Miracles and “Chosen People”

So right now I am reading the brilliant book Miracles by C.S. Lewis, I came upon two passages that I think really bear repeating. I thought I’d share them here today as a little bonus.

The mention of that nation [Israel] turns our attention to one of those features of the Christian story which is repulsive to the modern mind. To be quite frank, we do not at all like the idea of a “chosen people.” Democrats by birth and education, we should prefer to think that all nations and individuals start level in the search for God, or even that all religions are equally true. It must be admitted at once that Christianity makes no concessions to that point of view. It does not tell of a human search for God at all, but of something done by God, for, to, and about Man. And the way in which it is done is selective, undemocratic, to the highest degree. After the knowledge of God is universally lost or obscured, one man from the whole earth (Abraham) is picked out. He is separated (miserably enough, we may suppose) from his natural surroundings, sent into a strange country, and made the ancestor of a nation who are to carry the knowledge of the true God. Within this nation there is further selection: some die in the desert, some remain behind in Babylon. There is further selection still. The process grows narrower and narrower, sharpens a last into one small bright point like the head of a spear. It is a Jewish girl a her prayers. All humanity (so far as concerns is redemption) has narrowed to that.

A little bit later in that same chapter, Lewis refines his point.

For when we look into the selectiveness which the Christians attribute to God, we find in it none of that “favoritism” which we are afraid of. The “chosen people” are chosen not for their own sake (certainly no for their own honour of pleasure) but for the sake of the unchosen. Abraham is told that “in his seed” (the chosen nation) “all nations shall ve blest.” That nation as been chosen to bear a heavy burden. Their sufferings are great: but as Isaiah recognized, their sufferings heal others. On the finally selected Woman, falls he utmost depth of maternal anguish. Her Son, the incarnate God, is a “Man of Sorrows;” the one man into whom Deity descended, the one Man who can be lawfully adored, is pre-eminent for suffering.

Leave it to Lewis to break down the point of what He calls (and this writer agrees is) God’s greatest miracle; the incarnation. God always knows what He’s doing and He is always working for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Trust Him!

Express Jesus

There are a multitude of ways to celebrate the birth of our Savior. We who are creatives have the unique opportunity to make the invisible, visible. One of the things I love to do is cartooning. The unique combination of words and pictures allows me to be really clear. Consider the image you are seeing the the left. It was created for my web comic Creachertoons. The idea came to me one morning and I was able to get it onto the web quickly. It’s just a simple message that juxtaposes Jesus’ power and might with His humble beginnings. It’s a way to help people remember that the baby in the manger is now the King of Kings. I used the lamb to remind us of the lamb of God, our Sacrifice. The baby in the manger became our sacrifice and now reigns forever.

Of course there are a multitude of ways to express this concept. One of my all time favorite songs is Jesus Freak by dcTalk. As I thought about the concept of this post, I thought of the line from the song, “People say I’m strange, does that make me a stranger? My best friend was born in a manger.” It’s yet another way to remind people that there’s a lot more to that little baby. I think we need to remember that and because we are creatives, I think we’ve been entrusted with helping others remember.

I love Christmas, many if not most people do, even unbelievers. Sometimes I worry though that it’s more about the gifts than the Giver. Sometimes I also wonder whether or not we love Christmas because the baby in the manger seems harmless. Christmas is a lot more than a celebration of baby. It’s a celebration of love, of sacrifice. It’s a celebration of incarnation. The Word became flesh. God becomes man. God is born of a woman, a virgin. God grows up, endures the struggles of being human, the temptations, lives a perfect life and an example. He confronts our sin and wickedness. He stands for righteousness, pays a price and comes to our rescue at the price of His own life. Then just when it looks like all hope is lost, He rises again and becomes the very embodiment of hope. He purchases eternal life for us and sets the church in motion. The church is His chosen instrument for pointing people to their Savior and to salvation. It is our task to minister reconciliation to the world. It’s out task to express Jesus. To turn an invisible God visible in word and deed. Creatives, this is our call.

As we celebrate our Savior, as we look forward to a brand new year, how will you express Jesus?

Merry Christmas from AMOKArts

This year the thing that seems to be coming up over and iver again in my prayer life and in my ministry is the concept of incarnation. As John 1:14 says “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” It’s the miracle of miracles, God becomes man… better yet… God becomes baby! The all powerful Christ lays aside the majesty of heaven placing Himself in the position to have to cry so that even His most basic needs could be met. We don’t serve a God who doesn’t get it. We serve a God who navigated life as we live it and did so flawlessly as an example to us all. Then when all had been accomplished He laid down His life to be our sacrifice… to pay a price we could not pay. Why would He do that? Because He loves us perfectly, in spite of our flaws and it is that perfect love that drives out our fear. We can trust Him and when we place our trust in Him, He saves us.

I found this video by artist David Rodriguez, that sums it all up beautifully.

Merry Christmas from AMOKArts

Christmas

Think about what it is that we really celebrate today. The one who made the universe and everything in it, the Word, the eternal wisdom controlling the universe, lays aside the power and privilege of heaven, to come to earth as a newborn baby. To be born as we are born, to live with all the stuff we live with, to suffer the same temptations we all face and no doubt more. To live a perfect life as an example to us all and then to suffer and die for our sins and rise again. The Creator of the universe humbles Himself to be born a baby, having to cry to have his most basic needs met. That’s how much He loves you… That’s Christmas.