The anger and frustration is everywhere. You can’t open your web browser, look at a newspaper or talk to someone in a coffee shop without feeling it. Whether we are looking at our contemporary political climate, or the much-needed examination of cultural misogyny or the aggression that comes from professional athletes protesting contemporary forms of injustice, today’s news leads are not for the faint of heart. These are tense and highly-charged times.
But wait. At the very same time, it’s the Christmas season. We hear the familiar bells ringing outside stores and on street corners. We see people wearing red and green, not to mention the hilarious ugly sweaters. We find ourselves enjoying more parties and events than normal. And of course, we enjoy the jolly impersonation of the guy with the big white beard at the mall, even as virtually everything goes on sale. “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” At least what the song says.
So how do these two paradoxical realities coexist? How do we reconcile both the sadness and disillusionment of our contemporary society with the merriment and joy of the holidays? It might seem difficult at first glance. But we often forget the Bible’s account of Christmas tells the same story, a story that tells us how beauty can exist in the middle of our most trying times.
Jesus was born at a time of incredible civil, social and political unrest. The Roman Empire had assumed global power from the Greeks, and modern-day Israel was in a continual state of upheaval. The Jewish people were in conflict with the Romans and with each other. There were all kinds of political wranglings, social upheaval over how people should live in the new era, and cultural clashes between people from differing faith traditions. So even though some of the details have changed, the big ideas today remain the same as in Jesus’ day.
In the midst of their turmoil, something beautiful was happening. A young virgin was pregnant with the long-awaited Deliverer of the Jewish people. Very few people knew her, and even less knew that she was expecting a child, conceived by the Holy Spirit. Even though the world was about to change forever, strife and sadness was everywhere.
Then, right before Jesus was due to be born, the ruler of the Roman Empire decided to take inventory of his kingdom. He created more upheaval than anyone could have imagined when he asked everyone to return to their birth cities and report in for a kingdom-wide census. Even though Mary was almost at her due date, she had to travel some seventy miles on the back of an animal, from Nazareth (where she lived) to Bethlehem (where Jesus was foretold to be born). Talk about issues and frustration! On top of everything they were already experiencing, can you imagine the rumblings throughout ancient Israel when they heard about this new hardship?
Things went from bad to worse when they arrived in Nazareth and found every available room was taken. So Mary ended up giving birth to Jesus in what we would think of as a stable, where farm animals were kept.
Then Jesus was born. And God let more people in on the secret: Something beautiful was bubbling up. First it was a few wise men from the East. Then a bunch of shepherds in a field. Then an elderly widow and a gentlemen. None of them were very importance to their society, but they were brought in on something extraordinary that the world would only found out about later.
What does that part of the Christmas story teach us? Right where you are, there are some beautiful things transpiring. Things that only God can do. Simple acts of common people, loving and serving each other. Faithful followers listening to God’s voice and responding to his invitation to step into his story. That is the message of Christmas in our culture in 2017. The Bible tells us, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever would believe in him would have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Because of God’s love, He gave.
In the middle of a season filled with strife and sorrow, we can give like God gave. We can find ways to do small the things with self-sacrificial love. No, it won’t make the news. No one but a few may notice it. But you know what? It matters. In a world full of struggle and sadness, let’s sow a little beauty into our generation this Christmas.
Daniel Fusco is the pastor of Crossroads Community Church in Vancouver, Washington. His devotionals, books and messages can be accessed at danielfusco.com at crossroadschurch.net.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of The Daily Caller.