tremendous resonance with the events surrounding the birth of Jesus.

Every aspect of what took place appears to have been designed by God to undercut humanity’s bent toward pride and power. The divinely sent conqueror arrives not in a chariot but a young maiden’s womb. His palace, a stable; his throne, a manger. His first earthly messengers are shepherds, considered unclean and unscrupulous by their neighbors. His herald, a child of barrenness. His presence, a provocation to the powerful. His future, an ignominious death. 

If anything is lost in the clutter of the season, it’s this: the humble, and humbling, origins of Christmas. With the deluge of festivities, bright lights, parties, and gift-giving, these realities tend to get swamped. But they are important to bring to the surface. It’s in them that the reason why the child came, to save his people from their sins, find their first expression. In order to accomplish his task, he will have to yield to the world’s pride. He will have to become foolish, weak, despised. But by his obedience to the divine will he will bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

It all begins in Bethlehem, in the backyard of an inn, with a baby born into an unknown family from a town of ill-repute. It’s the way God works.

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

A Christmas Primer: Lesson 1, The Biblical Foundations

Trees, decorations, lights, giving of gifts, parties, family gatherings, cards, television specials, and the occasional creche or performance of the Messiah, these are the trappings of the season. In and of themselves, they are not bad things. But they do have the power to obscure the biblical foundation of Christmas. Consider the following words from an oft-sung carol heard at this time of year:

God rest you merry, gentlemen,
let nothing you dismay,
remember Christ our Savior
was born on Christmas day,
to save us all from Satan's pow'r
when we were gone astray;
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.

There’s a lot of important information in that verse that has been lost in the clutter of all the goings-on of the “holiday season.” Alas, the tune is no longer a celebration of salvation. Instead, it has become part of the shopping mall playlist or rendered background music for a trip up the elevator.

I’m not griping. I’m grieving.

The Bible relates that the birth of Jesus signals the fulfillment of God’s word. “As it is written,” “this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken,” “for so it is written by the prophet,” all point to the reality that God had planned this redemption long before, from before the foundation of the world, in fact. He purposed that he would “save his people from their sins” and sent his son to accomplish the task. Those with eyes to see and ears to hear understood that the one born in Bethlehem was the substance of God’s promises.

I may be deluded, but it seems that generations past were aware of these basic facts. I have a feeling that when they sang Christmas carols they knew enough of the story to know what the words spoke of, even if they didn’t believe them.

A lot of ground has been lost. Our neighbors are ignorant. That’s why we need to be educated and to educate. Pray that our Christmas Primer will go some distance in helping us to make the biblical foundation of the season known.