| Summary: | The Incarnation in Our Street' — A Message from the President An imaginative preacher used this theme to illustrate what St. John says about Jesus: "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father (John 1:14). When I came across this idea for a Christmas message, my thoughts went back to a medical doctor in Lake Mills, Iowa, who told me when I began my minis-try in that community that if I did not succeed in making Jesus Christ walk up and down the main street and stop by the various shops and offices my preaching would be ineffectual. The Christian doctor saw clearly that God had become man and entered into every phase of life, and that if man was to know God and do his will he had to meet him in the Incarnation. People on our street have dif-fering personalities, back-grounds, problems, and needs. But the incarnate Christ has ex-perienced all of them. He has even died to identify fully him-self with us. How real is God to us? For some God is only a spirit and a spirit has neither form nor color. Furthermore, our minds cannot visualize a spirit or have any rational communication with it. Now it is true that God is a Spirit, who fills all things in all, but this eternal Spirit reveals himself in the concreteness of creation. God created the uni-verse and everything in it, plac-ing man over all of it. When man rebeled against God and reneged on his stewardship, God became man to win back to his original sonship. The laws of nature give us some conception of a God who is a lawgiver, but we are not subjects looking for a lawgiver but lost children seeking for a Father. The claim is often made that God is to be found within our hearts. Yet St. John tells us that when we look within our hearts our hearts condemn us (I John 3:19-20). If we are hon-est we shall admit that "from our hearts come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adult-ery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness" (Mark 7:21- 23). We are not perfect people, equal with God, but we are sin-ners who need a Savior. It is only in Jesus Christ that we learn to know God. In him we see what God is like. "No one has ever seen God. The only One, who is the same as God and is at the Father's side, he has made him known" (John 1:18). "Whoever has seen him has seen the Father" (John 14:9). God becomes real, a personal God, in Jesus Christ. When we think of God and pray, we see Jesus. Yes, someone just like us with a body having eyes, ears (Eljrfeima* jiforg front ^ it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. cfMtb so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. f there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, whch shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlethem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. when they had seen it, they had known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart, And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. St. Luke 2: 1-20 and limbs. Through the witness of the Gospel this Jesus becomes a living Savior, friend, and Lord. The incarnation of God in Christ was not just for thirty-three years, but for all eternity. He conquered death and came forth with a real body. He as-cended to the Father's right hand in real body. We are not praying to and serving a spirit, but we are following the resur-rected Christ who is the com-panion on our pilgrimage to the eternal home. So Christ is incarnate in our street and in you and me. That all of us in the Concordia family may understand, believe, and live in this Incarnation is my Christmas prayer and wish. "I know not how that Beth-le'ms babe Could in the Godhead be; I only know the manger child Has brought God's life to me." (Harry Webb Farrington) President Joseph L. Knutson "It only takes a spark to get a fire going, and soon all those around can warm up on its glow." (photo by Remi Brooke) Consider the Real Message Christmas, a time of celebration because of the hope and joy Christ brought to all the peoples of the earth, has become a farce. People, during this joyous season, are filled with hopes and dreams for the fuure of mankind. These are dreams that all too often remain unfulfilled. The little boy, sitting in his family's one room house in India with eight brothers and sisters, all dreaming about the meal they did not get that day. The refugee in Hong Kong, whose home was burned in a fire which destroyed many of the refugee dwellings, leaving many homeless and hungry, hoping for better days. The Vietnam family, who longs for Christmas Day, for it brings respite from the long, cruel war, one more day of life, one of the few days when they can feel safe from the bombs. But the Christmas celebration does not bring "Peace on Earth!" In our own land there are Indians worship-ping a Christ that was forced upon them and who are attempting to become a part of a culture that refuses to accept them. They have simply been put on the reservations, forgotten and neglected, except for a few benevolent, paternalistic gifts once in awhile. The land where Christ was born is being de-voured by war and fighting. Where is the love? Where is the peace? Where are the Christian priorities? Did Christ live and die to no avail? One thinks about the millions of dollars spent on Christmas gifts in America and asks "Why?" Why do people knock themselves out trying to dream up the gift to buy for the "man who has everything" when one-half of the world's popula-tion goes to bed hungry every night? Why? Because Christmas has become "Santa Claus." The emphasis of this holiday season has been given to old St. Nick on the North Pole and the message the Christ child in the stable in Beth-lehem brought has been forgotten. Christmas has become bright colored lights, evergreen trees, and gaily decorated cookies. Christmas has become the time for mistletoe, wassailing, and Christmas parties. The message Christ brought has been lost in the din of noisy downtown traffic during the busy Christmas season and the hurry and scurry to finish the Christmas shopping. When will Christians ever stop long enough to hear the Christian message once again? —Submitted by a Concordia Student 'Christmas — To All These Things' Old St. Nick symbolizes the spirit of joyful giving which, starring with the wise men, has characterized the Christinas spirit for 2000 years. (photo by Remi Brooke) author unknown Christmas is falling snow . . . And a world of whiteness . . . It's rosy-cheeked youngsters on sleds . . . It's the lilt in the voices of people as they pass . . . It's smiling store clerks, and extra kindnesses. Christmas is the smell of ever-green boughs . . . It's holly wreaths, and mistletoe and bay-berry candles . . . It's a box of freshly-baked cookies for the next door neighbor . . . It's greet-ing cards, and a cheer-filled visit to a hospital bedside. Christmas is the glow of logs crackling in a freplace . . . It's a pine tree bedecked in loveli-ness with ornaments and tinsel . . . It's Scrooge and Tiny Tim . . . It's carols, and caroler sing-ing by street-light . . . It's the "Nutcracker Suite," and church services by candlelight . . . It's "The Hallelujah Chorus." Christmas is dear ones arriv-ing, and fond embraces . . . It's family all about, and the ming-ling of joyous voices . . . It's gaiety and contentment . . . It's heart stretching out to hold more love. Christmas is Santa Claus . . - and reindeers . . . It's the patter of small feet on the stairs . . . It's gaily wrapped packages . . . It's dolls, and electric trains, and mechanical toys . . . It's the shrill, happy laughter of children . . . It's forgetfulness of a restless world for just one day. Christmas is the spicy aroma of hot mince pies . . . It's turkey and stuffing, and plum puddings, and fruit cake . . . It's sand tarts, and clear toys, and candy canes, and popcorn balls. Christmas is a quiet hill on a cloudless night . . . It's shep-herds watching their flocks . . . It's a bright star in the heavens . . . It's wise men bearing gifts to a lowly stable . . . It's the Christ child lying in a manger . . . It's angel voices proclaiming, "peace on earth, good will to-ward men!" Christmas is the prayer of a sleepy child: "Please, God, let us have the spirit of Christmas everyday!" ^Christmas from Student Association and the Concordian Cover Design and Photography by Reed Carlson
|
|---|