Providence Points: The Other Side of Christmas

[shawn...@gmail.com]

Providence Points
December, 24, 2007
Vol. 2, No. 21

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From the Editor:
I am catching up on sermons at sermonaudio.com, and writing this
posting while waiting for popcorn and a good movie. Enjoy the family
time. And especially enjoy your salvation.

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The Other Side of Christmas

Even the pagans know a little about the Incarnation. Songs are sung
about it this time of year. Christmas cartoons and musicals allude to
it. The nativity, showing Mary, Joseph and the Baby Jesus, implies
such a condescending act by God.

But even if unbelievers can mechanically explain the Incarnation, the
proper understanding of it and the implications thereof completely
elude them. Like watching a play without a background and underlying
plot, many unbelievers observe the nativity with a vague sense of
something missing. "What's the big deal?" they ask.

Unfortunately, this question is asked because the message of Christmas
is disappearing--not only due to the obvious chaos of narcissistic
materialism, but also because of the increasing silence of the Church
herself. To the extent that the proper background of the Incarnation
is poorly explained, grasped or believed by the American Evangelical
church, to that extent she is silent and unhelpful. She becomes a
mime, acting out a story without a context.

And what is that context? Sin.

Not only was the Coming of the God-man a marvelous act of a Sovereign
King dwelling among infinitely lesser beings, it was more. It was the
merciful and forgiving act of a maligned Judge. A Judge and Ruler who
was given no grounds for mercy. A Judge, Ruler and Avenger who did,
would and will cast the final sentence against unbelieving rebellion:
eternal damnation.

This is not a popular message. Unbelief would rather watch the miming
of the church than hear the thundering of the Law. It would embrace
the psuedo-gospel of "God-loves-everyone-hoping-to-send-them-all-to-
heaven" instead of hearing that God actually intends on sending
insurgents to their rightful place.

Yet, this other side of Christmas is crucial. And it makes sense.
Human judges will dispense justice according to the rule of law. How
much more will the Great All-Seeing Judge of the Universe dispense
justice? And so, Adam was judged, as were all mankind, you and me
included. But that is not what unbelievers want to hear during this
season of joy.

However, it is exactly what they need to hear. And it is what we need
to hear as well. The Incarnation is intelligible only in a Christian
framework that takes sin seriously and rebellion as deserving of
death. There was nothing in mankind to bring amnesty from God the
judge. There was everything in mankind to repel Him. This is the
reason why the coming of the Son of God is amazing: we deserved
eternal damnation instead of life.

With the truth of the other side of Christmas, the Church can stop
miming and start singing aloud with joy the clear message of why the
Messiah became a man. And then the world will know what the "big
deal" is all about.

SDG