Doctrine, Holidays

Fundy Christmas Day 9: Reason For the Season

129 Comments

If your family read the crucifixion story every year before opening your presents, you may have been a fundamentalist. For to a fundamentalist, the Incarnation is often seen as little more than the first step on the road to Calvary.  For unto us a Son is given and his name shall be called Doomed, Condemned, Destined for Destruction. He was born to die.

But we do our Savior a great injustice if we give the season a tragic tone as if this Baby should be mourned as merely mortal. Consider too the years of his humanity as a child, his miracles, his compassion, his wisdom, his teachings of love for others, his laughter and tears and hunger and weariness experienced as a God who condescended to become a man and walk among us. He was born to Live.

And yes, he was betrayed and mocked and falsely accused and beaten and crucified…but the story doesn’t end there either! For of his own will he defeated death and rose from the grave, comforting his grieving friends with words of Everlasting Life. He was born to Live.

Remember the words of his promise that he will never leave us or forsake us and that he is that friend who is closer than a brother. After our years of struggle and pain are ended we too will live with him in an eternity where there will be no darkness or pain or dying ever again. In him we will finally be truly alive. He was born to Live.

Dear heart, if you want to remember the Reason for the Season as you  gather on Christmas Day this year, do not mourn as if Christ’s life was only given to be consumed in the tragedy of his death. Read instead  these words…”Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen.”

He was born to Live.

129 thoughts on “Fundy Christmas Day 9: Reason For the Season”

    1. One of Darrell’s best post ever IMHO, ….and the first time I have been called “dear heart” by anyone under the age of 200.

      I usually only get that greeting from reading old 19th century sermons.

      Also, kuddos on the graphic.

      (Maybe we should write a new “re-imagining” of Ron Hamilton’s play ……”Born To Live” where Chip doesn’t die and joins an Anglican Church?

      Nah.)

  4. Awesome, Darrell!!!

    Although, the picture has Mary in it and therefore you’re worshipping Mary so I’m offended but other than that, that was an awesome message!

    (you know, I couldn’t help myself) 😉

      1. I’m awful, I know.

        It really was a beautiful post, and I was truly touched by it. Really.

        My only excuse is that I come from a sarcastic (in a good way) family, so I’ll blame it on them.

        Barney Fife would call us “Jokecrackers”.

        1. At least your whole family is that way. My brother and I are the only sarcastic ones (like you, we’re sarcastic in a nice way!) in our family (interestingly, we’re also the only non-fundies). That has led to some, shall we say, misunderstandings. My brother-in-law is *still* scared of me from the time that I (semi) sarcastically “threatened” him!

        2. It’s a shame, but you really have to have a tough skin at our big Christmas get-together. Last year, we had 2 guests who were both named Peter.

          We called them I & II Peter.

          (They were really good sports about it, and liked the name, actually.)

  5. People do this? Skip over Christmas and go right to Good Friday?

    To every thing there is a season.

  6. How many times I have heard the story told and it ended at the cross. But without the resurrection there is no life and we of all men would be most miserable.
    Darrell, thank you for the reminder that Jesus the Christ is the resurrection and the life, life eternal! And because He lives, we who are His, have life and have it abundantly! That is the Good News! That is the Gospel!

  8. Reminds me of one of my favorite songs

    GOD Sent HIS SON,
    They called HIM JESUS;
    HE Came to love, heal and forgive;
    HE lived and died
    To buy my pardon,
    An empty grave is there
    To prove my Saviour lives.

    CHORUS:
    Because He lives
    I can face tomorrow;
    Because HE lives
    All fear is gone;
    Because I know
    HE holds the future,
    And life is worth the living
    just because HE lives.

    How sweet to hold
    A new born baby,
    And feel the pride,
    And joy HE gives;
    But greater still
    The calm assurance,
    This child can face uncertain days
    Because HE lives.

    Chorus:

    And then one day
    I’ll cross the river;
    I’ll fight life’s
    Final war with pain,
    And then as death
    Gives way to victory,
    I’ll see the lifghts of Glory
    And I’ll know HE lives.

  10. Darrell – I have started to slip away from SFL, mostly because of so much sarcasm and outright nastiness against anything or anyone perceived to be conservative, but I must say this touched my heart this morning. Wow – aren’t we blessed, and don’t we serve a wonderful Saviour! I praise Him today!

    1. Don’t go, Greg. The site is for everyone, I think, regardless of their standpoint. And, I think the variances of opinion make it tasty.

      What’s funny is that I think most people on here are conservative, or at least a lot more so than I am. I’m an unholy liberal and probably always will be.

      I’m also a horrible smartass, too. 😉

      1. Natalie, I’m a raging liberal also, both politically and theologically. Loved the post, Darrell.

      2. I’m still pretty confident the actual libs are the minority (if not as vastly as on most sites), but I’m right there with you.

    2. I do appreciate your thoughts. It is a variety of perspectives that make this a truly unique and enjoyable place. You are a great part of that.

      I found stuff fundies like about four months ago. I love it! I think the tone was what drew me the most. I have not sensed a bitter anger towards fundamentalism. Just an intellectual disagreement that manifest itself in a variety of ways. Some of which make me think others that cause laughter. Both are refreshing.

      For me it is unhealthy not to laugh or treat some actions fundies have with sarcasm. If I didn’t I would explode with rage or wither with bitterness or a little of both. Pure enjoyment has come from reading so many of the thinking, sarcastic, funny, or uplifting comments that have all found there way here.

      Thank you stuff fundies like community and Darrell.

      1. When I first left fundyland, I was VERY cynical. Not sarcastic, but really cynical. I was angry and very bitter about it all.

        That has subsided, and although there will always be things that I am angry at and ALWAYS want to be angry about (Example: Gray’s crimes and all the abuse that goes on behind closed doors), the rest of it I look at with ABSOLUTE humor.

        I’ve lived it, and now I look at it all as an outsider, and its just so ridiculous that its funny. I was silly like that once before, and its just nice now to feel normal… well, as normal as I can be. 😉

  11. I thought I made a mistake and clicked on Stuff Christians Like Serious Wednesday!

    Jesus is alive, He lives again!

  12. Yes, He is Alive.

    But practically, one can see the enormous benefit of keeping the Church year – Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, etc etc. The rythym of the year becomes a blessing in itself, reminding, admonishing, comforting… and so does the visual component thereof (liturgical colours etc).

    1. Yes, we definitely don’t want to downplay the cross — it is vital and needs to be carefully contemplated. But the cross without the Incarnation and Resurrection just doesn’t tell the whole story.

      1. Exactly. Far from downplaying the Cross, we now choose to elevate the other parts of Christ’s life and gain a greater understanding of who He is and why He came to be with us.

    2. I only have a passing familiarity with the liturgical year, having spent all my life as an IFB and being taught that anything mainline is compromising, too Catholic, too unbiblical, too much man’s traditions, too ritualistic (thus killing the spirit), and too focused on externals. But I can see how following a formal calendar would help avoid too much emphasis on one thing and not enough on another. Christ’s miraculous birth, His holy life, His atoning death, and His miraculous birth are ALL part of His glorious story.

      2. I often laughed at how those who oppose liturgy got really upset at any changes to the “Hymn, Welcoming Prayer, Hymn, Offering, Hymn, Special Music, Message, Invitation” order that we ALWAYS used.

        Also, I meant to say “His victorious resurrection” above instead of repeating “miraculous birth.” George is really toying with me today. 😳

        1. Yes, and not only do you always have to use this Order of Service, to leave out any of the more important parts is the first step on the slippery slope. Another step on the slippery slope is considering a Sunday afternoon service instead of an evening service.

      3. I love having liturgical seasons. It really does help to focus the mind and soul. 🙂

        I will say it’s odd to me that Catholic is considered “mainline” – I grew up up in a very different kind of tradition (not quite fundy, but I still resonate with a lot of what I find here) it always seems that most of the people I encounter have very little understanding of actual Catholic practice or belief!

        1. We joined the Anglican Church which is very similar to the Catholic church – similar enough that the morning I snuck into a weekday mass, I was totally at home. I love the liturgy, the church calendar, the kneeling. But I still feel shocked sometimes that that is where I am, and that I enjoy it so much.

        2. I find so much more joy now in my faith than I used to. While I was “church shopping” I did attend Anglican churches a few times as well; they were a big part of my realization that I wanted a church with such a strong liturgical tradition. 🙂

          It’s funny that Catholics have a reputation for being guilt-ridden when we certainly do know how and love to party – and think that we should!! 😀

  13. There is a hymn that was written in 1975 by Iola Brubeck, her husband Dave wrote the music to go with this text.

    God’s love made visible! Incomprehensible!
    He is invincible! His love shall reign!
    From love so bountiful, blessings uncountable
    make death surmountable! His love shall reign!
    Joyfully pray for peace and good will!
    All of our yearning he will fulfill.
    Live in a loving way! Praise him for every day!
    Open your hearts and pray. His love shall reign.

    God gave his Son to us to dwell as one of us–
    his blessing unto us! His love shall reign!
    To him all honor bring, heaven and earth will sing,
    praising our Lord and King! His love shall reign!
    Open all doors this day day of his birth,
    all of good will inherit the earth.
    His star will always be guiding humanity
    throughout eternity! His love shall reign.

  16. Often, this site gives comfort by validating my experiences and revealing truth with humor. Pointing out what God is not.

    Today, the comfort is overwhelmingly who God *is*.

    Thank you. That balance so good.

    Where did you get that beautiful picture? I love it.

  17. There’s a fairly early saying in the church about incarnation (can’t recall who/when), tha said “what isn’t assumed (in Christ’s humanity) isn’t healed”.

    I’ve used this analogy, and prob got it from someone, but also don’t recall that either. Fundies see the entirety of scripture and Christ as being so soley about the 1 defining event of atoning death it would be like stnading in grand sequioa national park and mourning the deaths of all those nuts (or whatever grand sequioas grow out of). There certainly have been nuts die, but to focus solely on that is missing a lot of beauty!

    1. NT Wright often describes that death focus as reading the Gospels as a sometimes odd and very long introductions with a nice surprise ending.

  18. Thank you so much…I was just thinking this morning of the whole Born to Die trope. I’m enjoying the treasure of our Gift today, instead of mourning in advance.

  20. Thank you for your words. You captured perfectly why I don’t like “Born to Die” being used at Christmas – not only does it void the entire life of Jesus for the worshipper, it does miss the true point about Him being the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
    Love the picture too – that’s a pretty good portrait of a young child. There’s the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, sucking on Mama’s shoulder and trying to focus on a face. Lovely.

    1. I first saw this picture just yesterday. I looked up Barlow Girl’s “Hallelujah” on youtube, and one of the videos had THIS picture. My daughter and I were both commenting on the adorable realism of the baby.

  23. The fixation on just Christ’s death,the mournful attitude so many in the churches I grew up in seemed to have,always puzzled me as a child. I remember wondering if I was saved because I thought,yeah but if Judas didn’t betray Him,pilate didn’t condemn Him and the soldiers didn’t kill him,were would that leave me? I wondered if it meant that I was horribly selfish to always think,but HE ROSE,He lives. Why is everyone still so sad?

  24. I heard a preacher once say that we shouldn’t wear crosses, but should wear an open grave. Although, that might make for an odd-looking pendant, he has a point.

    1. My father has expressed reservations about the crucifix for that reason (which is odd, as he likes to read The Passion every Christmas). On the rare occasions he has attended church with my husband and me, I have been able to tell that he is disturbed by that image, even though the Mass emphasizes the Resurrection much more, and my remembrances of church as a child emphasized the crucifixion.

  25. After several months of being an SFL “lurker”, I have to comment on this amazing post. Darrell has accurately summed up my thoughts about fundyism. I even had a former pastor who bragged about his ability to find the negative in any situation. Thank GOD that I found grace and mercy when I searched for Him for myself.

  27. Beautiful, Darrell. I wish that all my burdened friends who are still under the burden of selfcondemnation and legalistic hopelessness could read this. Too bad some of them lack internet.

  28. I only have a passing familiarity with the liturgical year, having spent all my life as an IFB and being taught that anything mainline is compromising, too Catholic, too unbiblical, too much man’s traditions, too ritualistic (thus killing the spirit), and too focused on externals. But I can see how following a formal calendar would help avoid too much emphasis on one thing and not enough on another.

  29. Thank you, Darrell! That was beautiful. Yes, he died. But, before that he performed miracles and brought truth to those who would listen. And after death, He rose form the dead to show that his promises were true. Hope and Love are beautiful gifts given in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

  30. This fundy dad read a passage that begins with the incarnation and ends “therfore God has highly exalted Him . . .”

    Which is just to say it doesn’t have to be either/or.

    1. Revelation 1:18.

      (yes, I’m one of those who believes Revelation belongs in the canon. Don’t shoot)

      1. I know there are a significant number of people who reject Revelation, I’ve always been under the impression it’s a pretty substantial minority of most groups. I’ve never outright rejected. Even when I was into dispensationalism I thought the certainty with which they taught it right down to guillotines was pretty absurd.

      2. Bang! 😆

        But the whole canonicity thing is where fundies really fall – they claim the Bible alone, but they do not have a ready explanation as to why they are claiming those 66 books in particular.

  32. This brought me to tears, Darrell. I’ve shared it with my friends on Facebook. I hope more of them read it and weep with me.

  34. Well said and much needed but not as much needed as a hair cut for the baby in that pic (touching the ears and on the collar)

  35. Beautiful! I am grateful Jesus died to pay for my sins and at the same time I am grateful he lives to be my best friend.

  36. I think no group at Christmas better captures what you are saying here, Darrell, than the Angels. The fact that a holy God no longer needs to bring condemnation to earth because of the gift of his son. That there can be both peace on earth AND good will to men despite the curse.

    His purpose on earth was not to die but rather to save. The death should be understood as a means to an end. Salvation should be understood as the purpose or the end achieved. When Jesus spoke to Nicodemus(jn3:16) he emphasized that He, Jesus, was given that the believing ones would have everlasting life. He mentions the gifts purpose not the means to achieve the purpose.

    Jesus is announced as a savior by the angel. Not a man condemned to die. After the announcement there was celebration above the hills in Bethlehem that night because of what Jesus’ life would accomplish not because of what he had to do to accomplish it.

    He was born to save and that He has.

    1. I like how you said that. I can see why people started saying “Born to die” but I like the phrase “Born to SAVE” better! “Call His name Jesus, for He shall SAVE His people from their sins.”

  38. I have to admit that I disagree somewhat with you. The fact is that while your own scripture reference denotes why he came. He did not come to live, but to die. His living evermore was after his crucifixion. I’m not a fundy (promise!), but just because so much of what they believe is skewed doesn’t mean everything is. Christ came as the sacrifice.

    1. “The fact is that while your own scripture reference denotes why he came. He did not come to live, but to die.”
      I’m guessing you realize that without the resurrection the cross is meaningless… We must not divorce one from the other. Without His perfect life, He would not have been a worthy sacrifice, without the resurrection His death would have been meaningless – you can’t separate them from each other.

      http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=1+Corinthians+15:1-4

      http://ht.ly/3jBpW

        1. I’m just saying that it wasn’t the only reason for the Incarnation. He wasn’t just a perfect sacrifice, but the perfect example for living, and the conquerer of death. Those were all purposes of His Advent.

  40. Good post – My sister wrote a play for their church, which was performed last year… and this Christmas, my husband and I directed our youth in performing it. I loved it because it begins with the resurrection and then Mary the mother of Jesus narrates the story of Jesus’ birth to the other women who had gone with her to the tomb, while it is portrayed by actors on the stage. The point of the play is that the glorious resurrection and hope that we have in Jesus was planned by God, and orchestrated and developed over His entire lifetime. Jesus wasn’t a helpless baby who did some nice things and then was condemned to die, helplessly. Our God and Savior LIVES!

  42. Without a risen Christ, our faith is hopeless. Praise God we have a Savior who knows what it is like to have pain and hunger and sorrow and forgives us our failings.

  43. You know, that piece was quite good, but yet, it sounded so foreign considering my Fundy past. The celebration of death and all things dark and discouraging by Fundamentalists makes anything so uplifting almost ‘ho-hum’…such is consequence of brainwashing most subliminal at times. Once you think you have “it” licked and all it takes is a well reasoned and spoken piece of Truth and you find out how far down the rabbit hole you really were…you mind becomes filled with some obnoxious jerk behind a pulpit, wearing a $1K suit that your tithe purchased, yelling at the collective “me” called the congregation about how Jesus was born to be crucified because, collectivly, we are sinful assholes. Then the rest of the “sermon” is spent with Mr. Preacher impressing us with how he was the draft pick that refused to sign because of the successful business he started…blah, blah, Blah…

  45. Wow . So Read this just now while sitting here at the candle light service at my parents fundy church. I swear I almost just stood up and shouted hallelujah glory to god in the highest! Thank you so much for tht

  46. Thank you. After listening to a sermon the other day that said nothing except complain about what is wrong in the world (acceptance of homosexuality by the military, judgment for Obama administration, forgetting Christ in Christmas), it is very comforting to remember the true importance of Christ and his incarnation, death, and resurrection.

    1. So sad.
      I have heard some truly horrifying examples of this. All negative and no “good news” which is waht the gospel of glad tidings is all about.

  48. Darrell, would it be possible to copy some of that into my FB status? It’s absolutely beautiful! But I don’t want to copy your words without your permission.

      1. Thanks, Darrell. I actually did use some of this as my status on FB and got a reply from a fundy relative: “Born to die . . . so we might live!” I thought that was pretty good, but it would have been better to say, “Born to live, die, and rise again, so that we might do the same!”

        1. Death was never described anywhere in Scripture as gaining anyone the right/ability to live, it’s not the guarantee of any kind of life, it’s solely negative, and to say Death of anyone (let alone the unjust death of Christ) guarantees life is colluding with death. 🙂

  49. An emotionally stirring devotional, Darrell. But “born to Live” is just as insufficient as “born to die.” The active and passive obedience of Christ can be distinguished, but not separated. In essence, you’ve made the same mistake that you implicitly deride Ron Hamilton for making. (I was going to suggest “born to save,” per Mt 1:21, but @amen corner beat me to it)

    Most of the time, when Christians focus on and boast only in the Cross, other Christians come alongside and encourage them for it. Not so on SFL. Focusing on the Cross during Christmas? We say that you’re probably a Fundie. Consider, however:

    -Scripture passages that focus explicitly and solely on the sacrifice of Christ as necessary for salvation: Isaiah 53, Ephesians 1:7, Galatians 3:13, I Peter 2:24; and even the Revelation verse you referenced is ironic, seeing how Revelation depicts Christ as worthy only because He is the Slaughtered Lamb…
    -CJ Mahaney’s Cross-Centered Life: “Christ’s death was the purpose of His birth: Calvary was the reason for Bethlehem.”
    Bruce Demarest’s The Cross & Salvation: “Christ the Son provided complete redemption through His obedient life and atoning death”
    -John Stott’s The Cross of Christ: “the centrality of the cross originated in the mind of Jesus himself”
    -Layton Talbert: “the crux of Christianity is soteriology, and the crux of soteriology is the cross”

    Only SFL could take what might be commendable and turn it into a source of criticism.

    1. You’ve missed the entire point of my post. I never said the cross wasn’t vital to our salvation just that it wasn’t THE END OF THE STORY!

      The story “begins” in eternity past with a Christ who is alive and continues into eternal glory with a Christ who is still alive. He didn’t just come to earth to die. He came to live as a man, conquer death, and rise triumphant.

      The image of the cross’s ‘shadow cold and gray of a’ falling on the manger simply implies some kind of gloom and doom to the Incarnation that doesn’t exist.

      I would also take issue with saying that the “crux of soteriology is the cross” exclusive of the resurrection for to quote Paul “If Christ be not risen…your faith is also vain.” (1 Cor. 15:14) You need the rest of the story!

      C.J. Mahaney isn’t someone I really put a lot of trust in on this topic to be honest. He also said “Christmas is necessary because I’m a sinner.The incarnation reminds us of our desperate condition before a holy God”

      Say what now? Why the constant negative focus? The Angels gave a message of peace and goodwill and glory to God not one of condemnation, guilt, and sorrow. He comes to make his blessings know far as the curse is found.

      If you want to look at the manger and feel guilt and sorrow, I guess that’s your prerogative. I’m going to rejoice that the manger of Bethlehem cradled my King who is now alive and will live forevermore.

      2. What did I say that would lead you to believe that I “feel guilt and sorrow”? The Cross is where propitiation, substitution, and atonement occurred. It’s a place of guilt and sorrow only for those who don’t believe…

        You’re making a case for the “whole story” approach (which I agree can be beneficial), but it’s not always necessary; for example, Paul wanted to know nothing except Christ crucified and would boast only in the Cross. Forcing Christ’s preexistence, resurrection, and glorification into those passages is eisegesis. If I was to apply your theory, then, you would be telling Paul that he’s guilty in many Scripture passages of not including the “whole story”…

        I’m sure you’d admit that no Fundie would actually deny Christ’s preexistence, bodily resurrection, and ascension/glorification. So it seems your beef with (your rendition of) the Fundie take on the Christmas story is their focus; in other words, what they DON’T say is what bothers you. Let’s apply that to your devotional. You mention little to nothing of the work of the other two members of the Trinity. You’re therefore neglecting the roles of the Father and Holy Spirit in the Incarnation. A reductionist, incomplete story: the same thing you’re criticizing.

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