Inspiration Or Irritation
The sparkle of lights, decorations in the yard, a fresh smell of pine and the excited voices of children are ingredients found in the Christmas celebration. Lights glow from front porches, Christmas trees, garage lights, spotlights on nativity scenes and store front windows. It’s Christmas.
Around the house, the fragrances of special foods, baked goods and cookies seem to flavor the atmosphere of festivity and gift giving. Anxious eyes await the reception of gifts that may be homemade or special surprises that have been hidden away for weeks. It usually doesn’t happen quite like this at any other time of the year. It’s Christmas.
The truth is that we probably spend too much money on gifts, groceries and family gatherings. Yet, we reason that once a year is probably not too often to be extravagant. Special note is made of loved ones who are absent and those who have died since the last time we were together. Extra effort is made to contact friends that we have not heard from since the last Christmas card. We are challenged to consider how we may encourage people in “harm’s way” on a foreign soil somewhere, to know that we remember them. It just seems appropriate that we share our lives and our blessings with others. It’s Christmas.
What an inspiration the season is when we remember that it commemorates the coming of the Savior to earth. The conditions had all kinds of political pressure associated with it. Luke’s Gospel records that Caesar Augustus had issued a decree about a census to be taken so appropriate tax could be levied. (Who would have guessed that a governmental taxing requirement, would serve as a backdrop for Mary and Joseph to come to Bethlehem?) So, in the midst of a registration for taxing, a baby is born. The historical event of a baby’s birth has everyone in the family noticing the birth of new relative. In the case of Jesus’ birth, there is the specific fulfillment of a prophecy that God Almighty would come to earth in human flesh and we would refer to it as the incarnation. Never mind about the season of the year that this happened. We could get so busy debating the actual time of the year, we could forget the purpose of the baby that is born. He is in an unusually strange place and has for his first crib a feeding trough for animals. We are inspired to recall the story that speaks of the right time and the right place that this Savior would be born for the specific purpose to redeem the entire world.
But wait! Not everyone is inspired. There are some people that are irritated that this birth is taking place and that anyone is noticing it. King Herod is the paranoid king that is jealous of anyone who might be a rival for his throne. When Herod was irritated, the whole city of Jerusalem got irritated by his irritation. Then foreigners showed up at the king’s palace to check in with proper authorities before they began a search in a foreign land for a new king. (It probably corresponded to our request for a visa today when we travel to another country.) In anticipation that these “Magi” or “wise men” could be a useful tool, Herod pretended to need their help identifying where this “king” was, with a promise that he would like to pay homage to the new king too. Matthew’s Gospel records that Herod’s motive was neither homage nor honor, but rather a plan to “terminate” the newborn. It would be only a few days later when the “Magi” did not return that his jealousy became fury. The result was that Herod would issue a new decree that all babies two years old and younger should be killed. His rival must be eliminated. He simply would not tolerate a possible King that might require his allegiance.
All of this sounds like today. We are faced with the two possible responses to the Christmas story. We also have inspiration for songs, special gatherings, church services, displays, and lights in the yard that look like a festival. Then somebody informs us that all of this is threatening in a personal way and that we really shouldn’t celebrate at all because it may be offensive to someone. Irritation! Why? It’s Christmas!
I’m really not surprised at the opposition that comes from folks who are irritated by the birth of Jesus. It happened at the time of his historical birth and yearly the opposition shows up again, usually just a few days after the Thanksgiving holiday. While millions of people are inspired, there are others who are irritated. This hostility has been expressed by kings, unbelievers, pseudo-religious leaders, and even demons. The Bible is pretty clear about those incidents. Jesus irritated people by his birth, his life and his ministry. I need to remember that not all people choose to be inspired to follow the Christ-child, the Almighty Son of God, born in the flesh. I just wish that those who are irritated for whatever reason weren’t offended.
So, before you give up on Christmas because there is general hostility toward Jesus Christ and Christian people, remember that not much has changed through history. Some people choose to be irritated. I do not want to be upset by their opposition so much that my attitude is also offensive to the people and time in which I live. I choose to be inspired. I have been inspired in the past, I am now and I plan to be inspired by this birth of a Savior in the future. Why? It’s Christmas!
