Exhortation, Third Sunday of Advent

For most Americans, Christmas means warm feelings, forgiveness, kindness, generosity. It means putting our differences aside and getting along. Celebrating Christmas means celebrating liberalism and toleration.

As in so many ways, our celebration of Christmas borrows scraps from the table of Christian faith. We like “peace on earth, good will toward men.” We resonate to the message of joy and hope. We promote all the happy, up-beat things the Bible says about Christmas.

But the biblical Christmas story is far more complex, far more realistic. Alongside “peace on earth” is Mary’s warning to rich rulers that they are going to be cast down. Alongside the joy of the shepherds is Zacharias’s song about enemies and those who hate us and the triumphant “horn of salvation.” Alongside the baby in a manger is the king in his court, looking to stamp out every threat to his throne.

Jesus brings peace, but He brings peace by first bringing a sword. He brings salvation, but in Scripture, salvation always comes through purifying judgment. He does come to knit together Jew and Gentile in one new man, but He first divides between brother and brother, father and son, mother and daughter.

By all means, enjoy the delights of our American Christmas. But don’t let the sentimental mood of the season obscure the hard edges of the biblical story.