Ward Preacher Podcast Ep 208 - The End

Our Come Follow Me journey over the past four years has been rewarding.  We wrap up this podcast talking about the time between the Old and New Testaments, and the wisdom to seek Christ.  Thank you for studying with me!

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Ward Preacher Podcast Ep 156 - Joy to the World (except for Herod)

This week, our Come Follow Me curriculum brings us to the story of Christmas!  This is always worth remembering this time of year; study with me!

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Ward Preacher Podcast Ep 104 - The Archangel and the Wise Men

This week, our Come Follow Me curriculum covers the story of Christmas.  Study with me as we discuss insights from the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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https://soundcloud.com/user-961318159/ward-preacher-podcast-ep-104-the-archangel-and-the-wise-men

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Ward Preacher Presentation (Ep 51) - Come and See

This week, we invite you to attend the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as we join together to worship Jesus.

(Episode 52, on the remainder of the book of Revelation, will be available next Sunday on Soundcloud and Youtube).

Ward Preacher Podcast Episode 3: Curiosities surrounding the Wise Men

This week's podcast covers the Come Follow Me material for the upcoming week, Matthew 2 and Luke 2.

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https://soundcloud.com/user-961318159/ward-preacher-episode-3-curiosities-surrounding-the-wise-men

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A Christmas Footnote

One of the most significant changes in human civilization was the metamorphosis of Rome from republic to empire.  These events are filled with drama and intrigue... think of the conquests of Pompeii, the crossing of the Rubicon, the betrayal of Marcus Brutus, the alliance of Mark Antony and Cleopatra, and finally the ascension of Caesar Augustus... the first Roman Emperor.

It is a little ironic that in spite of Caesar's importance, the time when many people are most likely to hear his name is during the Christmas season, in a tale where he was little more than a footnote.  It was written by Luke, and it goes like this:

"And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar 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, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, 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. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."  (Luke 2:1-7)

Of course, this tradition does not take away importance from Caesar.  His empire lasted for centuries... and even when it was gone, people treated it as though it were still real.  Caesar's dead language can still be found in our science, our medicine, and our law.

That having been said, Caesar is dead, and his empire is no more... whereas the child in Luke's story... Jesus Christ... is alive and well and his kingdom thrives this very day.

The story of Jesus provides an example of prioritizing the things that matter in the context of the things that matter most.

This pattern is not limited to the story of the nativity, but should typify our observance of Christmas.  Careers, performances, programs, purchases, and other busy elements of our lives have real value and sustain many important aspects of this season... but they are little more than a footnote in the context of friends and family, music and prayer, kindness, generosity, and love.

Jesus would later teach this concept best (as he did with everything):

"Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s." (Matthew 22:21)

May it be so for each of us this Christmas.

Christmas Appropriation

It's hard to get away from seeing posts all over social media that highlight the pagan roots of winter solstice celebration, and describe how Christians "appropriated" this celebration to promote the birth of Jesus.

Some of these posts represent legitimate efforts to educate regarding Christmas traditions.  Some of them are cases of thinly-veiled condescending mockery of foolish Christians who think they are celebrating Jesus.  After all - how can Jesus be the "reason for the season" when pagans traditionally celebrated the event in which daylight began to increase?  Christians getting upset that "happy holidays" is replacing "merry Christmas" or that nativity scenes are becoming controversial just shows how closed-minded they are... especially since they appropriated most of their traditions from others to begin with... right?

I don't want to dig into the details of Christmas traditions... rather, I want to address the broader issue of Christians appropriating other cultures to further the message of Jesus - because this is perhaps one of the most important Christian traditions there is.

In the Book of Mormon, Ammon tried to speak to King Lamoni about God, but the Lamanite King did not understand the term "God."  Ammon then asked the king if he believed in a "Great Spirit," a concept with which the king was familiar.  Using the concept of a "Great Spirit," Ammon taught Lamoni about God, and about his son Jesus Christ, who had power to save him. (Alma 18)

The Apostle Paul famously stood on Mars hill in Athens and described his observation that these pagan peoples had created a monument to "the Unknown God," to be sure they had not overlooked honoring some deity.  He used this pagan and superstitious concept to teach the message of Christianity:

"Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us" (Acts 17:23-27)

Jesus himself found ways to use things familiar to those he sought to reach.  To the woman at the well, he described himself as "living water."  To those who wanted a free meal, he described himself as "the bread of life."  He described his association with sinners by saying "They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick."  He described his love for us by comparing the affection of a hireling with that of a "Good Shepherd."

The Old Testament frequently uses the symbolism of marriage to describe the relationship between God has his children... and an unfaithful spouse to describe our part in that relationship.

Ultimately, it is good that Christmas traditions stem from things that were not originally Christian.  That really is the entire point of Jesus... to transform individuals from being selfish, misguided, and sinful into being humble, wise, and divine.  The process of salvation is not limited to one type of individual... the hope of redemption and salvation is available to all.

At Christmas especially, it is good to find traditions (new and old) that bring us closer to the source of goodness, light, and wisdom.  Don't let the fact that trees, lights, gifts, and celebrations during this time of year were not a part of the birth of that child in Bethlehem keep you from using them to seek him now.

Decorate that tree!  Turn on those lights!  Give gifts to those you love!  Sing those carols!  Appropriate every good thing!

Part of being Christian is recognizing that Jesus is (and always has been) close by... that traditions that bring joy, foster love, and promote peace can help us find him.

The Condescension of God

The Christmas season is time of gift giving, a tradition that stems from the magi who traveled from the east and gave the Christ child gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  Contemporarily, children look under trees with anticipation of receiving games, toys, and sweets.  The true root of gift giving is a much older story however.  Before men were born; before the world was forged, there was another gift for which every child of God yearned, and our Heavenly Father wanted very much to give it to us. The gift is immortality and eternal life, but it is not a gift that is easily received.  In fact, almost no one was eligible to receive the greatest of all the gifts of God.  Our Heavenly Father called for the sacrifice of one that would be able to not only save himself, but to condescend below all things, that he might lift the sons of men above all things.  Jesus Christ stood and declared “Here am I… send me.”  As our Father accepted him as worthy and able, he became to us a God, the only hope of salvation, and the joy of mans’ desiring.

Even children have the benefit of Christmas traditions that teach at an early age the characters of the Nativity story.  We have known from our youth of Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men, and the Christ child… but what if we had not known?  What if we had to be taught these things without the benefit of Christmas symbols?  Nephi was a prophet that lived 600 years before the birth of Christ.  He did not have any holiday traditions when he was taught the Christmas story.  An angel of God showed him a vision and asked what he beheld.  He replied, “A virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins.”  The angel asked a profound question… “Knowest thou the condescension of God?”  Nephi replied, “I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.”  The angel then showed him the virgin bearing a child in her arms.  With a single concise phrase, Nephi learned the true meaning of Christmas: “Behold, the condescension of God!”

Most people eagerly anticipate Christmas day, perhaps because of proximity to friends and loved ones, perhaps because of the hope of a chocolate-filled stocking, or something special underneath the tree.  The first Christmas was also anticipated greatly, but for other reasons.  The people in the promised land that believed in Jesus had been given that day as a deadline to justify their faith, and if the prophesied signs of Christ’s birth did not appear, they would be killed.  How anxious they must have been to see that their faith was not in vain.  But even as the wicked prepared to spill the blood of the righteous, the prayers of Christians reached the heavens.  When the sun set that night, the light did not wane away into the darkness of night.  In the very act of condescending, the light of the world saved those that had faith in him.

Christmas does not always bring tidings of comfort and joy.  Every year, people brave crowds at local retailers, and amid the pushing, shoving, and dirty looks, they seek meaningful gifts for loved ones.  Husbands scratch their heads and ask themselves "If I buy these shoes for her, do I also have to buy those earrings?"  Wives seek the assistance of unmotivated seasonal sales associates to ask "Do I need a nunchuck controller with the Legend of Zelda?"  It is not difficult to become so preoccupied with the hustle and bustle that Christ becomes disassociated with the majority of our Christmas season.  Perhaps it was the same hustle and bustle that caused innkeepers of Bethlehem to experience difficulty in finding room for a young expectant mother and her husband.  Perhaps they thought they were doing the best they could when they sent Mary to a pen of animals, it was tax season after all.  Whatever the reasons, when Mary gave birth to her son, she had only swaddling clothes in a stable to warm him.  When she laid him down, the trough where animals chewed hay was his bed.  While men of wealth and prestige sat in the company of peers, the King of Kings moved from a throne in the high heavens in the presence of our Heavenly Father, to a stable in the company of livestock.  Somehow, when everyone else was busy, the most High God descended down to the most humble place on Earth.

Even to the adults that understand the principles of electricity, and know the effort of stringing them up, there is a feeling of happiness that Christmas lights bring.  To children who do not understand these things, it is even more so.  It is not so much because understanding ruins things, but perhaps because innocence is so frequently accompanied by humility, which magnifies appreciation.  Even in ancient times it was so.  SPQR are the letters that every soldier's banner bore in the land to which Christ came.  Senatus Populusque Romanus... The senate and the people of Rome.  The empire was arguably the most powerful and prestigious that was ever on the earth, and it was filled with wise, powerful, strong, and wealthy people; and none more so than its emperor, Caesar Augustus.  However, it was not Caesar, or any of his appointed, or any philosophers or warriors to whom God sent word of his condescension.  Luke tells us that there were in the same country shepherds, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory 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 which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a savior, 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.

As commercial and cold as the retail experience of Christmas can be, the season also brings a renewed desire to help those in need.  Few experiences are as memorable as seeing the gratitude of someone receiving the very thing they require.  Perhaps there are those among us who have played the roles both of giver, and of recipient.  Called by some the true meaning of Christmas, it is in a truer sense the true meaning of Christianity.  Because he condescended below all men, he knows what it means to be hungry, to be hurt, to be fatigued.  He knows what it means to be lonely, and hated, and betrayed.  Is it any wonder he declared that "by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples: if ye have love one to another"?

There is a Christmas hymn in which a man sorrows that "Hate is strong, and mocks the song of peace on Earth, good will to men..."  He is answered by Christmas bells, that seem to say with faith and power "God is not dead, nor doth he sleep."  Two of the characters most forgotten in the old Christmas story are the two that knew that best.  Anna and Simeon saw no angel, they did not follow a new star in the east; instead they stayed at the temple.  They did not need the persuasion of fictional spirits of Christmas Past, Present, or Future; they followed the Spirit of God, and because of their faith, Christ came to them.  Two thousand years later, the same spirit that guided them pleads with us not to despair... for God is not dead, nor doth he sleep.  The Holy Spirit of God guides us, just as it did Anna and Simeon; and it brings the power of Jesus Christ across time to our hearts here and now: not just a story of a child in a manger, or a choir of angels in the fields near Bethlehem, but the power of his atoning sacrifice.  And it is the faith, penitence, and humility of men that give purpose to his sacrifice... for it is only with our consent that we can be redeemed.  My brothers and sisters... especially during this time when we celebrate the coming of Christ... let us be as Anna and Simeon and follow the guidance of his Holy Spirit.  Let our penitence give cause to his sacrifice.  Let us do all things that we might have the gift for which we sought in that grand council before the world was: the gift of eternal life!  Oh come all ye faithful... joyful and triumphant...  Oh come let us adore him!  Come and behold him: born the King of Angels!  Come and celebrate the condescension of God!