Pastor Mike's Weblog

Celebrating the Savior’s Birth      Luke 2:1-20

I love the Charles Dickens story “A Christmas Carol”. It is a favorite part of my Christmas traditional celebration. (The best version, in my humble but most accurate opinion, features George C. Scott as Ebenezer Scrooge). Lately, at least in the past few years, Scrooge has become one of my Christmas heroes. I know that may sound strange, but allow me space to explain.

Scrooge, himself a notoriously material-minded man, is repulsed by the materialism attached to Christmas. This is evidenced by his statements to his nephew Fred concerning spending, celebrations, and the like surrounding Christmas. Of course, Scrooge is opposed to anyone but himself benefiting from his wealth; this is proven by his harsh statements to those collecting for the poor. (I am not advocating his character, just some of his better points. We can learn lessons from anyone, right?) The story is set against his prejudices, and uses the three Christmas spirits to demonstrate that Christmas is more than stuff and spending. Albeit, the Savior is primarily left out of the story and Christmas is made to be a time of joy and giving, without Jesus as its primary focus. But still and all, a deeper meaning of Christmas is shown to old Ebenezer, who has a change of heart and makes a vow all of us should make:


Let’s face it, for many of us, its hard enough to keep Jesus in Christmas through December. We get angry when stores advertise “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”. But how much Jesus is in our own celebrations? Do our children think more of Chris Cringle or Christ Jesus the Lord? Is our primary focus on gifts or the Greatest Gift of All?

 What can we learn from the Christmas story to aid us in keeping Christmas in our heart and lives all year?

First, let’s remember Jesus when we face challenging circumstances. Read Luke 2:4-7 and identify the challenging circumstances surrounding Christ’s birth. Mary & Joseph endured much to obey God and follow His plan for their lives. We will also face inexplicable challenges as we follow Christ. A pastor friend of mine has just been diagnosed with cancer; and just this week, his father-in-law was killed in a tragic accident. Why do bad things happen to good people? I do not possess all the answers to that question, but I do know that Mary & Joseph faced numerous challenges and endured them with God’s help. So did the Lord Jesus. So can we.

Another way to keep Christmas in our heart all year is to tell the story. Christmas is good news. Luke records the shepherds hearing the message while Matthew details the wise men receiving the proclamation. The gospel is good news for everyone, of every social stratum. It seems that we Southern Baptists are too busy arguing over who should be qualified and/or endorsed or supported in telling the story instead of just telling the story. Recent upheavals at the IMB and in the Missouri Baptist Convention reveal that many are more interested in power and control than telling the story. We are the real reason for the season – Jesus came to die so we could be reconciled to God. That news is in season in every season of the year. Tell the Good News!

Finally, keep Christmas in your heart all year by being thankful to God for sending the Savior. Some gifts I have received make me think of the giver, and that person’s influence on my life. I am incredibly thankful for those folks and how God has used them in my life. Shouldn’t we be reminded of God greatest Gift every time we read our bibles, see our church, give thanks for food, write out our tithe checks, etc.? Think of some creative ways you can honor Jesus in your Christmas celebrations this year. Then, adopt those methods to other holidays and events throughout the year.

Learn a lesson from a humbug this year – keep Christmas in your heart all year. And begin today!

The recent issue of a Texas church embattled over the issue of including practicing homosexuals in their church membership directory raises an important issue for the church as a whole. Baptist Press broke the story on November 6, with a follow-up article on December 3. At the heart of the issue is a Texas baptist church that includes practicing homosexuals as part of its membership and whether homosexual couples can be pictured together in the church's membership directory the same as heterosexual couples. The church is aligned with the Baptist General Convention of Texas and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, both left-leaning baptist organizations.

The Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission has more on the subject here, and a very articulate response by Gary Ledbetter here.

What baffles me is how a thinking person can read Holy Scripture and come to the conclusion that God is OK with homosexuality. The pastor of the church in Texas asked, “How can anyone who knows Jesus believe God condemns people for the way they were born?” God does not condemn people for the way they are born. But the nature we share from before we were born becomes a problem as soon as we are able to make a moral choice. We, all of us, were born sinners. As a result of being sinners, we sin. And the wages of sin is death. I am not a doctor, and I am sure there have been many studies investigating the possibility of whether homosexuality is a genetic disorder, or disposition, or whatever. But that begs the question, why haven't studies been made of whether theives are born with a genetic theiving disorder? Or liars? Or gossips? The fact that some have even sought to prove a genetic pre-disposition toward homosexuality reveals a powerful agenda of those who would normalize this aberrant lifestyle.

The New Testament clearly condemns homosexual behavior as sin. Romans 1:18-32 deals with the subject of God's wrath on unrighteousness and includes homosexual practices by both males and females as an extreme example of unrightouesness.

"Therefore God delivered them over in the cravings of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served something created instead of the Creator, who is blessed forever.  Amen.

How clear can that be? How can it be misunderstood? The comments of the pastor of this Texas church reveal that he has fallen under the spell of the liberal homosexual agenda. Quoting from his statement before his church on Dec. 2: "Some day we will be set free to live with compassion and kindness and celebrate the truth that there is no one beyond the love of God, no one who is not a cherished child of God, no one for whom Jesus did not die, and no one who is not welcome at this table. We long for the day that God will make everything right."

Believers are commanded to live with compassion and kindness now, and affirm that there is no one beyond the love of God. God loves the homosexual members of this church as well as all homosexuals. But He does not love or condone their sin, and neither should we. Rather, as God Himself does, we should in love proclaim the freedom from sin to be found in Christ, and seek to lead them and all others in bondage to sin to faith in Jesus Christ. Only then do we become cherished children of God. This opportunity is open to all who will repent of sin, accept Christ's forgiveness, and place Him at the helm of their lives. There is no one for whom Jesus did not die. Jesus came to liberate us from our sins, not to help us comfortably accomodate them! All are welcome to come and find liberation from their sins.

Quoting author Gary Ledbetter of the ERLC, "It is wrong for our society to pick and choose acceptable negative behavior based on which advocacy group has the most influence. It is more wrong for those who claim the name of Christ to blink at some sin because sentiment will not allow us the courage to speak prophetically. It is blasphemous to suppose that the God who inspired the books of Moses and Paul expressed a different nature in the Gospels."

To that I say a resounding AMEN!

OK - if you are like me, you are really not pleased by all the "Holiday" sales, celebrations, decorations, etc. that leave out "Christmas". So let's celebrate a new holiday in honor of all the retailers who choose to leave out Christmas for fear of offending someone. I am offended, so I will "toss" their ads and merchandising and shop somewhere else. Click the link below to view a great Citizenlink video about this new holiday:

MERRY TOSSMAS!!!

Getting Ready for the Savior       Luke 1

How can we keep our focus on Christ during the Christmas season? That question may seem out of place to many. Isn’t Christmas all about Jesus Christ? I’ll ask you to look around your own community, or even your own home, and answer that question for yourself. Sometimes its hard to recognize the activity of God in all the “celebrations” we participate in. So, how can we celebrate Christmas in a way that elevates Jesus Christ and points others to Him?

Back in October I posted an article concerning the new movie The Golden Compass. Southern Baptist theologian and scholar Dr. Albert Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, has now sounded a dire warning concerning this production. Here is an excerpt:

This is not just any fantasy trilogy or film project.  Philip Pullman has an agenda -- an agenda about as subtle as an army tank.  His agenda is nothing less than to expose what he believes is the tyranny of the Christian faith and the Christian church.  His hatred of the biblical storyline is clear.  He is an atheist whose most important literary project is intended to offer a moral narrative that will reverse the biblical account of the fall and provide a liberating mythology for a new secular age.

The great enemy of humanity in the three books, The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass (together known as His Dark Materials) is the Christian church, identified as the evil Magisterium.  The Magisterium, representing church authority, is afraid of human freedom and seeks to repress human sexuality. 

The Magisterium uses the biblical narrative of the Fall and the doctrine of original sin to repress humanity.  It is both violent and vile and it will stop at nothing to protect its own interests and to preserve its power.

Pullman's attack on biblical Christianity is direct and undeniable.  He once questioned why his books attracted little controversy even as the Harry Potter books attracted so much.  He told an Australian newspaper that what he is "saying things that are far more subversive than anything poor old Harry has said.  My books are about killing God."

Read the entire post here.

Here are some final thoughts:

Philip Pullman has an agenda, but so do we.  Our agenda is the Gospel of Christ -- a message infinitely more powerful than that of The Golden Compass.  Pullman's worldview of unrestricted human autonomy would be nightmarish if ever achieved.  His story promises liberation but would enslave human beings to themselves and destroy all transcendent value. 

The biblical story of the Fall is true, after all, and our only rescue is through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The curse of sin was not reversed by adolescents playing at sex in a garden, but by the Son of God shedding His blood on a cross.

So let's get our bearings straight as we think and talk about The Golden Compass.  This movie does represent a great challenge, but a challenge that Christians should always be ready to meet.

Who needs the gospel? What a "Sunday School"-type question! Every church kid would know the answer is "everyone". But does everyone really need the gospel? What about those of us who are saved? Since we have been redeemed by the power of the gospel, do we need it any longer? Don't we move on now into Christian maturity, leaving the gospel behind as simply an entrance to the life in Christ?

How far from the truth! The longer we walk with Christ the more we are convinced of our need for the gospel, and all it encapsulates. I enjoy reading other blogs and one of my favorites is Grace is the Point by Devin Hudson. In his post Random Thoughts on the Gospel he really nails this issue down, in his usual compelling way. Read the excerpt below, then click on the title of his post above to read the entire article.

Why is it that the longer I am on the Christian journey the more I feel like I need the gospel? I think new Christians have the misconception at times that those of us who have been on the journey for most of our lives have it easier in our walks than those who are just starting out. For me, the opposite seems to be true. It is almost like the longer I follow Christ the more I see my own inadequacies and shortcomings and the more I tend to recognize my need for the gospel. I became a Christian at a young age. Because of that, I did not grasp the depth of my own depravity for many years. Yet the longer I follow Christ, the more I seem to recognize my sinful tendencies and how fully I need the gospel to continue to shape, refine, and purify me.

For those of us like Devin, who admit to living most of our current lives in a Romans 7 world, we need to be constantly reminded of and refreshed by the gospel of God's grace.