It's Not a Marshmallow World

The beginning of the Christmas story isn’t a magical elf land, or softly falling snow. It’s a policy decision. Listen:

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. (Luke 2)

Jesus' parents had no choice. It didn't matter that Mary was ultra-preggers -- they had to get to Joseph's hometown for a census. And, of course, Jesus is born in a stable -- not the most hospitable structure. Sort of like a church basement.

This is how the majority of the world lives. Most of us don't call the shots. We're not in charge. A few people make decisions that affect a whole bunch of people. It's always been this way.

We're seeing this right now. The Venezuelan asylum-seekers living in our building aren't debating supply-side economics, and the volunteers are not sitting around analyzing foreign affairs. Everyone's just working to make the best of a bad situation.

(So when two guests ask you to take photos next to a Harley-Davidson, that's what you do.)

When the Church gets power it ends up looking a lot more like Caesar than Christ. Our place is not in the halls of power. It's with the millions of courageous people looking for the same thing Mary and Joseph were looking for -- home.

But where's God in it all? If God is in the upper echelons, then I'm an atheist, because I don't see God there. But the Christmas story explains what I’m seeing: God is the basement.

Pastor Eddy