Immanuel

As we look around us at all of the hatred, violence, and self-centeredness in the world, a common question is: “Where is God in all of this?” Has God abandoned us? Has God given up on this world?

            Over the centuries there have been many ways of addressing these questions. In ancient times there were philosophies, often attributed to the Greeks, that the physical world is evil and the spiritual world is good. Even though this ideas was rejected by the church, aspects of it affected Christian theology for centuries.

            Another way of addressing the question were the Deists, who were popular at the time of the founding of the United States. Their attitude was that God created the world and then stood back to see what would happen, totally abandoning his creation.

            At Christmas we take a completely different view from these.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.  …And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son[d] from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1-3, 14)

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,” (1 John 4:1-2)

God becoming flesh is an important part of our faith. God did not avoid us because of our rebellion and unbelief, but actually came among us.

            Originally God gave us free will, and we often use our free will in ways that are harmful to ourselves and others. Rather than taking away our free will, God came to earth to experience that harm all the way to the cross. God taking on our flesh, the creator participating in the creation, is central to who we are. Jesus brings God’s love to us, in the flesh. And he illustrates by his life the character of God.

            This is why Christmas is important to us. This world in which we experience so much hatred and violence and self-centeredness, God came and experienced for himself. And we respond to the Word of God made flesh with joy and love.

            Merry Christmas!