It's finally December, and it's that time again. It's time to celebrate Christmas! For Christians this time is a special occasion of remembering and honoring when Jesus stepped down from heaven and put on flesh to dwell among His creation. We also celebrate the reason for His coming which was to ultimately die and pay the debt of sin that He knew we could never pay. That truly is something to sing and shout about!
Thinking about Christmas and remembering back to the stories from the Gospels of that first Christmas morn, have you ever wondered what it really was like that "Silent Night, Holy Night" as we like to call it? Did it really look like all the Christmas dramas and musicals that many church's (including my own) are putting on this time of year? Was it really the typical inn (or motel as we think of) that was full and unable to house Mary and Joseph? Were they actually placed in a stable that was probably behind the inn out in some field? Did Joseph (who was not actually Mary's husband yet) have to practically fend for himself in helping Mary deliver the baby? Was December 25th really the day when Jesus was born? As a child and most of my teenage years I never really thought about these questions. In fact, I remember reading the Christmas story from Luke as kid with my family and all the musicals and dramas made perfect sense to me.
Well, I'd like to share a little about what that Christmas morn might have looked like from a historical standpoint. As most people know, our dating system is set up with BC (standing for Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini which is latin for "in the year of our Lord"). This form of dating was a Christian invention and did not officially catch on in Europe until the era of Pope Gregory XIII in the late 1500s. Most Christmas dramas and musicals today state that the birth of Jesus occurred in 1 AD; however, that's probably not the case. Most New Testamant scholars and historians would agree that the birth of Jesus on the earth probably took place between 6-4 BC (remember BC counts down whereas AD counts up), with most leaning towards 6BC. According to Josephus, a great historian during the ancient times, accounts that Herod the Great probably would have died in what we know as 4 BC. That being the case, we know that shortly before his death Herod ordered the slaughter of all the babies in Bethlehem that were two years old and younger, which would give proof to the fact that Jesus was most likely born between 6-4 BC. [p. 188]
You're probably asking, well what about the actual date? Was it really December 25th? Well, most people have probably heard by now that December the 25th was a pagan holiday in the Western Roman Empire where they worshiped Sol Invictus ("the unconquerable sun"). When emperor Constantine had a Christian experience he wanted to make Christianity the religion of the empire so he did away with the holiday to Sol Invictus and instead changed it to celebrating the birth of Jesus. There really is no historical evidence that it really took place in the winter. In fact, in Luke's gospel, he mentions that shepherds would have watched their flocks at night (2:8). This activity was primarily done during the springtime when lambs were born, so perhaps Jesus was actually born in the spring. [p. 188]
Now that we know more confidently when the birth of Jesus occurred, what about the rest of the story? What about the inn? Would Mary and Joseph actually tried to get a room in the inn? The answer to the last question is most likely, no. I'm not trying to start a fight here, but they probably weren't looking in the inn when they came to Bethlehem. One reason is the fact that inns in that day were not a place that good Jewish people would have wanted to be in. According to historical evidence and tradition, inns were typically a place that crooks, Roman government officials, and prostitutes would have been found. I highly doubt that Joseph and Mary would have looked there to take themselves and their unborn child. Another reason Joseph and Mary probably would not have gone to an inn is because they probably would have made arrangements to stay with family. Think about this for a second, try to hear me out. Joseph and Mary were going back to Bethlehem because of the census. Bethlehem is the town that Joseph and Mary both came from, so more than likely they had family there. They also knew that the town would be full during this time, so they probably made arrangements to stay with their family. In the ancient times, and even today, family is priority and important. I'm sure their family was probably the only place that Mary and Joseph would have ever thought about going to in this occasion. I know, I know, you're wondering about Luke 2:7 that clearly states that Mary "wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in the manger, because there was no place for them in the inn." Ah, HA! you think I'm about to eat my words. Well, actually I'm not. The greek word used for "inn" in that verse is kataluma and elsewhere in the New Testament where this word is used it is typically translated "guest room." Yes, words can have more than one definition. There are many English words that have several totally different definitions, and Greek words are the same way as well. The fact is that most homes in ancient Palestine would usually have one to two rooms that were built off the ground. The ground floor would have served as a place where a few livestock would have been placed. As the verse could read, Mary put Jesus in the manger (feeding trough) because there was no room in the guest room. There were most likely several families trying to stay together in one house during this time of census. [p. 206]
Therefore, this leads to the other question, was Joseph really left to fend for himself in helping Mary deliver the baby? The answer to that question is probably not. Although my wife and I have never had children, my wife is a labor and delivery nurse and she gets to experience having children all day long. As most people know, and from the gross stories I've been told by my wife, child birthing is neither a clean or easy process. I highly doubt that if Joseph and Mary were staying at the home of a family member, he would have been the only one there that was capable of helping Mary. In fact, with all of the Jewish laws on being clean and unclean, I even doubt that Joseph would have even wanted much part in the actual birthing process at all.
I imagine this may rock the very center of your normal Christmas beliefs, but the same meaning is still there. No, Jesus probably wasn't born on December 25th 1 AD, but He was still born of a virgin woman. No, Mary and Joseph probably weren't turned away from some innkeeper without anymore rooms available to give out, but Jesus was still born in a lowly Jewish household just like any other typical person. No matter how the actual Christmas morning would have looked like, the story is still the same. Jesus Christ came down from Heaven and dwelt among us.
May we never forget the true reason we celebrate the Christmas holidays.
All citations are from the book Jesus and the Gospels by Craig L. Blomberg, Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1997, pp 415.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Unbelievers Are Gonna Act Like Unbelievers
Do you ever wonder why we often expect Non-Christians to act and "dress" like Christians? This is something I wonder about a lot, especially when dealing with teenagers. Last week, we had four teenage guys (who have not said or done anything to suggest that they are Christians) running and playing in the baptistery. (No it wasn't full of water, but it probably would have been a bit more interesting if it was.) They didn't break anything, but they were disobedient and disrespectful in their actions. On one hand, part of me wishes these guys wouldn't come back until they can get their act together, but on the other hand I am reminded in Paul's letter to the Ephesians that before Christ made us alive, we were dead in trespasses and sin (2:1). Our Wednesday night youth service is a time when have the most unbelievers attend. If according to God's Word, these students are dead in their sins, how can I expect them to act like those who are alive in Christ. Think about it for a second. How can we expect those that are spiritually dead to look and act spiritually alive? Have you ever seen a dead man walk or do good deeds? Isaiah tells us that before Christ makes us alive, all our righteous acts are like filthy rags (Is. 64:6). OK, so you're asking, what's the point about all this?
The first point is that unbelievers are gonna act like unbelievers. I know that sounds pretty obvious, practically a DUH moment, but how many Christians actually understand it? As long as there are unbelievers in the world, sin will continue to grow because these people are spiritually dead. As Christians, we have Christ living inside us and have the ability to choose good and overcome evil, but unbelievers do not. Why then are we shocked when we see unbelievers practicing open homosexuality, murdering their babies, and sleeping with anything that moves? Unbelievers will act like unbelievers; they have no regard for Christ because they are in the dark and dead spiritually.
The second point is that as lovers of Christ and lovers of good, we must not keep unbelievers out of the church. Again, to some, this is super obvious; however, there are many that want to keep the unbelievers as far away from the church as possible. My wife, Hollie, is a nurse at a hospital. The whole reason that a hospital exists is for the fact of receiving in the sick in hopes to help them become well. The church is to be like a hospital by taking in the spiritually dead in hopes that they will be made alive in Christ. Even Jesus stated that "those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick (Matt. 9:12)." We are called to reach out to those that are in need of a spiritual transformation in Christ. I point this out because all too often Christians (at least so called Christians) within the church don't care to see anyone in the church that doesn't look and act like them. How are we going to minister and share Christ with the unbelievers if they are not allowed among Christ followers? I can guarantee that most unbelievers will not look, dress, or act like the Christians in the church. They don't have respect or regard for what we as Christians hold dear because they don't have Christ alive inside of them. Christ does not and did not tell us to clean ourselves up and then He will come in. He told us to come just as we are, and He'll do the cleaning. Therefore, when the homosexual or the prostitute or the kid with all the tattoos comes into the church, we should not shun them or grumble about them, but welcome them with anticipation of what Christ will do in their lives.
May we never again get upset when an unbeliever does something "wrong" in the church, but rejoice that the unbeliever has stepped into the hospital.
The first point is that unbelievers are gonna act like unbelievers. I know that sounds pretty obvious, practically a DUH moment, but how many Christians actually understand it? As long as there are unbelievers in the world, sin will continue to grow because these people are spiritually dead. As Christians, we have Christ living inside us and have the ability to choose good and overcome evil, but unbelievers do not. Why then are we shocked when we see unbelievers practicing open homosexuality, murdering their babies, and sleeping with anything that moves? Unbelievers will act like unbelievers; they have no regard for Christ because they are in the dark and dead spiritually.
The second point is that as lovers of Christ and lovers of good, we must not keep unbelievers out of the church. Again, to some, this is super obvious; however, there are many that want to keep the unbelievers as far away from the church as possible. My wife, Hollie, is a nurse at a hospital. The whole reason that a hospital exists is for the fact of receiving in the sick in hopes to help them become well. The church is to be like a hospital by taking in the spiritually dead in hopes that they will be made alive in Christ. Even Jesus stated that "those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick (Matt. 9:12)." We are called to reach out to those that are in need of a spiritual transformation in Christ. I point this out because all too often Christians (at least so called Christians) within the church don't care to see anyone in the church that doesn't look and act like them. How are we going to minister and share Christ with the unbelievers if they are not allowed among Christ followers? I can guarantee that most unbelievers will not look, dress, or act like the Christians in the church. They don't have respect or regard for what we as Christians hold dear because they don't have Christ alive inside of them. Christ does not and did not tell us to clean ourselves up and then He will come in. He told us to come just as we are, and He'll do the cleaning. Therefore, when the homosexual or the prostitute or the kid with all the tattoos comes into the church, we should not shun them or grumble about them, but welcome them with anticipation of what Christ will do in their lives.
May we never again get upset when an unbeliever does something "wrong" in the church, but rejoice that the unbeliever has stepped into the hospital.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Grace Abuse
I must confess, as a youth minister I sometimes have a hard time preaching and teaching on the unconditional, unending grace of God. Why you ask? Well, it’s not a matter of belief, because I wholeheartedly believe that God offers unconditional, unmerited, and unending grace to those that accept it. The problem comes with a fear of what I would call “Grace Abuse.” Sometimes I wonder if even Paul might have felt a little the same way. In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he tells the people that where sin abounds, grace abounds even more (5:20). But right after stating this, Paul, anticipating what the readers are going to say, goes ahead and says it for them. “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? (6:1)” I then imagine Paul jumping up and down, yelling out, as he writes his answer to his own question....By No Means!.....translation: NO!! (6:2a) Paul doesn’t want the people reading this letter to get the idea that as long as I’ve got the grace of Christ in my back pocket, I can sin like crazy because you know what, the grace of Christ is going to always be more than my sin. <---This is my fear when talking with teenagers.
I love teenagers. I wouldn’t be in student ministry if I didn’t have a heart for teenagers. That being said, I know most teenagers today are pulled in 20 million directions with what seems like 20 million voices speaking into their lives. With the average attention span of about 13 minutes for teenagers, I sometimes worry about what students are hearing whenever I get a chance to speak to them. That is why, like Paul, I don’t want teenagers or any person to think that if I just believe on this man Jesus, because apparently he’s pretty cool, I’ll get to go to heaven when I die, and I can pretty much do whatever (translation: sin like crazy) because God is full of grace and mercy. I actually cringe inside at the thought of teenagers walking away with only this idea.
There are two points that I think everyone, including teenagers must understand about God and His grace. The first point is the fact that God is holy and perfect. If God is perfect and hates sin, He must be perfectly just. Following me? If God doesn’t act justly by punishing sin, He is not perfect. However, we know that He is perfect according to His Word. For the Jews, during the time of the Old Testament, they understood the fact that God was holy and just. As a result, the Jews feared God. Recalling what my Hebrew professor told my class in seminary, when we see in the Bible that the Jews feared God, this was not a warm, tingling feeling of awe, but literal fear. They feared God because they knew they were not perfect and that God had the right and ability to deal justly with them. They feared and revered God so much that they would not even say or write the name of God (Yahweh) out of fear they would blaspheme His name. I fear, that we as Christians today, especially those in America, are quick to talk about the grace of God, but will hardly mention the justness of God. Our God is full of grace, yes, but He is full of awesome and mighty power. He is worthy to be feared. There must be a balance of the grace and justness of God on our lips.
The second point we must understand about grace is the fact that if we truly understand and accept the grace of Christ, then we will no longer want to do whatever (translation: sin like crazy). Paul continues to tell the Romans that once you have accepted the gift of grace in Christ you “must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions…For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under the law but under grace. (6:11-12;14)” With the grace of Christ we overcome sin, we don’t make room for it to grow more. It is no longer a part of us because it is dead, so we must walk in righteousness. Therefore, if a person accepts the grace of Christ and continues to walk in sin, I wonder if they ever really understood the gift of Christ to begin with.
May we never see the grace of God as an opportunity to practice “Grace Abuse” but as an opportunity to offer thanksgiving with acts of righteousness.
I love teenagers. I wouldn’t be in student ministry if I didn’t have a heart for teenagers. That being said, I know most teenagers today are pulled in 20 million directions with what seems like 20 million voices speaking into their lives. With the average attention span of about 13 minutes for teenagers, I sometimes worry about what students are hearing whenever I get a chance to speak to them. That is why, like Paul, I don’t want teenagers or any person to think that if I just believe on this man Jesus, because apparently he’s pretty cool, I’ll get to go to heaven when I die, and I can pretty much do whatever (translation: sin like crazy) because God is full of grace and mercy. I actually cringe inside at the thought of teenagers walking away with only this idea.
There are two points that I think everyone, including teenagers must understand about God and His grace. The first point is the fact that God is holy and perfect. If God is perfect and hates sin, He must be perfectly just. Following me? If God doesn’t act justly by punishing sin, He is not perfect. However, we know that He is perfect according to His Word. For the Jews, during the time of the Old Testament, they understood the fact that God was holy and just. As a result, the Jews feared God. Recalling what my Hebrew professor told my class in seminary, when we see in the Bible that the Jews feared God, this was not a warm, tingling feeling of awe, but literal fear. They feared God because they knew they were not perfect and that God had the right and ability to deal justly with them. They feared and revered God so much that they would not even say or write the name of God (Yahweh) out of fear they would blaspheme His name. I fear, that we as Christians today, especially those in America, are quick to talk about the grace of God, but will hardly mention the justness of God. Our God is full of grace, yes, but He is full of awesome and mighty power. He is worthy to be feared. There must be a balance of the grace and justness of God on our lips.
The second point we must understand about grace is the fact that if we truly understand and accept the grace of Christ, then we will no longer want to do whatever (translation: sin like crazy). Paul continues to tell the Romans that once you have accepted the gift of grace in Christ you “must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions…For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under the law but under grace. (6:11-12;14)” With the grace of Christ we overcome sin, we don’t make room for it to grow more. It is no longer a part of us because it is dead, so we must walk in righteousness. Therefore, if a person accepts the grace of Christ and continues to walk in sin, I wonder if they ever really understood the gift of Christ to begin with.
May we never see the grace of God as an opportunity to practice “Grace Abuse” but as an opportunity to offer thanksgiving with acts of righteousness.
Friday, November 6, 2009
In Awe of the Creator
Have you ever stopped in awe or perhaps even amazement of the fascinating and intricate things humans have designed and been able to accomplish? Just the other day Hollie and I were driving back home from a day in Victoria when my mind began to ponder this very question. As I began to think I looked down and noticed my very own iPhone. As an avid Apple person, I've grown very fond of my iPhone. I mean, why not? Not only is this thing a cell phone, but it's a portable calendar, GPS, camera, music player, video player, game system, and internet device. As long as I'm anywhere that I can receive cell phone reception I'm bound to never get bored or lost (as long as I have a charger). I am amazed by my iPhone. This incredibly hip and practical device was completely dreamed up and built by humans. I can't imagine what kind of formulas and prototypes were used to finally come up with the final product.
As I pondered the intricacies of the iPhone, my mind began to think about more and more fascinating things. Take for instance the airplane. It's still difficult for me to wrap my mind around the fact that a metal bird weighing close to (if not at least) a million pounds can somehow get up in the air, fly, and then land safely hundreds or thousands of miles from its original location. Have you ever thought, how is this even possible?? Not only that, but it's pretty much the safest and fastest way to travel. I don't get it! I know there are formulas on aerodynamics and there were plenty of prototypes, but I am still amazed by the airplane. (Jordan factoid: when I fly, I always have to touch the outside of the plane before I get on board.)
After spending what seemed like an hour pondering the great achievements of man, I stopped. I stopped because whenever I find myself amazed at the fascinating and great achievements man has accomplished, it always takes me back to the one that is the master designer; the one that doesn't make prototypes but only final products. When I stand amazed at the latest technology or tallest architecture, I stand in awe of the one who created it all. His name is Jesus. "For by him (Jesus) all things were created, in heaven and on earth...all things were created through him and for him. (Colossians 1:16)" Jesus is the one that designed the formulas and ideas in the minds of the men that created my incredibly intricate iPhone, and Jesus is the one that gave men the ability and know how to fly a giant metal bird in the sky! All this was a result of Jesus. May we never look at another amazing invention or accomplishment without exalting and lifting high the name of Jesus!
As I pondered the intricacies of the iPhone, my mind began to think about more and more fascinating things. Take for instance the airplane. It's still difficult for me to wrap my mind around the fact that a metal bird weighing close to (if not at least) a million pounds can somehow get up in the air, fly, and then land safely hundreds or thousands of miles from its original location. Have you ever thought, how is this even possible?? Not only that, but it's pretty much the safest and fastest way to travel. I don't get it! I know there are formulas on aerodynamics and there were plenty of prototypes, but I am still amazed by the airplane. (Jordan factoid: when I fly, I always have to touch the outside of the plane before I get on board.)
After spending what seemed like an hour pondering the great achievements of man, I stopped. I stopped because whenever I find myself amazed at the fascinating and great achievements man has accomplished, it always takes me back to the one that is the master designer; the one that doesn't make prototypes but only final products. When I stand amazed at the latest technology or tallest architecture, I stand in awe of the one who created it all. His name is Jesus. "For by him (Jesus) all things were created, in heaven and on earth...all things were created through him and for him. (Colossians 1:16)" Jesus is the one that designed the formulas and ideas in the minds of the men that created my incredibly intricate iPhone, and Jesus is the one that gave men the ability and know how to fly a giant metal bird in the sky! All this was a result of Jesus. May we never look at another amazing invention or accomplishment without exalting and lifting high the name of Jesus!
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