On the Mystery of Christ

One of my favorite Christmas carols is “In the Bleak Midwinter.”  It was written by 19^th century English poet, Christina Rossetti.  Living in 19^th century England as a single women, Rossetti knew something about bleakness.  Her haunting poem speaks to the stillness into which Christ was born - “a stable place sufficed The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.”  I love the juxtaposition of the grandeur of God not being able to be contained in all of heaven and earth with the tangible mortality of the mean estate of humanity. 

Over the course of Christian history, we have struggled to put Christ’s two natures into words that come close to describing the divine mystery of the Incarnation.  We have argued, declared one another as heretics, and held Church council after Church council to settle this debate.  Yet, I cannot help but be reminded of the Apostle Paul’s words: “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). 

The mystery of God is hard to translate into the human vernacular.  And, our best attempts are often communicated in juxtaposed lines of poetry like this one penned so long ago. 

In hearing and singing this song, I am reminded that the miracle of Christmas goes beyond Christmas trees and decorations, beyond carols and hymns, beyond our attempts at understanding mystery and miracle; and it points to the Divine Love and Mystery of God who in all glory condescended to us in the act of the Incarnation.  What a God we serve!  What a Love that covers us!  What a Promise of Hope we have in the Person and Work of Christ!  

On Celebrating the Incarnation

This year it has become increasingly apparent to me that Christians in America celebrate two totally unrelated holidays on December 25 - if they even celebrate the birth of Christ at all.  I have always had a bit of discomfort in the celebrating of Western commercialized Christmas, but the tug of nostalgia has always kept me celebrating however minimally it may have seemed to the rest of our culture.  But, this year as I have seen my son learning about Christmas, I have seen that he makes no connection whatsoever between the Santa Claus holiday that he sees in movies and in the decorations and the Joseph, Mary, and Jesus that he loves so much to identify in nativity scenes.  He does not see the connection because he is, as of yet, unable to justify consumeristic greed and materialism.

I should say that I love to give Christmas presents.  I love cooking and baking all of the Christmas goodies that I grew up eating.  I love decorating my Christmas tree.  And, I love Christmas music.  I long to recreate the magical feeling I had at Christmas time in my childhood for my own son.  But, at what cost?  Do I sacrifice convictions for confections?  Principles for presents?  Right doctrine for decorations?

Last night I even told my husband that I would almost rather celebrate Christmas on two different days.  One for the Incarnation and one for nostalgia and cookies. There is a lot to think about when you have children that no one tells you about when you are pregnant!  Do I make my child a social pariah by not celebrating Christmas the way that the rest of "Christian America" does?  Will he be the kid who ruins Santa for all of the other kids in his class?  Will other kids (and even church members) pity him because of his scrooge parents?

I have no answers for these questions.  In full discretion: we have already bought his Christmas present.  We have a Christmas tree up in our living room.  We have a wreath on the door.  And, I have made trays full of fudge.  Our son watches Christmas movies non-stop and he sat on Santa's lap at my husband's church's Breakfast with Santa function.  And, I love to see his little eyes light up.  I know things seem magical and exciting to him.

I'm not worried about lying to him or giving him a false view of reality.  I am worried about willingly placing him in the midst of greed and consumerism.  I'm worried about feeding him a both/and type of Christmas that never really celebrates the Incarnation - that never really celebrates anything other than presents.  I am worried about not fulfilling my calling to accurately and faithfully portray the gospel to my son.

I am sure that many will say that I am over-thinking this.  But, no amount of thought is too great when it comes to faithfully following Christ.

I invite your thoughts and comments.  Let's discuss this as a community of believers seeking to love God with our hearts, souls, minds, and strength.