It only seems like a few weeks ago that I would sit out in my garden, drink coffee, and read a good book whilst being warmed by the afternoon sun. Now the frosts have arrived, and we have had the first (and hopefully the last) snow of the winter. Now there is, but one word on everyone's lips-Christmas.
We live in a multi cultural society with many different faiths and many people who profess no faith. But there is still one last iconic symbol of the true Christmas, and that is the traditional nativity scene, a stable with Mary & Joseph, the baby Jesus, shepherds, wise men, animals & a star.
When I was a lad Nativity scenes were two a penny. At Christmas time shops had them in the windows, primary schools would make them & churches would display them. Now with the advent of political correctness they are rarer, but still there if you know where to look.
However as our society has become more secular so to has our understanding of what happened in those far off days become less clear. Tradition, nostalgia & a misunderstanding of 1st century culture by people living 2000 years later has coloured what actually happened at the birth of Jesus.
I want to look at how accurate is the traditional nativity scene. How well does it tie in with what the Gospels teach. But first there are a couple of Christmas related items I want us to think about. The ideas presented may or may not be my own opinion.
Christmas celebrations are commanded in the bible
Actually they are not which is why the Puritans of the 17th century banned Christmas, it had no scriptural backing. But not being in the bible does not make it wrong, just not commanded by God.
Jesus was born on the 25th Dec
Well maybe. I only say that because we don't know the day Jesus was born on so the 25th Dec has 1/365th chance of being right. Having said that there are good arguments for Christ's birth being either in the Spring or Autumn.
It is thought that the church decided on the 25th Dec as the day to celebrate Christmas as there was a pre existing pagan celebration on that day which they sought to Christianise. Nothing wrong with that.
Mary was 14 & Joseph only a little older
This is conjecture as the gospels don't give the ages of either parent, only that they were betrothed. Having said that marriages tended to be arranged and the couples very young in 21st century eyes. So it is quite likely that they were in their mid teens.
Mary was heavily pregnant on the journey to Bethlehem.
Mary was certainly pregnant, but it is supposition to say that she was just about to give birth. Luke 2 v 6 just tells us that whilst they were there she gave birth. They could have been in Bethlehem much longer than we think. No cars, buses or airplanes in those days to take them back home.
There was no room at the Inn
Here is where peoples heresy metres might be going into overdrive as I suggest that there was no Inn. Those who know more than me about the original Greek say that the word used in Luke 2 v 7 (Kataluma) actually means 'guest room.' The 2011 version of the NIV Bible translation has now be changed to reflect this.
There were no Premier Inns or the like in 1st century Palestine, and Mary & Joseph would have gone to relatives to stay. However, presumably because of the census, the upper room of the house was full.
Jesus was born in a stable
The Gospels do not say this. It is likely that the kindly relatives who Mary & Joseph wanted to stay with, but couldn't, let them use the lower room of the house where animals lived, hence the manger (animal food trough). By the way there is no mention of any animals being present at the time.
Three wise men visited Jesus after His birth.
The wise men are correctly called Magi or Majoi in Matthew 2. They were astrologers who looked to the skies for guidance. Wise men is a good title though as they would have been intelligent and
knowledgeable.
We don't know how many Magi visited Jesus, only the number of different gifts given ie three. As they are described in the plural there must have been at least two, but probably many more plus the servants and entourage deserving of visiting foreign dignitaries.
Matthew 2 v 11 mentions that the Magi visited Jesus at a house (not a stable). It may have been the same house that Jesus was born in, but I don't know, only that it was in Bethlehem.
When the Magi did not return to King Herod as instructed with details of the babies whereabouts the gospel of Matthew tells us that he became very angry, and ordered the death of all boys under 2 years old around Bethlehem. This was 'in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.' This makes us think that Jesus was anything up to 2 years old at the time of the Magi's visit. It is logical to assume that it took quite some time for the Magi to arrange the trip and get there, no Uber, no trains or planes.
The Star of Bethlehem.
The short answer is that we don't know what the star was, although it probably wasn't a star as stars don't move in relation to other heavenly bodies like this may have done. Whatever it was it held a powerful meaning for the Magi. High powered intellectual types like them did not just take months off work, spend lots of dosh on visiting some child in another country unless they thought it very, very important, and they did.
So here is my review of the traditional nativity scene. Tradition, nostalgia, and even Christmas carols have fogged what the Gospels say happened at the time of Jesus' birth. I haven't mentioned the shepherds as their presence in the nativity scene is born out by the Gospels. However I would urge any of my readers to do what Mary did at their visit & recorded in Luke 2 v 19
'But Mary treasured up all these things, and pondered them in her heart.'
Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you all.
Wednesday 20 December 2017
Monday 4 December 2017
How to be a dangerous subversive in 21st c UK
A couple of days ago the ex leader of the Lib Dem's Tim Farron gave the Theos Annual Lecture 2017. In his lecture he claimed that our society is beginning to view Christianity as dangerous & offensive.
Now some of you may think he is either exaggerating or has been bit by a conspiracy theorist, but if you are keeping your ears to the ground, either on social media, or the usual media then you will know that Farron's views are pretty close to the mark.
Our society has now departed so far from Christianity that councillors have called mainstream Christian views as 'dangerous non mainstream ideas'. I have come across cases of people being banned from social work degrees because they hold that marriage is for 1 man and 1 woman only for example. I could go on.
Of course our country, the UK, is still one of the best nations for religious freedom in the world, but I fear that this freedom is being eroded all the time. In light of this, and with more than a little irony & humour I present my 'Manifesto for dangerous subversives.' The items are given in no particular order.
1) Believe & trust in the God of the Bible
You cannot be a real dangerous subversive if you hold to the idea that God doesn't exist or you follow another faith. You may be an atheist, a political left or right winger, whatever, but if you are not born again then you are part of the system. Only born again Christians have the Holy Spirit changing them from the inside. Only born again Christians are true subversives.
2) Obey the Great Commission
Our society teaches that all faiths should be tolerant of each other & that every viewpoint is valid. The first is right, but the second isn't. If one religion teaches that A is right and another that A is wrong & B is right then one or both of them are wrong. We do not show love for our fellow humans if we let them persist in what we believe to be falsehood. Subversives should ignore the political correct way and instead obey Jesus Christ in Matthew 28 v 16-20 when He told His disciples to go out & make disciples of all nations.
3) Don't buy into the worlds definition of success
Theologian Francis Schaeffer warned about what he called 'personal peace & affluence' being the goal of our life. The bible doesn't teach that having money is wrong, only that its attainment shouldn't be our first priority. Subversives should ignore the values of our world & instead seek an ever growing Christ likeness. This is true success as it will last for eternity.
4) Dare to question what society teaches.
In a world of fake news the true subversive must look to the only source of absolute truth that we have and that is the bible. We don't need to be particularly intelligent or have a degree in theology to observe what our society is teaching & where it is going. Neither do we need to be a Pastor, theologian, author or intellectual to speak to our family, our friends and our work colleagues about the love & hope that we have in Christ. The subversive should subvert the lies and hopelessness of what society is spouting & tell of the peace and hope we have found.
5) Go to church
The subversive realises that there is an enormous amount of social engineering in our society. The pressure to conform to the zeitgeist, the spirit of the age, the philosophy, whatever you want to call it now starts at infant school & continues from then on. To meet with fellow subversives, praise God & spend time listening to Him is so refreshing, invigorating, sometimes challenging, but always necessary.
6) Love
You don't need to be on social media for very long to come across the hate filled views of so many. The subversive though knows that we shouldn't use the tactics or the language of the world. Our actions should come out of love for others, not the desire for winning arguments or brownie points from God. The subversive knows that the love that the bible teaches is not a wishy washy warm feeling, but tough.
7) Forgive
The subversive knows that one of the most difficult things he is asked to do is forgive. The natural reaction to being hurt is to react in the same manner if not worse. However subversives are reminded in the bible of how much Christ has forgiven them, so they should show forgiveness to a world that expects only tit for tat retaliation
8) Pray
The subversive realises that His greatest asset he has is unfettered access to the most powerful being in the universe. Spending time with Him, bringing all our hopes, fears and joys to Him is the biggest privilege that we have, and few of us take full advantage, myself including. But if the subversive does spend time in His presence then he will be rewarded with a peace that the outside world doesn't understand and also guidance for the his life.
There are many other items I could add to my manifesto, but those few will do for the time being.
Now some of you may have a little difficulty in thinking of Biblical Christianity as subversive, as the media presents it as either wimpy, irrelevant, or staid & conformist. But true Christianity always has been, and always will be, the most revolutionary teaching ever devised.
There have been political messiahs aplenty, both from the left and from the right. These have sought to subvert the society around them for their own reasons. Some radically changed their society so that economic & social life changed and with them their values. But fundamentally the people remained the same. Inside nothing had changed.
Religions have come & gone. Most teaching the adherent that if they follow this or that set of rules then they will earn the respect of their deity. Only Christianity says that we can never do this. Only Christianity says ignore the teaching of the world. There is only one way to the God who is there & that is to accept that we need changing on the inside. This change is the most radical change ever envisaged & is only possible if you accept Christ as your Lord & Saviour.
My challenge to all my readers is that you become a true subversive. Accept Jesus into your life as King and join your brothers & sisters of past times who subverted their societies and started schools, universities, and charities.
Now some of you may think he is either exaggerating or has been bit by a conspiracy theorist, but if you are keeping your ears to the ground, either on social media, or the usual media then you will know that Farron's views are pretty close to the mark.
Our society has now departed so far from Christianity that councillors have called mainstream Christian views as 'dangerous non mainstream ideas'. I have come across cases of people being banned from social work degrees because they hold that marriage is for 1 man and 1 woman only for example. I could go on.
Of course our country, the UK, is still one of the best nations for religious freedom in the world, but I fear that this freedom is being eroded all the time. In light of this, and with more than a little irony & humour I present my 'Manifesto for dangerous subversives.' The items are given in no particular order.
1) Believe & trust in the God of the Bible
You cannot be a real dangerous subversive if you hold to the idea that God doesn't exist or you follow another faith. You may be an atheist, a political left or right winger, whatever, but if you are not born again then you are part of the system. Only born again Christians have the Holy Spirit changing them from the inside. Only born again Christians are true subversives.
2) Obey the Great Commission
Our society teaches that all faiths should be tolerant of each other & that every viewpoint is valid. The first is right, but the second isn't. If one religion teaches that A is right and another that A is wrong & B is right then one or both of them are wrong. We do not show love for our fellow humans if we let them persist in what we believe to be falsehood. Subversives should ignore the political correct way and instead obey Jesus Christ in Matthew 28 v 16-20 when He told His disciples to go out & make disciples of all nations.
3) Don't buy into the worlds definition of success
Theologian Francis Schaeffer warned about what he called 'personal peace & affluence' being the goal of our life. The bible doesn't teach that having money is wrong, only that its attainment shouldn't be our first priority. Subversives should ignore the values of our world & instead seek an ever growing Christ likeness. This is true success as it will last for eternity.
4) Dare to question what society teaches.
In a world of fake news the true subversive must look to the only source of absolute truth that we have and that is the bible. We don't need to be particularly intelligent or have a degree in theology to observe what our society is teaching & where it is going. Neither do we need to be a Pastor, theologian, author or intellectual to speak to our family, our friends and our work colleagues about the love & hope that we have in Christ. The subversive should subvert the lies and hopelessness of what society is spouting & tell of the peace and hope we have found.
5) Go to church
The subversive realises that there is an enormous amount of social engineering in our society. The pressure to conform to the zeitgeist, the spirit of the age, the philosophy, whatever you want to call it now starts at infant school & continues from then on. To meet with fellow subversives, praise God & spend time listening to Him is so refreshing, invigorating, sometimes challenging, but always necessary.
6) Love
You don't need to be on social media for very long to come across the hate filled views of so many. The subversive though knows that we shouldn't use the tactics or the language of the world. Our actions should come out of love for others, not the desire for winning arguments or brownie points from God. The subversive knows that the love that the bible teaches is not a wishy washy warm feeling, but tough.
7) Forgive
The subversive knows that one of the most difficult things he is asked to do is forgive. The natural reaction to being hurt is to react in the same manner if not worse. However subversives are reminded in the bible of how much Christ has forgiven them, so they should show forgiveness to a world that expects only tit for tat retaliation
8) Pray
The subversive realises that His greatest asset he has is unfettered access to the most powerful being in the universe. Spending time with Him, bringing all our hopes, fears and joys to Him is the biggest privilege that we have, and few of us take full advantage, myself including. But if the subversive does spend time in His presence then he will be rewarded with a peace that the outside world doesn't understand and also guidance for the his life.
There are many other items I could add to my manifesto, but those few will do for the time being.
Now some of you may have a little difficulty in thinking of Biblical Christianity as subversive, as the media presents it as either wimpy, irrelevant, or staid & conformist. But true Christianity always has been, and always will be, the most revolutionary teaching ever devised.
There have been political messiahs aplenty, both from the left and from the right. These have sought to subvert the society around them for their own reasons. Some radically changed their society so that economic & social life changed and with them their values. But fundamentally the people remained the same. Inside nothing had changed.
Religions have come & gone. Most teaching the adherent that if they follow this or that set of rules then they will earn the respect of their deity. Only Christianity says that we can never do this. Only Christianity says ignore the teaching of the world. There is only one way to the God who is there & that is to accept that we need changing on the inside. This change is the most radical change ever envisaged & is only possible if you accept Christ as your Lord & Saviour.
My challenge to all my readers is that you become a true subversive. Accept Jesus into your life as King and join your brothers & sisters of past times who subverted their societies and started schools, universities, and charities.
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