A REMINDER WE NEED MORE THAN ONCE PER YEAR...

Each year, Christmas reminds us of the grand concept of God wrapped in human flesh. That's good. But Christmas also reminds us just how little so much of "Christianity" tends to look like Christ... That's not so good.

In Christmas, we see God's "style" on display. In examining the incarnation, we look into the manger and behold the baby staring back at us: Born to an unwed mother and destined to be spoken of as a "bastard" throughout his childhood... Born to an adoptive father of no reputation, wealth,  or social status... Born unassumingly, without pretense, pomp or circumstance, or even a real dwelling place fitting of a human infant... Born amidst the heightened societal agitation of an oppressive government's enforced census... Born with a birth announcement that went out to filthy, outcast, not-fit-for-temple-worship shepherds - the kind of people parents told their kids not to speak to or associate with.

This same Jesus went on to be visited by pagan astrologers from the east rather than any of the respected religious hierarchy already in Israel. This same Jesus took part in some form of illegal immigration, in the escape his family made to Egypt when he was just a toddler.
 
This is the Jesus who challenged the religious, even denounced them, while keeping closest company with rejects, whores, thieves and terrorists. This is the Jesus who celebrated the spirituality of gentiles, Samaritans, Romans, and others who were not of the "correct" national origins or religious affiliations... The Jesus who heralded a kingdom "not of this world" and yet breaking down its door just the same... The Jesus who never sought to take up power for himself, and who even discouraged people from following him if they weren't ready to live a radically different way of life... The Jesus who maintained nonviolence as a standard for himself and those who would seek to follow him... Who spoke readily to the untouchables of society, and yet had not a single word for King Herod when put on trial before him... Who told the religious elites that their traditions and religiosity got in the way of them being close to the heart of God, and that they were the true hypocrites of the world.

This is the same Jesus who was considered such a threat to the religious establishment, and such a threat to the leading world empire, that he was nailed to the underside of that empire. He was executed as a criminal, and found a friend in the criminal beside him, while suffering the most humiliating and torturous death that age was able to conjure up.

Is this Jesus even allowed in our "Christmas?" There was no room in the Bethlehem inn for his birth... But is there even room for this guy in mainstream Christianity?

When you consider this Jesus next to what "Christianity" has become, it is an absolutely staggering thing. Often, it's so hard to even find Jesus within what should be called a "Cultureanity" (or maybe "Americanity") - one which pays lip service to Christ, but celebrates unchecked prosperity, greed, power, might-makes-right, nationalism, destruction, violence and apathy (and a lot of other terrible things).

Amidst that whole mess, Christmas reminds us of some important things. It reminds us that little has changed in 2000 years if the manner of Jesus' birth and life do not affect how we live. No matter how big or how lavish a show we make of Christmas, and no matter how much we whine that we want to "keep 'Christ' in 'Christmas,'" if we continue to ignore the Way of Jesus - evident in every facet of his life (including his birth) - then Christmas is not in us.

It's not as if "they" had it wrong, but then Jesus came and "we" fixed everything. If Jesus was physically present in the church today, he'd likely be expelled as a heretic. And he would have fewer followers than we typically assume, since we see so many users of Jesus, and subscribers to Jesus... But Jesus was looking for friends. Not converts, but disciples. Not a people of privilege, but a people of purpose... Jesus today would be the same as Jesus then - he would have more friends in the places people don't consider his, and fewer friends in the places people do.
 
One of the better things about Christmas is that it can remind us of the shape "Immanuel" ("God with us") takes - from the birth in a manger to the "it is finished" of the cross. And that shape reveals something important: 

Modern Christianity can no more contain Jesus than ancient Judaism could.

Jesus remains a revolutionary.

And that's what makes a reminder like this ultimately a reminder of hope. Despite the sickening feeling that can come when we honestly assess the Cultureanity around us... For those of us still reaching, still unsatisfied with maintaining the status quo, still uninterested in being conformed to the religiosity of this present age, still seeking transformation, still desiring something real and something good and something pure... Jesus remains the great beacon of light and love. His birth signals peace and goodwill and joy. It brings rescue to the thirsty heart. It proclaims liberty to the oppressed and release to the captives. It brings good news to the poor and marginalized. And so long as all these things remain the hallmark of this birth and life, Jesus will remain a revolutionary - one contrary to the broken and abusive systems of this world.

Weary, burdened wanderers like myself can take heart and find rest... For there is great hope in remembering that Jesus is too big for "Christmas" as we know it.