It’s the week of Christmas, the time of year that has been set aside as the day we honor the birth of Jesus Christ by the virgin, Mary. Much of what we think of when we think of the Nativity Story is a condensed version of what really happened.
His Birth was actually closer to the beginning of spring than the beginning of winter.
The number of the Magi is not listed in scripture, so it could have been three Wise men, or nine, and Mary, Joseph, and the baby were not in the stable when they got there, either.
Yet we still celebrate these things in the story as part of our holiday ritual, because that’s the way we know it.
I love Christmas time. It’s a time of giving, seeing family, and celebrating the gift that was given to humanity by God.
We do a lot of talking about “Remembering the Reason for the Season,” and “Keeping Christ in Christmas.” Those are very good sentiments.
But, is that all they are?
Do we REALLY remember that the reason God sent His Son to earth was to die in our place for our screw ups, because we couldn’t get our acts together and live by His standard?
The bible teaches that the wages of sin is death; Eternal death, dying over and over again in hell. The way around that is to live a life free of sin.
We are not capable of that, Period.
Phil Robertson has been praised and condemned for talking in detail about what he thinks is sin. He answered a question that he was asked, by someone who either wanted to know, or wanted a good answer for his story.
Thing is, it doesn’t matter what Phil thinks is a sin. It doesn’t matter what I, or you, or anybody you know thinks is a sin. Only one person will get to decide what a sin is and what not a sin is. And let’s face it; neither you nor I am Him.
I say that to say this: One sin is no better or worse than another.
There are no “ah, you’re a good boy/girl, so never mind” kind of sins. They all carry the same weight.
I sin. I am human, and I sin. So do you. So does Phil Robertson. It’s a human flaw.
The only way around them is through the person whose birth we celebrate this week.
How about keeping Christ in Christmas? Do we really have that kind of love for someone whose ideologies and beliefs are contrary to our own?
I’ve heard the term “Merry Christmas” used not as a greeting, but as a test to see if you are a good Christian. Why do we do that?
Christ is love, plain and simple. He is the embodiment of love for anyone who would like to hear about it.
Remember back in school there was that one person who was the cutest, funniest, prettiest, most handsome, etc and you felt butterflies every time you looked at them?
Ever think about working up the nerve to speak to them, but bailing out over something that was ultimately trivial, but spoiled the moment for you?
Try to remember that feeling the next time you speak to someone who is obviously in need of the love of Christ.
They may be RIGHT on the verge of asking an important question that could very well change their entire life, and your words could be the catalyst that opens the door to asking those questions, or turns them off and slams the door in their face.
* Most of this extended column this week has been directed at Christians. If you are not a Christian, and have questions like I talked about above, please ask them. To a friend you know to be Christian, to a pastor of a local church, or email the administrators of mitdil1.dream.press and ask them to forward them to me. But please ask them.
Ben Cox is the morning show host of “Ben Cox in the Morning” on KQBZ, 96.9 FM in Brownwood Texas. He is the new in-stadium voice of the Howard Payne Yellow Jackets football team, & Ben is also an event DJ for weddings, parties and the like, and can be contacted through the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce.
The thoughts and comments reflected in this column are those of the writer alone, and do not necessarily reflect those of Wendlee Broadcasting, or its affiliates.
