CYPRESSWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST

December 19, 2004

LIFT UP TO GOD THE FOLLOWING:

Our congregation                                                   Our nation, military and leaders

Various friends, relatives and co-workers              David and Leon in the Navy

EVENTS:

Dec. 25 - Christmas

Jan. 1    - New Year’s Day

DISTURBING ANNOUNCEMENT

“When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him” (Matthew 2:3). 

In studying for a recent lesson, this text really caught my eye.  When the wise men from the east came seeking the King of the Jews, they went to Jerusalem and asked Herod and prominent Jewish leaders.  There question disturbed all of them.  And today that same announcement, “where is the King of the Jews?,” continues to disturb people.

Controversy followed Jesus most of His public life leading to His crucifixion.  The early church disturbed Jewish communities throughout the Roman world.  Eventually it frightened the Roman government enough that they began to persecute followers of Christ.  When Christianity became dominant, any one who disturbed the “party” line often faced pain and death.  When secularism began to dominate Europe, Christianity suffered.  The Nazis and the Communists opposed Christianity seeing it as a threat to their existence.  Even today in many parts of the world, the King of the Jews disturbs many.  Muslims kill any converts to Christianity.  House churches not approved by the Chinese government are sought out and persecuted.  All of this happens because of a disturbing announcement many years ago.

People are still disturbed by Jesus, or any reference to the God of scripture.  A California six grade school teacher has his lessons plans reviewed before he teaches because he wanted to use the U.S. Constitution and other founding documents in that class.  Why?  The principle stated that since these documents mention God, it is a church/state separation issue.  That didn’t happen when he taught about Ramadan or Kwanza.  In the New York City school system, some observant bureaucrat noticed that while winter musical programs could not “sing” Christmas carols, they could play them; until he announced that that was not allowed either.

Christmas in particular has been somewhat controversial over the years.  The church in the third century began to recognize the birth of Christ.  Over the centuries as the clergy dominated worship services, the laity began singing outside the church service.  This began the development of what we now call carols.  When the reformation settled in Europe, in some parts Christmas was not recognized for years.  The pilgrims came to America for religious freedom but forbade the celebration of Christmas, connecting with the state sponsored churches of Europe.  As more Europeans immigrated to the U.S., they brought their Christmas traditions.  By the early 1800s it was recognized as a time of celebration among many.  During this same time, other traditional carols developed along with various traditions such as Santa Claus from Clement’s Twas the Night Before Christmas, various decorations and Christmas trees, greeting cards, and gift giving.  By the 20^th century other traditions came into being.  Winter and snow became prominent themes.  War brought out sentimental songs such as I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (the Civil War), I’ll Be Home For Christmas and White Christmas (World War II).  Reindeer were prominent and the most famous of all was a father’s story told to his daughter to comfort her while her mother was dying.  Today people say “Merry Christmas” but lose sight of its meaning for all the spending, partying, and economics of the shopping season.  Lost is the meaning of Christmas, the Christ mass or the idea of worship.  I have a cartoon in my files that has pictured two houses.  One has a brightly decorated house with all the season’s traditions.  Next door is a house with just a manger scene.  The resident of the first is saying to his wife, “Somebody always want to inject religion into Christmas.” 

The announcement of the birth of the King of the Jews continues to be disturbing.  Just consider our own tradition in the churches of Christ.  We have been taught that we do not celebrate Christmas because there are no holidays in scripture, and since the scripture is silent on the matter, so must we.  Fair enough.  However, there are any number of things we do that are not found in scripture that we have labeled expedient, and so approve of there use.  Some get upset if a song leaders leads a “Christmas song” in December because it is “approving of” Christmas.  I will respect those with such a view.  Yet it can be disturbing and may reflect more of our theology of Christ than on our book, chapter and verse methodology. 

Paul tells us that Jesus left the presence of God and humbly entered this world of sin (Philippians 2:6-8).  So began the final phase of the redemption of humankind.  We understand that Jesus came to die, but He had to come in the first place.  And He came in an unexpected way, and that was witnessed by a group of people one would not have considered the best of witnesses.  But that is God’s way of doing things.  In Revelation 12, the birth of Jesus is pictured and while the saints suffer, they rejoice that God has rescued them. 

Paul teaches that some will honor one day above another and that others will honor all days alike (see Romans 14).  That leaves us with options.  If we chose individually to celebrate Christmas in honor of God, that is our privilege.  If we choose congregationally, the same applies.  If someone else does not wish to, or another congregation chooses not to, so be it.  Keep in mind that both points of view send a message.  We just need to be careful that it is not the wrong message to the watching world.

One other point.  Matthew and Luke included in their gospels the birth of Christ.  Both gospels were written to believers; Matthew to Jewish believers and Jews, and Luke to Gentile believers to show the certainty of things believed.  We can sing about the greatest commandment, of seeking first, and loving one another.  Why not sing of the event that began it all?  God saw fit to celebrate it with the heavenly host, I don’t see a problem of us joining in that celebration since it led to our salvation.  It might be congregationally or individually but keep in mind the meaning of the day.  Will this be disturbing to some?  Yes, but we will be in good company.

                                                                                             George B. Mearns