December 15: ENCHANTED BUT UNCHANGED

One of the great memories that Fay and I treasure goes back to 1961. It was the first time we took our children to visit the Christmas display at Thalhimer’s Department Store in Richmond, Virginia. It was so beautiful and un-real, breathtaking. Adults and kids alike were spell-bound by the beauty. It was truly a fantasy land! We visited that place every year until we moved. As I think of it now, I think of the fantasy of Christmas that we experience during these days. We are still enchanted by Christmas in America, but we are not changed by it.
There certainly is an enchantment with the life of Christ. We view the account of the birth of Christ as a wonderful Fairy Tale! The Manger is not the point; the point is the Incarnation of God coming into the world. When the story of Christ is told it reminds some Americans of a success story like the poor Abraham Lincoln making it all the way to the White House. We are astonished at the early years of Christ, wonder at His silent years, glory in His active years, shudder at His death, and thrill at His resurrection. We are amazed at Jesus the Miracle worker: turning water into wine, calming the sea, feeding 5,000 people, and walking on water. We are amazed that He could do so much, of course we believe in Him!
In the same way we Americans are enchanted by Christianity. Starting with twelve men and now covering the whole world. The Church grows in spite of opposition or because of it. We say “the blood of the martyrs is the strength of the church”. We point with pride to the fact that every little community has at least one church. The church is voluntary in America, no one is forced to be a Christian. Indeed, how Jesus has changed this country and the whole world is heart-grabbing.
But if we are unchanged in heart, what good will this fascination with the baby Jesus do to us? Just taking a passing glance at the birth of Christianity is condemnation of our cult of bigness, success, outward appearance, materialism and plenty. He was born in a stable, laid in a manger, died on a cross, and was buried in a borrowed tomb. Enchanting? I agree! But has your life been changed by Jesus?

“As we entertain our guests these next few weeks, Loving God, help us
to present to them The Prince of Peace and not just pretty gifts. Amen”