Scripture: Luke 2:1-2
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.
Thought for the Day: Many have leveled the complaint that Christianity is too far removed from the realities of most people. They say that Christianity is not relevant, and it does not speak to the issues of our modern world. In many ways, I believe those accusations have merit, but not because the Christian message is irrelevant…only because we have made it irrelevant. The Gospel of Luke places the story of Jesus smack-dab in the middle of 1st century day-to-day life. The birth story not only has a pertinent context for the original audience of the Gospel, but the story is truth being spoken to the power of the day. As long as we can stop derailing the Jesus-message with all kinds of peripheral and inconsequential issues, we will find the Jesus-message (from birth to death to resurrection to Kingdom-living) speaking clearly on the issues of poverty, exploitation, violence, war, fear, addiction, hopelessness, hatred and the list goes on. The Jesus-message is not irrelevant, but I would suggest that Christians have too often made it that way to diminish the true challenge of discipleship. We blame the culture, but there is a lot of ownership we need to accept in our exile to irrelevance.
Prayer: When I declare the Good News of Christ’s birth this Christmas season, may I see you, O Gift of Grace, being born into the very specific circumstance that is this December of 2014. Amen.
MEN’S GROUPS
Meeting Tonight
at
the Cramer Retreat Center
(1800 Meadow Edge Lane)
7:00pm
A Simple Dinner will be served
