Should We Be Doing This?

Good Monday morning! Sorry, but it is Monday; I cannot deny it. The final week before the Christmas holiday is upon us, and even the most grinchy may want to sing songs of joy and gladness. But should we be doing this in light of recent events across the nation? Some may feel uncomfortable singing Christmas carols or wishing a happy Christmas to another. We can postpone Christmas, but that doesn't answer the question. I have another question for us: Why didn't God warn the parents to flee as He did with Joseph and Mary?

You recall the Christmas story of the flight to Egypt when Joseph was warned in a dream to hit the road with the Christ child. We are very glad that God did send His angel, but why no warning for the other children in that tale? Every life is valuable to God, yet Herod was allowed to carry out his murderous plan. How can we reconcile a life valuable to God with murder? A couple of ways, I think.

For one, murder is in the law under the thou-shalt-nots. The very statement indicates a choice. If God denied every murder by stopping it at the last moment, there would be no need for the law. Hold it...just hold everything! Jesus also said that we can be guilty of murder without actually carrying out the act. Therefore, it seems that God could stop every act of murder and still convict under His law. Good point, but if everyone knew that no act of murder could actually be carried out, is that a real choice? Freedom to act on sinful thoughts may be essential to that freedom to choose we have in this life.

Another point to consider is that God sees all of life, not just the small part we see here today. I believe the children from Bethlehem that Herod had murdered and the children from Newtown murdered last week are with God in Heaven. Their life has not ended. We see only the funerals and the pain, but there is more to the story.

Finally, we should celebrate Christmas, because God loves us and sent His Son to die for us. God lost a child too on the cross outside Jerusalem. God's Son was born and died so that we might be with those we have lost in this life. God's promise came when Jesus rose again, assuring us that this death we see here is not the final chapter of the story. God can raise up great things from terrible tragedy. We are sad because the great things are difficult or even impossible for us to see right now. Faith tells us that God has something better in His plan, but it must come after we endure the trials of this life.

Bucky