Sacred Cynicism

I am constantly amazed and challenged by the story of Christmas. I am not talking about shepherds, wise men, or a night spent in a stable, but the larger story of how God chose to react to a world in rebellion. To be honest God did not do things the way I would have done them. I would have chosen to act more publicly. I would have made a big public condemnation of humanity, and issued a statement that the working relationship between Creator and creation is hereby terminated. At least that would have publicly severed the link between what these selfish people do, and any lasting PR damage their actions had on their God.

There was another route that God could have taken. He could have arrived in a powerful and public manner, perhaps in the halls of government, or the home of a ruler. This would have been a prudent option, since after all that is what a God or coming King would naturally do, plus it was what the people themselves expected. Then as God, or His representative, a full takeover of government could have happened almost in an instant. New laws could have been passed, new regulations enforced, and with the full weight of Divinity behind God, a standing order could have been issued. After all, who would ignore such a commanding order. That would have been the way I would have done it – powerfully, forcibly, and unmistakably.

Yet Christmas does not look like this at all, and it never has. Christmas compels, it does not force. Christmas invites, it does not order. Christmas stands alongside, it does not stand above. When we say sentences like these, we admit there is a natural truth – a truth that was created that day when God decided to come in a way that no one expected. God came to Earth not in a capitol city, but in a village. His arrival was not announced to the army, but to shepherds. Everything about this day is unexpected and upside down, and this is the part we miss about this season.

We expect there to be lights, gifts, and a tree. We expect to get things that have been on our Christmas list. In Philippians 2:6 we read, “Jesus: who being in very nature, God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited – made Himself nothing.” The phrase “made Himself nothing” means He became one of us. Instead of making a public condemnation of humanity, God became humanity. Instead of looking on our suffering with detachment, God came and took on the worst of our suffering. He took on the worst of what it means to be human, so we can once again find the best of what it means to be human. He steeped down, to lift us up – that is Christmas.

Maybe we demonstrate again what Christmas means. Is there someone around us that we can walk alongside? Instead of looking with detachment at their misfortune, even if it is self-afflicted, perhaps we can walk with them for awhile, and maybe lift them up as a result. Instead of looking at our blessings and saying this is mine, we can choose not to exploit those blessings, but use them to demonstrate Christ to a neighbor. We have that opportunity this Christmas. We have this opportunity all the time, because this is what Christmas is.

What situation could we change, just by walking through the situation with them? We could condemn them, and let them know how much we disapprove of what they have done. That would be one way to act, but many have tried that way before, and it does not do much. Plus, I am sure they are well aware that their situation is not ideal. What if we just chose to walk with them instead? That way has been tried before, and it is why we are celebrating Christmas.