God's Invasion of History
One of the reasons I do not like "social media" is that it brings out some of the worst in people. There is a real tendency to use it as a soap box and express opinions no one is interested in hearing. It is also a temptation to try to correct others who you don't even know. Since they, too, are often only really interested in expressing their opinion, they often react with hostility. The tone is often so caustic it becomes an "anti-social media."
Each year about this time some individuals seem determined to denounce the celebration of Christmas because God never commanded us to do so. Their "argument from silence" somehow turns into a command, the "violation" of which results in condemnation. My policy is not to argue with such people. I merely "snooze" them for thirty days.
God never commanded us to celebrate Christmas. That's a true statement. It is also an irrelevant statement. All of Scripture after Genesis 3:15 is focused on God's promise of the seed of the woman who would crush Satan. I find not celebrating the incarnation of God in human flesh to be a rather contemptuous disregard for the implications of that event, one long anticipated by God's people.
I have no problem with those who choose not to observe Christmas themselves, but I do find it offensive that some would scold those who do. I think we should look for more occasions to celebrate the work of God in history.
My father once referred to the incarnation as God's "invasion of history." His reassuming of control. "All power" now belongs to Jesus Christ who makes all things new. That is a blessed thought, and one that should energize our entire being. We should celebrate all that God has done and continues to do.
May God bless you richly this Christmas
Topics: Church History, Church, The, Theology