Luke Chapter 2 reflections:
Right out of the gate, verse 1 states, "In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world." We need Luke's reminder that Jesus was born in the shadow of the mighty Roman Empire under the nose of their most powerful ruler ever. As Luke continues to describe the birth, he makes sure we catch the contrast between Rome and Bethlehem (where???), Palaces and Mangers (he was born in a what???) and Powerful Romans and teenage shepherds (who???) In today's equivalent, it would be Washington D.C. verses Belleville Kansas (with apologies to its residents) and the Queen of England verses part time Mcdonalds employees.
Whatever was mainstream in the Roman culture, it wasn't Jesus.
The ancient poet Virgil wrote of Augustus, "one who will come after us, a Savior, who has made war to cease and who shall put everything in peaceful order . . . with the result that the birthday of our God signaled the beginning of Good News for the world because of him..."
So while Luke is pointing to a birth by a couple of nobodies in some dusty far flung region of the Roman Empire, Virgil is proclaiming the true Savior, Augustus who brings peace and whose birthday is the beginning of Good News. And, I might add to Virgil, has the power and military might to back up these claims. It was Caesar Augustus, after all, who ushered in the Pax Romana - the so called "peace of Rome" and if anyone dared to question it, they found themselves on the wrong end of a torture device. So here we are today, and we find ourselves worshipping the little guy, against all reason and evidence, instead of the mighty and powerful that Virgil proclaims. It almost makes you think of 1 Corinthians 1:25
A couple of years ago (and maybe still today) there was quite a hoopla surrounding retail establishments and who wished “merry Christmas” verses “happy holidays.” Do we really want retail establishments and the PAX Americana in general to proclaim a Savior for us? If we leave it up to them, they'll inevitably choose the wrong savior, like Virgil did all those years ago, and we'll watch as they choose the likes Hollywood and New York and Washington. If we can learn anything from Luke and the Roman Empire, it is that massively powerful societies are not good at noticing the work of God among them. God works subversively and surprisingly and wonderfully! And so Christmas - this amazing event that changed the course of history - is only for God's followers to proclaim. Not once a year with an innoculous "Merry Christmas" - as if those words alone in any way proclaim the gospel - but all year to our children and our neighbors and the people in society that the powerful walk past. After all, do any of us keep up with the News in Belleville Kansas to see if anything world changing is happening there?
Who among us sends the part timers at Mcdonalds when important dignitaries come to town?
Sunday, 16 December 2007
MMO - In the Shadow of the Empire
Wednesday, 5 December 2007
A quick quote for your day
"Wherever we find beauty, no matter how surprising, we can be sure love arrived first."
-- Aaron Carmichael
Monday, 3 December 2007
Monday Morning Outtakes - Discover Christmas
So today's Monday morning outtake is more like a preview for this coming Sunday. (hey, its not like there are rules to this whole thing....)
This Sunday we kick off our series, "Discover Christmas" and we'll spend a week each on Joseph, Mary and of course Jesus as we celebrate the Christmas season together. Hopefully, for those joining us, you'll discover something poignant) this Christmas at Discovery.
So here is a preview to this Sunday's message on Joseph as a righteous man. I'll be speaking about the difference between our reputation (what people think of us) and our identity (what God thinks of us.)
So with that in mind, here is a nugget from Scot McKnight, New Testament Scholar and blogger extrordinar, "Spiritual Formation begins when we untangle our reputation and identity and when what God thinks of us is more important than what we think of ourselves or others think of us."
Simple, but lots there, I think. Happy Monday everyone
Steve