A Quick Thought For Christmas Day

     A question that was once posed about the Christian faith, posed seriously despite its seeming irreverence, runs thus:

     “If one day you were haled into court and compelled to face the charge of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

     Just now, here in the Land of the Kinda-Sorta Free, that’s not a realistic scenario, though there are other nations where such charges are laid against ordinary men and women, often with the possibility of execution as the stakes. But the question was meant in a non-legalistic way: i.e., to illuminate how we live.

     In a court proceeding that goes by evidence, no one could be convicted of Christianity on the basis of what he believes. That door is locked from the inside. The only relevant evidence would be the accused’s behavior. In other words: does the accused’s behavior comport with what Christians proclaim as the Christian way of living? And just what is that, anyway?

     Many persons are made uncomfortable by such a query, not because there’s any real ambiguity about the Christian way of life – the Nicene Creed, the Two Great Commandments, and the Ten Commandments of the Book of Exodus lay it out plainly – but because they aren’t quite sure what they believe it to be.

     Christmas Day commemorates the birth of Christianity’s Founder. That makes it an appropriate day on which to ask oneself: “What do I believe is the Christian way of life? What did Christ command? What did He forbid? And on what basis do I believe this?”

     Come to think of it, those aren’t bad questions to ask oneself on any day of the year. But on the Feast of the Nativity, they deserve special attention.

     May God bless and keep you all.

It Probably Didn’t Occur On December 25...

...and it might not have been during the year we would today enumerate as 1 A.D...
...and there are many who say, most scornfully, that we are fools for believing that it happened at all...
...or for believing that there is an all-powerful Supreme Being who takes any slightest interest in Man...
...or that such a Being would permit His only begotten Son to be born as the son of a poor carpenter, and to suffer and die for our sakes...
...but I believe it:

And 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, every one 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.
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.
And 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 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 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.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And 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 Bethlehem, 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.
And when they had seen it, they made 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.

[The Gospel According To Luke, 2:1-19]

Choose according to the verdict of your hearts.