‘Twas the week before Christmas, and all through the land, not a creature was stirring – except for 330 million Americans who were scrambling frantically to prepare for the holiday by eating too much, drinking too much, spending too much, driving too much, and stressing out too much. In the process, they all were sleeping too little and meditating on the true meaning of Christmas not at all.
In the greatest holiday special ever broadcast on TV, Charlie Brown pleads, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?!”
In the greatest holiday special ever broadcast on TV, Charlie Brown pleads, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?!”
In reply, Linus walks out to the middle of the stage and starts reciting from Luke’s gospel.
Well, I’d like to attempt to answer Charlie Brown’s question by citing John’s gospel: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Through Him all things were made….And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
Christmas is a love story. The eternal, supernatural Creator of the Universe is a person, not an impersonal force. Therefore, He is able to enter into loving relationships with other persons. He created human beings for the sole purpose of entering into loving relationships with us.
In order for any relationship between persons to be truly loving, the persons involved must have the freedom to love or to walk away. If we are forced to love God – just as if anyone is forced to love someone else as in, say, an arranged marriage – it would not be true love. Love is only real if both parties enter into the relationship willingly.
If human beings were created as obedient robots, programmed to be devoted to the Lord no matter what, it would not be real love. So, God created us with free will. This has been, alas, the source of all the problems in the history of the world. Giving us free will was a very risky thing for God to do, but apparently He thought it worth the risk, as it was the only way to have true loving relationships.
Very early on, things started to go awry. Sin entered the world with Adam and Eve, when they freely chose to focus on themselves and ignore God. Ever since, humanity has been proclaiming, “My will be done,” rather than, “Thy will be done.”
In order to bridge the vast gulf that developed between sinful humanity and the holy Creator God, the Lord of Heaven came up with a shocking and scandalous plan. He decided to send a piece of Himself, what we call the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, to take on human flesh. This stunning event is called the Incarnation, when God’s only Son became human. That is what we celebrate at Christmas.
Well, I’d like to attempt to answer Charlie Brown’s question by citing John’s gospel: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Through Him all things were made….And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
Christmas is a love story. The eternal, supernatural Creator of the Universe is a person, not an impersonal force. Therefore, He is able to enter into loving relationships with other persons. He created human beings for the sole purpose of entering into loving relationships with us.
In order for any relationship between persons to be truly loving, the persons involved must have the freedom to love or to walk away. If we are forced to love God – just as if anyone is forced to love someone else as in, say, an arranged marriage – it would not be true love. Love is only real if both parties enter into the relationship willingly.
If human beings were created as obedient robots, programmed to be devoted to the Lord no matter what, it would not be real love. So, God created us with free will. This has been, alas, the source of all the problems in the history of the world. Giving us free will was a very risky thing for God to do, but apparently He thought it worth the risk, as it was the only way to have true loving relationships.
Very early on, things started to go awry. Sin entered the world with Adam and Eve, when they freely chose to focus on themselves and ignore God. Ever since, humanity has been proclaiming, “My will be done,” rather than, “Thy will be done.”
In order to bridge the vast gulf that developed between sinful humanity and the holy Creator God, the Lord of Heaven came up with a shocking and scandalous plan. He decided to send a piece of Himself, what we call the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, to take on human flesh. This stunning event is called the Incarnation, when God’s only Son became human. That is what we celebrate at Christmas.
Jesus Christ is fully God and at the same time fully man. Why did God lower Himself to become one of us? Out of love. He knew we were incapable of restoring the fractured relationship with Him on our own. So, He decided to do it Himself.
Jesus is Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” Christmas is the celebration of this earth-shattering event that occurred approximately 2,000 years ago. That’s why Christmas is a love story.
Here’s another quote from John’s gospel: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life.”
That famous verse summarizes the Good News of the Gospel: 1) God loves everyone in the world. 2) He gave His only Son to heal the wounds caused by sin. 3) If we put our faith and trust in Jesus, we can 4) have eternal life in Heaven rather than perish.
The true meaning of Christmas is love. God so loved the world that He did not want to see us separated from Him for all eternity. So, He lowered Himself to become one of us.
Jesus is Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” Christmas is the celebration of this earth-shattering event that occurred approximately 2,000 years ago. That’s why Christmas is a love story.
Here’s another quote from John’s gospel: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life.”
That famous verse summarizes the Good News of the Gospel: 1) God loves everyone in the world. 2) He gave His only Son to heal the wounds caused by sin. 3) If we put our faith and trust in Jesus, we can 4) have eternal life in Heaven rather than perish.
The true meaning of Christmas is love. God so loved the world that He did not want to see us separated from Him for all eternity. So, He lowered Himself to become one of us.
To quote Linus: “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”
Why must you always slam people who are not doing what you think is right. Your whole first paragraph is how everybody is overeating, getting drunk & not getting what Christmas is about. Why couldn't this article have been written without that paragraph? It is the Christmas season. Can't you show some love for your fellow humans.
ReplyDeletePlenty of people who do are not religious still celebrate a nice holiday and DO show love and concern for others. Everybody overeats on holidays.....it's normal....it gives pleasure......you do it too.....and plenty of people are capable of drinking without you slamming them as drunks.
Plenty of people spend sensibly the goal being to find gifts that make loved ones happy. Your new year's resolution should be to get a better attitude toward you fellow humans.
Ruth O'Keefe.....I'm an atheist...I'll for sure be overeating on Christmas... I also sent a huge check to St Jude's hospital and I don't drink at all
You say god wants us to have free choice to love him so it is not a forced relationship. Well that sounds good but according to your religion as stated in previous columns here, those who don't choose to love this god end up screaming in agony for all eternity as they are burned alive...that's the consequence of making a negative choice. How is that a free choice. Love me or I'll savagely hurt you?
ReplyDeleteRuth O'Keefe