What Andy Stanley Might Have Written, If He Were a Believer. From Introduction to the Christian Faith

Introduction to the Christian Faith is available
as a printed book or as a Kindle e-book.

Andy Stanley, Church Growth snake-oil salesman, is not concerned about whether the Scriptures are telling the truth about the Virgin Birth.

 

 The Virgin Birth began with the Promise of the Messiah,
Genesis 3:15.

One: The Virgin Birth

 Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary. Few sentences have had such an impact upon human history as this one statement – that God became man and was born of a virgin. History changed at that moment, fulfilling what was promised at the beginning of time. When Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden of Eden for violating the Word of God, at the depth of their shame and sorrow, God promised them a Savior. In cursing Satan, God gave mankind the First Gospel:

Genesis 3:15

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

The prophesy meant that the Savior (her seed) would crush Satan (thy seed), that Satan would injure Him. When Satan led his forces in crucifying Christ, the innocent Lamb of God, the Savior Jesus crushed sin, death, and Satan.

 Because Adam and Eve sinned against God’s Word, their children inherited and passed on what we call original sin. The term original sin means that all our actions, words, and thoughts are tainted by selfishness, self-centeredness, greed, and lust. Mankind has recorded many noble thoughts and wise advice, but human history is a vast record of shame, murder, and folly. We can hardly deny original sin when we realize how often we fail to keep our promises, violate our own principles, and rebel against God’s commands, even when we know that God commands what is good for us.

The Virgin Mary had a baby. That had to be the greatest miracle in God’s Creation. God became man. That does not mean that God turned into an ordinary human being. Nor does it mean that someone decided that an ordinary person was God. The baby Jesus was both God and man. He is still both God and man. Once He took on our human nature, He never gave it up. When we study the Gospels, we can see that Jesus is one Person with two natures united in Him. The two natures are divine and human. 

God decided the time and place for the birth of the Messiah. He sent the angel Gabriel to tell a young maiden that she would give birth to the Savior of the world.

Luke 1:30-33

1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Mary wondered how this could be, since she was a virgin. The angel told her that the Holy Spirit would overshadow her and conceive the Savior. The Christian Church calls the Virgin Mary the Mother of God because the Son of God took on human flesh in her womb, uniting His divinity with her humanity. 

           Mary was betrothed to Joseph but they were not yet living together. The Jewish custom was just the opposite of ours today. At that time couples were betrothed in a religious ceremony but waited for a period of time before they began living together in the same household. Now couples move into the same household and wait several years—and often several children—before getting married. 

 Mary’s condition caused severe embarrassment for Joseph. He knew that he could not be the father of her child. He resolved to divorce Mary quietly. Anyone can imagine how both of them must have felt. However, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and revealed to him that the child would be the promised Savior.

Matthew 1:20-22

1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Matthew revealed that this was taking place to fulfill the Old Testament promises.

22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

The unity of God’s plan and purpose becomes clearer when we consider that the First Gospel of Genesis 3:15, the Virgin Birth prophecy of Isaiah 7:14, and the birth of Jesus are all in harmony, in spite of various human authors, enormous stretches of time, and different languages. 

           The prediction of the Virgin Birth of Jesus came about in a strange way. God used an evil Jewish king to proclaim the certainty of His greatest miracle. King Ahaz promoted idol worship, so he did not deserve to hear such good news. But God offered him the chance to request a miracle, either in heaven or on earth. Ahaz could have asked to be delivered from his enemies, but he trusted in his own schemes and refused a direct command from God: “Ask for a sign.” When Ahaz proudly refused a miracle, the prophet said, “You will receive a miracle anyway.” The miracle was:

Isaiah 7:14

Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

We can see that God revealed His will in separate predictions. 

1.        The Savior will be born of a woman (Genesis 3:15), “the seed of a woman.”

2.        The woman will be a virgin (Isaiah 7:14) and the child will be “God with us,” Emmanuel.

3.        The woman will be Mary (Matthew, Luke) and the child will be named Jesus –”Salvation.”

 The promise of a Savior being born should have earned Joseph and Mary many favors and blessings, but first they experienced great difficulties. The Roman government ordered a census, so Joseph and Mary had to travel uphill from Galilee to reach Bethlehem. Many Christmas cards show Mary sitting gracefully on a donkey, but the Bible does not have any record of an animal carrying her. Most likely Mary trudged uphill on foot for that long journey. She was about to give birth, hoping for some relief when she and Joseph reached Bethlehem.

 Every mother wants to have the best for her newborn baby, especially the first child. Joseph and Mary might have expected to stay with relatives, or barring that, at an inn. But the crowd was so great that they were forced to stay with the animals in the stable near the inn. The Gospel of Luke describes this touching scene in a few words:

Luke 2:7

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

A manger seems so pleasant, dry, and clean, because people recreate the scene with a wooden box and some dry straw every Christmas. However, no parents today would put their newborn baby in a feeding trough, the actual meaning of manger. 

Princes, scholars, and noblemen should have come to the stable to see the newborn Savior. A new pizza parlor enjoys more publicity today than the newborn Savior received. However, God chose to tell shepherds about the birth.

Luke 2:8-15

2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

The wisdom of God unfolds when we consider how tenderly the Savior comes to us. Born into poverty in the humblest circumstances, Jesus does not intimidate anyone. Instead, people are drawn to Him, especially when they hear about the circumstances of His birth. Although the angels might have directed the scholars and the rulers to see Jesus, the messengers of God revealed His grace and glory to working men, who rejoiced to see their promised Messiah on his earthy throne, surrounded by animals rather than nobles.

The hardships did not stop when Jesus was born. Wisemen from the East came looking for the Savior, after following the Star of Bethlehem. Pretending to love the Savior, Herod asked the wisemen questions because he feared this newborn king. The wisemen presented gifts to Jesus but did not return to Herod. Nevertheless, Herod sought to eliminate his rival by killing all the boys less than two years of age. God warned Joseph to leave, so the family went into exile in Egypt, returning later to Galilee.

Silent Night! Holy Night!

Silent night! Holy night!

All is calm, all is bright,

Round yon Virgin Mother and Child,

Holy Infant, so tender and mild,

Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night! Holy night!

Son of God, love’s pure light

Radiant beams from Thy holy face,

With the dawn of redeeming grace,

Jesus, Lord at Thy birth,

Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.^[1]

---

[1] Joseph Mohr, “Silent Night! Holy Night!” The Lutheran Hymnal, #646.

 Babtist Andy Stanley posed with one of the eight WELS disciples
there to worship with him at Drive 2008 - Ski, now enjoying
his fourth district in four calls.

Let's Hope the LCMS-WELS-ELS Leaders Live To Be 90 or Older. Let Them Face the Same Punishment as the ELCA Founders

 The apostasy of Andy Stanley is endorsed and financially supported by these so-called conservative Lutherans. Has anyone been disciplined for attending conferences by Stanley,
Groeschel, Rick Warren, Exponential, 
Willow Creek, or Trinity Divinity? 
Conservative clergy get promoted for attending Fuller Seminary and becoming ardent Fulleroids.

The Christmas story about Andy Stanley being indifferent about the Virgin Birth should alert people. People should be alarmed by the inevitable drag of Church Growth gurus into rationalistic denial of the mysteries of the Christian Faith.

The marketing of the Gospel - called Church Growth - is by itself a mark of the unbelief of its leaders and the leaders of Lutherdom - ELCA included. They trust in statistics, popcorn, and pop music because they do not trust in the efficacy of the Word.

 "Listen up, Brett. I got gay ordination and gay marriage passed in ELCA, but a feminist tossed me out of office.
Their time is coming."

LCA Bishop James Crumley lived to be 90, continuing in deep regret about the ELCA merger he helped to negotiate - LCA-ALC-Seminex.

LCA Bishop James Crumley, a kindly but misdirected man,
with Chris Jackson aka Mrs. Ichabod, who saw the LCA
move from a mildly pro-life position to total radicalism.

James Crumley, LCA Leader
From 1987 to 2015, Crumley saw ELCA repudiate liberal Lutheran principles in favor of complete radicalism. Of course, he paved the way with his various progressive agenda items, which included quotas for LCA leadership groups and The Lutheran magazine. He had almost three decades to watch ELCA look upon the LCA and ALC with disgust, making "former denominational leader" a curse-word among the Leftists who took over ELCA because the previous leaders made that possible.

 Jack Preus is on the far left (for once), cousin David Preus, ALC President, on the far right (for once). Robert Marshall, LCA president, is standing next to David Preus. I met all three men.
The Preus family is linked here.

David Preus, ALC Leader
David Preus is roughly 90 years old and still alive. He was said to be a bit jealous of Crumley involved in Roman Catholic talks, so he jumped into joint communion with the Reformed. Wartburg Seminary (ALC) faculty conducted a joint Holy Communion service with the nearby Reformed seminary faculty, repudiating the significant differences between the two confessions:

• The Real Presence of Christ in Holy Communion
• The efficacy of the Word in consecrating the elements
• Forgiveness of sin accomplished through the Means of Grace, the Word and Sacraments
• Opposition to communion with those who hold to false doctrine

 I wrote to him about his favoring Lutheran-Reformed communion, and he wrote back a personal letter mocking the Real Presence, those differences being not really that important.

That mocking response not only reminds me of Andy Stanley on the Virgin Birth, but also a conversation I had with the second wife of a high school classmate. She boasted of attending a Disciples/Unitarian seminary. I asked, "How can they tell the difference?"

I asked her about the Virgin Birth and the actual Resurrection of Christ. She was dismissive about the topic and said, "Those doctrines are not really important." She did not believe in either one and yet would graduate as a Disciples of Christ minister.

David Preus was just as guilty as James Crumley in laying the radical foundation of ELCA. His denomination started the gay lobby that took over ELCA and controlled the quotas and appointments.

According to various sources, David Preus began opposing the ELCA trends as the New Lutheran Church was being formed. Both men were ignored completely as old has-beens. Others who stuck out their chests for being liberal earlier were mocked and ignored for being fuddy-duddies of the old era.

As I told one LCA bishop, "Lie down with dawgs, git up with fleas." He said, "We have a lot of fleas." I agreed with him.

 Olson is a pain in the neck who got a drive-by DMin
from Fuller Seminary, earning him the Fulleroid designation.

 Pete Wagner got it right,
but he made a fortune from selling his admittedly
fake science. ELCA, Missouri, WELS, the ELS, and others
bought his snake oil at My Sin prices.

So - Matt the Fat, Mirthless Mark, and Pope John the Malefactor - I wish you long years so you can look upon the disasters you have created by always backing false doctrine and punishing anyone who actually studied the Scriptures and Confessions.

I do not wish you any bad health - just the opposite. The longer you live, the worse it will be and the longer you will spend in a living Purgatory of regret, remorse, and recrimination.

And this is the final irony for Matt the Fat, whose secretive work with Paul the Plagiarist made things even worse for the LCMS -

The threat of expelling pastors for discussing LCMS doctrine and practice without permission from His Holiness would have prevented Matthew Harrison Hisself, failed doctoral candidate from ever becoming the Synod President.

Yes, that is so funny, because the entire campaign for Matt the Fat was focused on how horrible SP Kieschnick was. I still get comments back from LCMS pastors - Kieschnick was no theologian, but Harrison is. In fact, Harrison is a hot-air merchant, just like Paul McCain:

• Overpaid
• Overfed, but
• Underemployed.

Favorite Church Growth Bag of Wind - Andy Stanley - WELS Icon Megachurch pastor says Christianity doesn’t hinge on Jesus’ birth, and a debate rages | The State

Megachurch pastor says Christianity doesn’t hinge on Jesus’ birth, and a debate rages | The State:

Apostates love to preach in their dirty, wrinkled jeans
and get selfies with floozies.

"BY KATE SHELLNUTT, THE WASHINGTON
The pastor of one of America’s largest megachurches stirred up Christmas controversy after preaching that the story of Jesus’ virgin birth is not crucial to the Christian faith.

“If somebody can predict their own death and resurrection, I’m not all that concerned about how they got into the world,” Andy Stanley said in a Dec. 4 sermon at North Point Community Church, which draws 36,000 attendees across six locations in suburban Atlanta. “Christianity doesn’t hinge on the truth or even the stories around the birth of Jesus. It hinges on the resurrection of Jesus.”

In the days leading up to Christmas, fellow Christians defended the significance of the virgin birth. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Al Mohler addressed Stanley’s remarks about the Virgin Mary on his podcast, saying: “If Jesus was not born of the virgin then the Bible cannot be trusted when it comes to telling us the story of Jesus, and that mistrust cannot be limited to how he came to us in terms of the incarnation. The fact is that biblical Christianity and ultimately the Gospel of Christ cannot survive the denial of the virgin birth. Because without the virgin birth, you end up with a very different Jesus than the fully human, fully divine savior revealed in scripture.”

The Baptist Press wrote that Stanley “doesn’t have a problem” with the people who doubt the biblical Christmas story. In his sermon, Stanley acknowledged that some people dispute the miracle of the virgin birth as a later addition or because it does not appear in two of the Gospel accounts, those of Mark and John.

“I am often misunderstood because of my communication style. I frequently verbalize what I know unbelievers and those who have left the church believe, assume or remember a college professor saying,” Stanley said in a response Friday to The Washington Post.

[GJ - Here's a hint, Andy old boy. One can voice those doubts and then address them with the Word. That is called Apologetics or a defense of the Word. "Always be ready to defend the hope that is within you," as Peter said. And yet WELS adores this gasbag and worships with him.]

Some of the common arguments against the virgin birth he referenced in his sermon were raised by Nicholas Kristof on Friday as he interviewed New York pastor Tim Keller in his latest New York Times column. Kristof has questioned this particular Christian teaching in his writing since at least 2003 (and Mohler has faithfully come to its defense)."

  So-called worship at Andy Stanley's Northpoint
Stealth Babtist Congregation.
Ski, Glende, and Parlow worshiped here.

'via Blog this'

Christmas Day Holy Communion. The Divinity of Christ

The Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord, 2016

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Time

The Hymn #647                O Little Town of Bethlehem
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual 
The Gospel 
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #657     Beautiful Savior

Jesus Son of God

The Hymn # 646                       Silent Night 
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #341                      Crown Him with Many Crowns

 Art by Norma Boeckler

CHRISTMAS

Lord God, heavenly Father, we give thanks unto Thee, that of Thy mercy and compassion Thou didst suffer Thy dear Son to become incarnate, and didst through Him redeem us from sin and everlasting death: We beseech Thee, enlighten our hearts by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may ever be thankful for such grace, and comfort ourselves with the same in all tribulation and temptation, and at last obtain eternal salvation through the same, Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Readings

KJV Isaiah 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. 3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4 For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. 5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

 By Norma Boeckler

KJV Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 

Jesus Son of God

Luke 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

 Luther identified the three attacks on Christianity as:

1. Against the humanity of Christ 
2. Against the divinity of Christ
3. Against Justification by Faith.

When the Two Natures in Christ are questioned, Justification by Faith is also warped. When cultists come to the door, I usually ask them about the Two Natures in Christ (the name of Martin Chemnitz famous book). The hackles rise up immediately. As James says, they believe but their hides bristle. They know the power of God but reject His Word, like the demons.

The divinity of Christ can hardly be denied from the Scriptures, so the Messianic passages are rejected outright by the liberals. This has been going on in the LCMS for almost 100 years. They love their almost-ELCA factions and the Lutheran ones know it is best to keep a low profile.

Ditto in WELS/ELS - When a professor denied a basic prophesy central to the entire Bible, taking Calvin's position, it was not a problem for the leaders.

The two Isaiah prophesies associated with Christmas clearly identify the Two Natures in Christ, with a stunning claim about the Messiah - He is God.

That makes more sense when we consider Jewish reverence for God, even the name God. I find Jewish writers using "G_d" in public because they are trained not to use God's Name. They often use the Hebrew term for The Name - Ha Shem. In Job, his wife does not say "curse God and die" because that is blasphemy. It is changed in Hebrew to "bless God and die" with the understanding that curse is meant.

Isaiah 7:14 should be read with in the context of this:

Isaiah 7:14King James Version (KJV)

14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

First of all, a child is born of a woman, but as the greatest possible miracle - born of a Virgin. He will be born, like all humans, but He will be called God - God with us.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Likewise, in Isaiah 9:6. the Messiah is a newly born child, who is not only called The Mighty God, but also The Everlasting Father. This always perplexes the cults, and some of them make the Father and Son identical. Others make the Holy Spirit (alone) the only true God. There is much talk about the Bible but little comprehension of it.

When we hear the Son of God speak in any part of the Bible, He is the voice of God the Father at the same time. There is no contradiction or difference between the two. 

This is very important in understanding the nature of God. For those who only imagine the wrath and power of God, the Almighty is angry, vengeful, and vindictive. The Bible scares them, or so they say, and they hate the Word of God. 

But John 1 clearly says that Jesus is the Interpreter of God. He is in the bosom of the Father and explains the Father's nature to us. When we consider the divine Son of God in the cradle, in the humblest surroundings, we can see that wants to draw all people to Him through Christ.

Jesus in the manger reveals God's compassion, which is expressed so many ways in the Old and New Testaments.

• Jesus is the Good Shepherd in John 10, Isaiah 40, and Psalm 23.
• The cross is proof of God's love for all of mankind - For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son...
• This Atonement is foretold in the binding of Isaac, another only son, so we can grasp, as human parents, which giving the Son means.
• The grass dies, the flowers fade, but the Word of God remains forever. When we see Jacob wresting the Angel of the Lord, that is like a moment's away from the ministry of Christ. For Jacob called the place Peniel - Gensis 32:30 
  And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. Israel - struggles with God. Peniel - the face of God. An angel, or the Son of God before His Incarnation?

So the birth of Jesus was the humblest possible, and yet it was announced in the most glorious way and accompanied by a special star, the Star of Bethlehem.

Where man might doubt, God supplies His great signs and wonders, unique to Him, so that faith might be planted and grow into each generation.

Look at how poetic the angelic message is:

Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, 

Fear not: for, behold, 

I bring you good tidings of great joy, 

which shall be to all people. 1

1 For unto you is born this day

 in the city of David a Saviour, 

which is Christ the Lord. 

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; 

Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 

lying in a manger.

So much can be said about each phrase. God always banishes fear with the Words of faith. Do not be afraid - why? Because you are going to see the long-promised Messiah, a baby wrapping in cloths and lying in a feeding trough.

Loss of income creates fear, especially when it happens in the midst of economic turmoil. I know that feeling. Being a Boomer is like the guy in the movies - running across the bridge as it tumbles into the vast gorge beneath. 

There is also the fear of shunning and banishment for departing from the status quo in religion. As many have observed about this management society, the key is keeping everything running smoothly, and people are judged accordingly. Nevermind that we admire the Founders who faced hanging for wanting to be free - and many were executed. Ignore the outcome of the Reformation, where Christian martyrs were exiled, thrown into dungeons, and burned at the stake.

What seems to be God-pleasing also stirs up fear in our hearts, because we know from the loud voice of the Old Adam what will happen. If we are innocent about the reaction, we find out soon enough. I thought the Christian Church would like a well educated person who defended the Word of God. After all, only those backwoods Fundamentalists believed in Creation and loathed Barth, Tillich, and the other hot air merchants. But no, as Luther observed so well. nothing is God-pleasing unless it is persecuted, especially by the great and wise in the visible Church.

What harm could a baby born of paupers do? Herod did not seek to kill a baby, but to kill the threat to his bogus throne, which belonged to the Son of David. Like all unbelievers, Herod was obsessed with himself, his future, his comforts, and the power that gave him that false sense of security.  Therefore he struck out against all the suspect babies who were threats to his throne, using the Wise Men as his intelligent agents and the Hebrew scholars as his CIA/NSA.  For all his power, he was still nothing, and the Infant Messiah prevailed over him and the Roman Empire, eventually replacing the pagan Emperor with a Christian one, in Constantinople, which preserved Christianity and its treasures for 1100 years.

We are fortunate that we can see this vast scope of history and how the Word has prevailed against many empires. And this shows us how great the Messiah is, how compassionate He is toward us, always seeking to keep us in the flock, in His Kingdom.

Christmas Eve Carol Service, 7 PM Central Time, 2016. Christmas Day Will Be the Holy Communion Service at 10 AM

The Nativity by Norma Boeckler

• Norma Boeckler has a Christmas birthday - December 22nd.
• Carl and Lynda Roper celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this year.

Christmas Readings and Hymns

Bethany Lutheran Church

Christmas Eve Service, 7 PM Central Time, 2016.

Springdale, Arkansas

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

Hymn #81         O Jesus Christ, Thy Manger Is

The First Gospel
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

KJV Isaiah 40:1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins. 3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. 6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: 7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. 8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. 9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!

The Place of Jesus’ Birth
KJV Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Hymn# 102                   O Come All Ye Faithful

KJV Isaiah 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Virgin Birth
KJV Isaiah 7:10 Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying, 11 Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. 12 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD. 13 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. 16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.

Incarnation
KJV Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Hymn#109              While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

KJV Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.


Sermon –  



Luke’s Account
KJV Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

The Angels' Song

KJV Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.  2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 

Luther:
1. It is written in Haggai 2:6-7, that God says: “I will shake the heavens; and the precious things of all nations shall come.” This is fulfilled today, for the heavens were shaken, that is, the angels in the heavens sang praises to God. And the earth was shaken, that is, the people on the earth were agitated; one journeying to this city, another to that throughout the whole land, as the Gospel tells us. It was not a violent, bloody uprising, but rather a peaceable one awakened by God who is the God of peace.

The Virgin birth of Jesus is a great proclamation, where God became man and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. His divine nature is often denied by the scoffers, which makes people a little wary of emphasizing His human nature. Nothing illustrates this more than His birth.

Joseph and Mary had to be obedient to the Roman Empire for Jesus to be born in Bethlehem, which has two names - House of Bread, and Fruitful. The name Bread reminds us of Jesus being the Bread of Life, and the manna coming down from Heaven. It all goes together.

When Moses asked for food for the Israelites, God gave them manna - bread from Heaven - feed them and keep them alive. Jesus called Himself the Bread of Life.

If Joseph and Mary had disobeyed the government, or events had turned out differently, the Bethlehem prophesy would have be wrong. But it was not.

The journey they took was difficult, far more than we imagine, because Mary was close to term and walking uphill. If they had a beast of burden, that would have helped, but the fruit trees did not bow down to feed her, as the Roman Catholic myths claim. 

The entire emphasis is upon the way God works among the humble, to shame the great, powerful, and wise, who gain all their glory on earth.

Even today, people wonder, "Why does no one notice what is being done in quiet humility to glorify God?" That is the way it was and always will be. People appreciate what matters least in the long run. They glorify the fleeting, the material, the temporary. They ignore the eternal.

But this paradox, a seeming contradiction, is shown us with the birth of Jesus so that we see -  it was that way then and will always be, so that fact encourages us to realize that God knows all and rewards in secret. Often His greatest rewards and miracles go without being noticed at all by unbelievers, scoffers, and apostates - that is their punishment.

Every year I see a post about thanking the people who are working on Christmas:

• Police
• Doctors
• Nurses
• Firemen
• Emergency personnel
• The military.

That list is completely true, and we all appreciate that - or should. But what is missing? Who is working 100% on Christmas, not swapping vacations or getting substitutes? The Gospel ministers. I find that hilariously ironic that at Christmas so many secular job holders are praised and nothing is said for the labor involved in getting the Advent and Christmas services organized, with children's programs and everything else. The word itself means "Holy Communion Service for Christ" - Christ-mass. (I do not like the term mass, even though Luther used it. Too many Lutherans want to sinuflect to Rome, starting with calling themselves "Father" and emerging in clouds of incense.)

Why is everyone noticing this and writing rather sad posts about the sacrifices? - Because people party at Christmas, take vacations, and do not pack the houses of worship for Christmas even while praising sacrifices for Christmas.

 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 

For this to happen, all of world history had to form the events making the prophesies come true:

We should not overlook the frequent title of Jesus - Son of David, which was the same as saying Messiah, Anointed-with-Oil King, or Christ, the Greek version of the same title.

David's Kingdom came upglued after Solomon and began a long decline, which included the long Babylonian Exile and the Return.

When Alexander the Great rose about 300 BC, his conquests included Israel in the trophies collected.

When the Maccabeean Revolt took back Israel for the Jews in 165 BC, many rejoiced and treated Judas Maccabeus as the Messiah, the Son of David. But that did not last.

By 60 BC, the Roman Empire was asked to be peacekeepers in Israel, which led to Herod, the non-Jew becoming the the head of the shattered, battered remnant state of Israel. The prophesy was fulfilled, the throne had departed  from the House of David. The Messiah would come. The Star would appear.

So when we read about that little shepherd boy David, coming from Bethlehem, I ask children, "Why does that matter?" Because Jesus was born in that tiny town, due to David being from that town. And that fulfilled the Old Testament Promises, but far beyond what the people expected.

Luther:
8. The Evangelist shows how, when they arrived at Bethlehem, they were the most insignificant and despised, so that they had to make way for others until they were obliged to take refuge in a stable, to share with the cattle, lodging, table, bed chamber and bed, while many a wicked man sat at the head in the hotels and was honored as lord. No one noticed or was conscious of what God was doing in that stable. He lets the large houses and costly apartments remain empty, lets their inhabitants eat, drink and be merry; but this comfort and treasure are hidden from them. O what a dark night this was for Bethlehem, that was not conscious of that glorious light!

See how God shows that he utterly disregards what the world is, has or desires; and furthermore, that the world shows how little it knows or notices what God is, has and does.

9. See, this is the first picture with which Christ puts the world to shame and exposes all it does and knows. It shows that the world’s greatest wisdom is foolishness, her best actions are wrong and her greatest treasures are misfortunes. What had Bethlehem when it did not have Christ? What have they now who at that time had enough? What do Joseph and Mary lack now, although at that time they had no room to sleep comfortably?


Luther:
11. But the birth itself is still more pitiful. There was no one to take pity on this young wife who was for the first time to give birth to a child; no one to take to heart her condition that she, a stranger, did not have the least thing a mother needs in a birth-night. There she is without any preparation, without either light or fire, alone in the darkness, without any one offering her service as is customary for women to do at such times. Every thing is in commotion in the inn, there is a swarming of guests from all parts of the country, no one thinks of this poor woman. It is also possible that she did not expect the event so soon, else she would probably have remained at Nazareth.

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

I remember a New Testament "scholar," a rationalist, saying, "There is no record of a tax." In fact, many of the problems associated with this have been addressed. One is the loss of 99% of all ancient history - and we should be grateful for that! Beyond that point, there are many special taxations and tributes mentioned at that time. Many times people get stuck on names, because people have more than one name, or on other facts.

Scoffers never mention that every single detail where we have a historical record is 100% in agreement with the Word of God. Luther sensed that long ago. Centuries of archaeology have shown him to have been correct. The Bible judges all books.

Jesus was born with more neglect than any of us can imagine. We are used to hospitals, doulas, midwives, painkillers, special rooms and clothes, attendants, helpers, prepared food.

But this birth was special. Jesus was born without sin. The Immaculate Concept applies to Mary - not Jesus - as most know. The Immaculate Conception was part of the Mary mythology that developed in the Middle Ages.

The Virgin Birth is Biblical, and the Two Natures in Christ mean that Jesus could be tempted and could sin, but did not sin because of His divine nature and will.

We are born with sinful natures, which reveal themselves at all times. We want the bigger piece of pie, the greater praise, the better life, whatever suits us at the time. That Old Adam is tamed but never conquered as long as we live. As Luther said, we live - always repentant, always forgiven through faith.

Jesus' birth swallows up ours, as Luther says, so His birth becomes ours. Whatever blessings we have come through Him - from the forgiveness of sin to eternal life, and all the fruits of the Gospel in our lives.



Luther:

38. In the third place, it is shown by the light that shined around the shepherds, which teaches that here there must be an entirely different light than that of human reason. Moreover, when St. Luke says, Gloria Dei, the glory of God, shone around them, he calls that light a brightness, or the glory of God. Why does he say that? In order to call attention to the mystery and reveal the character of the Gospel. For while the Gospel is a heavenly light that teaches nothing more than Christ, in whom God’s grace is given to us and all human merit is entirely cast aside, it exalts only the glory of God, so that henceforth no one may be able to boast of his own power; but must give God the glory, that it is of his love and goodness alone that we are saved through Christ.

See, the divine honor, the divine glory, is the light in the Gospel, which shines around us from heaven through the apostles and their followers who preach the Gospel. The angel here was in the place of all the preachers of the Gospel, and the shepherds in the place of all the hearers, as we shall see. For this reason the Gospel can tolerate no other teaching besides its own; for the teaching of men is earthly light and human glory; it exalt the honor and praise of men, and makes souls to glory in their own works; while the Gospel glories in Christ, in God’s grace and goodness, and teaches us to boast of and confide in Christ.


Hymn # 646                                     Silent Night

Heavenly Host
Luke 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

The Prayers and Benediction


Hymns # 87                              Joy to the World