Shepherds & Trough's: Looking at Christmas with Luke's Eyes

Coming to Luke

Sometimes at Christmas we never hear the stories of each of the Gospels. Our nativities never actually match any particular story witnessed to in either Matthew or Luke. But in fact there are many differences between Matthew's Christmas and Luke's Christmas. In Luke there is no mention of the Star, no wise men, no Torah scholars, and no mention of babies dying. These were not germane to his theological purpose.  

Shepherds

Luke and Matthew begin in different places for their respective stories of the birth of the Messiah. But perhaps we are so familiar with the composite story of the Matthew/Luke mix that we miss some things that are especially important to Luke. (See my earlier Dark Side of Christmas: Loneliest Time of the Year that focuses upon Matthew)

There is a surprise at the very beginning of the story: the shepherds.  Why was this a surprise?  One commentary sheds light on why,

Shepherding was a despised occupation at the time.  Although the reference to shepherds evokes a positive, pastoral image for the modern reader and underscores Jesus association with David . . . in the first century, shepherds were scorned as shiftless, dishonest people who grazed their flocks on others lands.  Against this background, it is possible that Luke gets double duty from the shepherds first, developing further Jesus’ connection to David and Bethlehem, and second, graphically picturing Jesus as the one sent to the lowly and outcast.  It is to some of their number, shepherds, that the birth is announced. (The Gospel of Luke, New Interpreter’s Bible, 9: 65).

Indeed these shepherds are the sole recipients to God's amazing news.  But the fact that the shepherds themselves are the ones who receive this angelic announcement is nothing short of astounding.  Their presence at the birth indicates that the Gospel was first told to people from the wrong side of the tracks.  They are a class that was not trusted but despised.  They become the symbol of the people Jesus would serve and love through out Luke’s Gospel.

Troughs 

There is, perhaps, an even greater surprise here at the birth of Jesus.  This one we may (because of our pious traditions regarding Christmas) overlook even though Luke emphasizes it.  In Lk. 2.7 the Evangelist Theologian tells us, “And [Mary] gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger . . .”  A few verses later in 2.12 we read, “This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’  A few more verses down in 2.16 we learn that the lowly shepherds ‘went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.”

When the Bible repeats something, as Luke has done so here 3x in just a few verses, it is wanting to underline and highlight what is being said.  Luke wants his readers to know, and not forget, that the manger is extremely important to the message of Christ’s birth.   

Why? What is so important about this rather mundane point?  Luke uses the word fatne 4x in his Gospel - and only he uses the term - . . . the other time is in 13.15.  The word means something like “feeding trough!”  It is the place the animals eat their food.  Luke wants to stress the manger because it makes the same point conveyed by the presence of the shepherds.  The feeding trough is Luke’s way of telling us that the Messiah, the Promised One of Israel, arrives not in glory and grandeur but in utter destitution.  The Messiah is poverty stricken!  The Shepherds are there because Jesus is in their class.  An older Jesus will say, “Foxes have holes, birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” (Lk 9.58).

Remember that Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb.  Laid in a feeding trough as a infant, nowhere to call his home as an adult and not even a place to be buried . . . the Promised Messiah teaches us that God works through the lowly, the powerless and the humble.  God works through those who willing sacrifice grandness for the sake of outcasts of our world.

Reflecting on Luke's Christmas Story

This forces the question upon me: do Christians regard the birth of the Messiah differently than the world does?  As I listen to the message coming from the world concerning his birth, it seems his impact is vague and missed.  Sometimes I suspect that some value Christmas more than the cross because the baby in the mangerdoes not threaten our value system as much . . . is not the church culpable in this?  But perhaps if they saw Jesus in the ANIMAL FEEDING TROUGH among the untouchable shepherds then the baby just may rock our world.

Luke comes along and asks the people of God - are we really paying attention? He says the birth of the Messiah is every bit as radical and life challenging as any other segment of his life.  Jesus’ birth says that when God sent the Messiah to fallen world he was not sent to those with clout, those with religious heritage, those who had it together, those with money.  But he came to the poor, the lowly, the prostitute, the outcast . . . he came for the shepherds of this world.  He came to serve . . . not to BE served!  The Feeding Trough defines Jesus' ministry on planet earth!

One of my favorite Christian thinkers is Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  A great man of faith and greater courage.  He died in a Nazi death camp because of his opposition to Hitler.  He had the foresight to ask this question:

“Who among us will celebrate Christmas right?

Those who finally  lay down all their power, honor and prestige,

all their vanity, pride and self will at the manger.

Those who stand by the lowly and let God alone be exalted, those

who see in the child in the manger the glory of God precisely in this

lowliness”

Luke is calling us as the Body of Christ to be molded by the feeding trough . . . just as Jesus’ own mission were defined by that moment.To be the people of God means we give up dreams of power, fame, fortune and take our place among the rejects of the world. The shepherds reappear throughout Luke's narrative they just have "labels" like Mary, Elizabeth, lepers, Levi, and "sinners."

So for Luke, the trough is near the heart of the Gospel story.  It is the reminder of Jesus’ identity, his poverty, his mission.  It shows us that God encased holiness in lowliness to give us a new life through the sacrificial life of the Messiah.  The trough is a call to us, to allow God to so indwell in us through his Holy Spirit that we are graced with the scent of the trough.  A humble fragrance that manifests itself in a life that looks strangely like the one lived out in the pages of the Gospel according to Luke.   One where there is an absence of pride and poverty of spirit but has the aroma of life, dignity and grace for the untouchables in our world.  May God lay our lives in that feeding trough  and cause us to be more like his Son. 

Wrapping Up

Jesus.  The Son of God was born from a virgin but he was also born in a manger – a Feeding Trough. Born to a life of service to shepherds.  He was crucified because of the life chosen in the trough.  That trough shaped his message, his message shaped his obedience to the will of the Father, his obedience led him to the Cross where he was offered as an atonement for the world's sin.  God raised him from the dead reversing the decision of Satan and the evil powers of this world . . . the one shaped by the feeding trough . . . yet serves at the right hand of the Most High on our behalf. Shalom flows from there ...

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Stoned-Campbell Christmases: Campbell on Christmas

Greetings from the "wintery" land of Saguaros and Scorpions. It just doesnt seem like winter when you are in short sleeves and flip-flops!! Most of my life within Churches of Christ Christmas has been the object of scorn nearly worthy of the ACLU and other secularist folk. I have long since been quite convinced that such an approach was neither wise nor even called for from a biblical standpoint. It seems to me that Christmas is not about a specific day (as in Dec 25) but in the awesome redemptive fact that God became incarnate in human flesh!! That is enough to blow my mind. And it is enough to make me celebrate.

Several years ago as I was reading through the Millennial Harbinger I came across a short piece written by Alexander Campbell on Christmas morning in 1844. I have been so impressed by the piece that I have frequently reprinted it in church bulletins on an annual basis. I share it with you in the hope that we can move beyond a fixation upon the calendar (which Paul declares to be misguided in Romans 15 and 16) to an appreciation of the significance of what took place. Here are the words of Campbell published in the Millennial Harbinger January 1844, pp. 30-32 ...

"MUSINGS ON CHRISTMAS MORNING.

THIS morning being Christmas, and, as the Roman superstition would have it, the nativity of man's Redeemer; assuming it as true, my thoughts naturally lead me to Bethlehem, Calvary, and the sepulchre of Joseph. And what mysterious, sublime, and animating associations cluster around those three places! How near the point of distance! Eight short miles measured the whole space from the manger to the cross! And how short the interval of time between the first birth from Mary, and the second birth from Joseph's tomb, of Arimathea! Not quite the half of three-score- years-and- ten completes the labors and the life of Heaven's and Earth's First Born! And yet what scenes and transactions crowd this narrow space of earth, and this short interval of time!

Other children, earth's noblest sons, her proudest benefactors, were born to shed a few scattering rays of science over the benighted mind of man; or to wipe a few tears of sorrow or of anguish from the cheek of human woe; or to rescue man from some heartless tyrant that doomed his victims to abject slavery; or to confer some transient honor on some little circle of kindred friends and favorites. But this blest child of a thousand hopes and promises--this wonderful offspring of [30] Divinity and humanity--this Son of God and Son of Man, was born to be a light of all nations, and of all ages--to scatter night away from all eyes within the realms of mercy--to break forever its dark sceptre and annihilate its power over all his friends and brethren--to dry up the tears of a weeping world by washing away its sins and sorrows in a fountain filled with his own blood--to deliver man from that fiercest of all tyrants, Death; and to bestow honors on a ransomed race, bright as the throne of God and lasting as the ages of eternity.

And how was all this accomplished! Born in a stable--circumcised the eighth day--dedicated on the fortieth, at Jerusalem, in the Temple--persecuted into Egypt--nursed in the land of Ham--brought back to Bethlehem--removed to Nazareth, where he lived subject to his parents till he completed his thirtieth year, living so obscurely, too, as not to be mentioned but once after his return till about the time of his immersion; and at that time he is found in the Temple amongst the teachers, listening to their discourses and propounding to them questions.

After his baptism, commenced his public life. And what a period was that between his two baptisms! Did ever so many deeds of renown, so many demonstrations of divine eloquence, majesty, and power, cluster together in such a bright interval around the person of any son of woman! What temptations and triumphs! What miracles of mercy! What words of grace! What acts of condescension fill up the moments of this brightest epoch of Time's career! A busier or more active life was never spent. "He went about continually doing good." What multitudes were instructed, healed, relieved, fed, feasted! How many discourses, both public and private--how many questions answered--how many parables spoken--how many controversies and debates decided--how many triumphs gained--and with what travails, privations, fatigues, exhaustion, fasting, praying, and personal consecration! If all that he did and all that he said had been fully written, the world could neither read nor remember it.

But yet the two greatest victories were not won during his life. He had, indeed, foiled and vanquished Satan. But Death still reigned over all, and the Grave devoured all. The former he killed by dying, and the latter he vanquished by rising out of it and carrying with him its gates and bars up the hill of God.

'Tis here that immortality lifts its matin ray over a slumbering world. 'Tis here, a second time, that light is the offspring of darkness, and from the sorrows of death spring up eternal joys. What a plot! The Prince of Life submits to be killed, that he might destroy [31] him that had the power of death! He is carried into Death's strong prison, which, till that moment, held secure all that ever entered it. But it was not possible that the Prince of Life could be long held under its sway. Like Samsom with extinguished eyes, he stretched forth his hands to seize the pillars, that he might once more try his strength. The third morning came, and with it his almighty power. It was the operation of God. What a victory! The light of the upper world entered the grave--the shrouds of death were lifted up--and a bright ray gleamed through all the charnel-house. But the dead knew it not. It was consolation to all the living saints. It healed the wounds and dried up the sorrows of six thousand years. It promised a bright day of immortality to all the saints. Its shout of victory was heard by the ear of faith. It echoed through all the regions of the dead--Grave, where now thy victory!

The whole earth is sown with men. Sea and land make but one extended burying ground. What treasures lie hidden in the dust! Diamonds of the richest ray are but ashes compared with the remains of saints incorporate with the soil. What trophies has Death gained in six thousand years. But he will soon be divested of them all. The grave will be left without a tenant before many centuries shall have run their rounds.

Bat the most pleasing reflection of all is, that all that sleep in Jesus are to be awakened by the noise of his coming. He has many reasons to hasten his return. The earth is yet the receptacle of the bodies of his friends. Its precious mines of precious metals, its richest minerals of every species, with all its varied tenantry--its living beauties, vegetable and animal, when summed up fall infinitely short of equalling, in his eyes, the ashes of a Noah, a Daniel, or a Job.

We have many strong pledges of our Saviour's return to this planet, but none that strikes more forcibly so many feelings of our nature than that the earth retains so many of our Lord's dear kindred, whose ashes are still mingled with its soil. We have not only David's sepulchre still with us, but those of the grandees Abel, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Samuel, Daniel, Job--all the Prophets--all the Apostles--all the Saints and all the Martyrs. They are yet with us; and precious is their dust in the eyes of our kinsman Redeemer. Come he will--come he must.

How far my musings have led me from my first design! But now when I think of retracing my steps, the cock's shrill clarion admonishes me that the hour of worship is near; and here I must lay down my pen for the present.
A. C."

Thank you brother Campbell for your voice on Christmas morn.


Another Stoned-Campbell Voice ...

Since some have been debating whether or not it is ok to observe Christmas (and we know that it is not because I heard sermons most my life saying so! :-).

Sometimes our views are shaped drastically by our culture and history. Rarely do American Churches of Christ realize that our fellowship is actually world wide! Sometimes it is helpful to step out of our own southern USA dominated culture and see from beyond that perspective. There is a segment of the Restoration Movement in Australia that refers to themselves as "Churches of Christ" but they often have a far more gracious point of view than their American counterparts. I enjoy reading some of their material. P.E. Thomas was an influential preacher among our brothers "down under" and he shared this sermon with his congregation in the mid-20th century (1958)entitled THE DEEPER THINGS OF CHRISTMAS. It is worth looking at.

You will find the entire sermon at:

The Deeper Things of Christmas

May the Shalom of God, pronounced by the Angels to shepherds on the day of the Incarnation of the Word fall on you and yours.

Bobby Valentine

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Anatolius of Constantinople: Ancient Christmas Hymn 3

In our previous two posts on ancient Christmas hymns we have looked at key figures in the history of Christian hymnody and now we move a century down to another pivotal figure: Anatolius of Constantinople (died 458). Anatolius is a significant figure just about anyway one slices Christian history (even apart from his impact on hymnody). He became bishop of Constantinople in 449 three years before the Council of Chalcedon (451) that has been seen as a turning point in the history of Christian thought (for good or ill). But his contributions in those matters are a different post altogether. In terms of practical worship Anatolius was a key figure in ushering in what may be called the classical period of Greek or Byzantine hymnody. He accomplished this by being something of a musical rebel. He rebelled against what was thought of as the "tyranny" of classical meter and created a new path . . . ironically as with so many other breakthrough's Anatolius' style also became to viewed as tyrannical centuries later. Anatolius wrote some truly beautiful hymns for the church two of which focus upon the Incarnation are reproduced below: "For Christmas" and "In Bethlehem."

For Christmas

A great and mighty wonder!
A full and holy cure!
The Virgin bears the Infant,
With Virgin-honor pure!

The Word becomes Incarnate
And yet remains on high:
And cherubium sing anthems
To shepherds from the sky.

And we with them triumphant
Repeat the hymn again:
'To God on high be glory,
And peace on earth to men!'

While thus they sing your Monarch,
Those bright angelic bands,
Rejoice, ye vales and mountains!
Ye oceans, clap your hands!

Since all he comes to ransom,
By all be he adored,
The Infant born in Bethlem,
The Saviour and the Lord!

And idol forms shall perish,
And error shall decay,
And Christ shall wield the scepter,
Our Lord and God for aye."


In Bethlehem

In Bethlehem is he Born!
Maker of all things, everlasting God!
He opens Edens gate,
Monarch of ages! Thence the fiery sword
Gives glorious passage; thence,
The severing mid-wall overthrown, the powers
Of earth and heaven are one;
Angels and men renew their ancient league,
The pure rejoin the pure,
In happy union! Now the virgin-womb
Like some cherubic throne
Containeth Him, the Uncontainable:
Bears him, whom while they bear
The seraphs tremble! bears him, as he comes
To shower upon the world
The fullness of his everlasting love!

My personal favorite of Anatolius is his "On Christ Calming the Storm" which I might share sometime in the future. What is evident from these hymns and the ones in previous posts is that the Church, even when she was less than God intended, could sing some wonderful theology. In fact when one digs in Greek sources it will not take long to discover that for Greek Christians theology is worship. They even define it as such explicitly. No one can study scripture and come to a "sound" understanding (according to them) unless he/she first bows the heart and head in humble worship. And you know what . . . that is probably not far from the mark. Hope you enjoy the hymns, they are among the greatest of the great and are still sung in Greek churches after fifteen hundred years.

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine

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Dark Side of Christmas: Loneliest Time of the Year

(I placed this on my blog last year, partly because of my own situation. My life has changed drastically in the last year but I know from experience that Christmas is not all joy for many. So I offer this once again for the hurting in our midst and for the churches to minister to them)

What do you think of around Christmas? What do you normally see at a Nativity ... even one at a church? There are usually animals. Mary, Joseph, Wise men all have there place. There is usually a star of some sort. And of course there are angels. Most Nativity's are a whole lot of Luke with a little bit of Matthew thrown in for good measure.

The opening of Matthew's Gospel is considerably different than Luke's. He opens with that seemingly irrelevant genealogy (its not by any means!). We are then confronted with a scene that is horrific in nature. It is a crime that Tom Mueller in the December 2008 National Geographic declares "Herod is almost certainly innocent of" (p.40). In Matthew there are no angels that welcome the baby Yeshua rather we are confronted with "Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more" (Mt 2.18). This is what is missing from every Nativity I have ever seen in my life. There are no mothers crying for their children.

But there it is right at the beginning of the "good news" about Jesus. I too used to overlook that scene from the real Christmas ... but not anymore. Matthew acknowledges something that needs to be acknowledged: Christmas is painful for many people. With the emphasis on family, friends, parties, giving gifts ... we need to see the "Rachel's" in our churches and our communities that "refuse to be comforted."

These Rachel's have suffered loss. Loss of loved ones. Some to disease. Some to death. Some to divorce. This time of year can be merciless for some, so much so that many even end their own lives.

At Palo Verde last Sunday we had a worship service centered around "Christmas: The Loneliest Time of the Year." We began by reading Psalm 22 which confesses intense agony. Then the service was divided into three parts we read scripture that allowed us as a church family to embrace those who have suffered loss. We invited everyone to write down a name of some one and bring it down to the communion table. I was not prepared for the outpouring ... people streamed to the table of brotherhood. Psalm 88 was read for the loss of our loved ones. Every piece of paper was read. We prayed and lamented together. After the third lament was over ... with all those cards still on the table ... we decided to take the Lord's Supper and "discern the body" ... perhaps for the first time. We were family and we were all one before the Lord. It was powerful. We closed the service with a congregational reading of Psalm 23. We began with embrace of loss and left with the comfort of the Lord.

This coming Sunday we are doing the "other side of the coin." We will have a happiest time of the year ... but first we need to see the Dark Side of Christmas. I encourage my readers out there to embrace those hurting. Sometimes Christmas really is almost unbearable ... but we can be the very comforting presence of Jesus for them. The response to our service last week has been overwhelming.

May the Shalom of our dear Lord rest upon us all.

Bobby Valentine

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Narsi: Mary, Christmas, Poetry and Theology

I have shared two early Christian hymns (and more on the way) that focus on the Christmas season but now I want to share an early Christmas sermon by an eastern Syriac Christian named Narsai who lived about 1500 years ago. Narsai (ca. A.D. 399-503) has been called “the Harp of the Holy Spirit” for his gift of doing theology in poetry. He did not believe doctrine was dry, boring or irrelevant; rather vibrant and full of life. I thought it would be appropriate here in light of the hymn that saw Christmas from Josephus' point of view ... Narsai helps us think about Mary.

Narsai has a reputation for his homiletical poetry. His preaching is of the highest order and from a theological standpoint he is regarded as one of the greatest of Nestorian thinkers. There was really laser thin hair splitting among some of these great thinkers of days gone by but most today would regard Narsai as “orthodox.” Narsai was a disciple of Theodore of Mopsuestia in biblical interpretation and supported Antiochene Christology. He was head of the school in Edessa during the Council of Chalcedon (451), and he bore the brunt of that controversy. He had to flee Edessa and settled in Nisibis outside the Byzantine Empire.

What attracts us to Narsai, however, is not any of that boring stuff. Rather it is his ability to bring poetry and theology together like none other. He was like an ancient Charles Wesley!

Christmas as a season seems to have started during the time of Constantine. However, earlier than this “Epiphany” was celebrated in the East and these two started to get mingled together. Theologically the shift from celebrating Easter to Christmas and Epiphany was a shift from Jesus’ death to incarnation (which also was the hot button issue of the day). Christmas was used to teach theology. “Christmas, as has been often been put before, is the celebration of Nicene orthodoxy every bit as much as it is a celebration of the birth of Jesus” (Hughes Oliphant Old). That Narsai should choose Christmas as a time to make clear one of the central doctrines of the Christian faith is not surprising. Here is part of Narsi’s Christmas sermon.

“Refrain: Blessed be the Messiah who on the day of his birth
gladdened the earth and made heaven rejoice.

My Brothers:

‘The Coming of the Divine Word’

In love and mercy the Creator was pleased to give life to the universe,
And (so) He sent His Son to restore the universe to His knowledge.
There went forth from the Father the Word of the Father – though
He did not depart;
And He came to our dwelling place, though He was in our
Dwelling place and in all things.
There went forth His (good) pleasure, and He came in His love to
Earthy beings
But His Nature remained unchanged in what It was.
(It was) not according to His Nature (that) the Almighty went forth or departed,
because there is no place for the (Divine) Essence to go to within
what It has finished.
For He does not go forth in (the sense of) moving away from what He is,
Because, in what He is, He remains forever unchanged.

In Syriac the lines are perfectly balanced (since I am not a Syriac scholar I will trust the judgment of others on that point); the words are carefully chosen. All the art of the poet is used to make the cadences of the language appropriate to the high seriousness of the thoughts expressed.

Narsai proceeds to set forth the divine plan and recounts the biblical narrative, which seems to have been typical in Syrian preaching. Here we begin the story of Gabriel visiting the Virgin Mary. Mary is pictured as the New Eve who believes and obeys the word given her: she is to become the “temple” of human flesh in which the image of God is to take human form. Narsai, as we can see, is a master at typology.

The annunciation, is to be sure, one of the crucial points of the day. Nestorius had doubts about the propriety of calling Mary theotokos, that is “God-bearer.” Gabriel’s salutation, “Hail Mary, full of grace” is one of the texts significant to those who grant her this title. This passage, as Narsai understands it, has to be understood properly.

A second time our Minstrel picks up the biblical narrative recounting at length the visitation, the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, the announcement to the shepherds, the journey of the wise men, the fear of Herod, the slaughter of the innocents, and the presentation in the temple. Irony and paradox are used throughout. Narsai calls attention to God’s gracious condescension in revealing himself to the Assyrian astrologers in terms their astrology would understand. One gets the impression that Narsai sees in the wise men his own people. Finally the story comes to its conclusion with the presentation of Jesus at the temple. We notice that Mary is once more at the center of the nativity narrative just as she was at the beginning.

With this Narsai begins his conclusion, which is just as long as the introduction (over a hundred lines) and just as theological. Narsai now asks “who” it is that presented Jesus at the temple. The questions so dear to the Nestorians is once more broached: who is Mary? The Nestorians wanted to affirm the confession that Christ is both true God and true Man, but they could not go along with calling Mary the theotokos. The way Narsai tries to solve the problem is by interpreting the whole narrative through John 1.14. It is not that the eternal Word became flesh in such a way that the Word lost its characteristics or divine nature, but rather that it became flesh in the sense that it dwelt in human flesh, the flesh of Jesus. Let me quote from his sermon at length:

The Word of the Father has abased Himself by means of His (good) pleasure;
And His power dwelt in the pure body which Mary bore.
(It was) not His (Divine) Essence (that) He abased Himself and came to a birth;
the (good) pleasure of His love abode in another and called him by his Name.
(It was) not the (Divine) Essence which is hidden from all that Mary bore;
a man she bore who is entirely like the members of his race.
(It was) not the spiritual One who has no structure (that) hands have circumcised;
it was a corporal being whom the hands of corporeal beings circumcised.
Mary is a human being from the humanity of Adam’s race;
And like to her is the child who is from her in body and soul.
Mary is equal to (other) females because of her fashioning;
Her offspring, on the other hand, is greater than all offsprings
Of the daughters of Eve.
Her offspring is like to (other) corporeal beings in body and soul, but holier and
More glorious than corporeal beings because of his fashioning.
His nature is like that of his mother from whom he exists,
But he is more exalted than she because it is not from seed (that he has
Acquired) his bodily structure.
He is entirely a man because of the wholeness of (his) body and soul; but he is also
God because he became the dwelling place for the God of the universe.
He is the son of a woman because from her is the nature of his bodily structure
But he is the Son of the Divine Essence because he is equal to this by the power
Of his Assumer.”

Narsai was quite willing to honor the Virgin Mary. For him the doctrine of the virgin birth was of major importance, for Mary plays a key role in the history of salvation. From the standpoint of Christ’s humanity she is the woman who brought the Savior into the world. Besides this Narsai was willing to recognize the biblical types for Mary: Mary is the second Eve, and the temple enshrining the divine presence.

(Quotes taken from Frederick G. McLeod’s translation of Narsai’s Metrical Homilies on the Nativity, Epiphany, Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension, Patrologia Orientalis, vol 40).

Narsai through his poetic preaching challenges us to see Christmas as a decisive moment in God’s Plan of Salvation. He also use the occasion to talk about Mary . . . just who was she? He suggests that she is not theotokos and yet she is more than in most Evangelical thinking today. She is the Second Eve. Christmas, for Narsai, was a time to reflect on the most important themes in the Christian faith. I recommend Scot McKnight's Real Mary for my readers.

The Poet has given us a lot to think on . . . doctrinally . . . this Christmas. May your thinking be blessed.

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine

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Ephraem the Syrian: Another Ancient Christmas Hymn

One of the giants of early Christian hymnody is a man known as Ephraem the Syrian. Ephraem thrived in the 300s and died in the year 379. Ephraem rescued the practice of singing from an ill reputation because the Gnostics had seized upon the art form as a way of promoting their heretical views on Jesus. Ephraem who apparently had a spiritual gift in hymn writing turned the art form back to the faith. His songs are characterized by a deceptive childlike simplicity in capturing deep devotional feeling, beautiful in the images used and the teaching conveyed. His favorite themes are Christmas and stories of children in the Gospels. The hymn presented here is titled "On the Nativity of Our Lord." One unique element of this hymn is that it presents the Christmas story from the point of view of Joseph rather than Mary as in most modern poetic presentations.

"Into his arms with tender love
Did Joseph take his holy Son,
And worshiped him as God, and saw
The babe like any little one.
His heart rejoiced above him there,
For now the only God had birth;
And pious fear upon him came
Before this Judge of all the earth.
Ah, what a lofty wonder!

Who gave me then this precious Son
Of highest God, to be my child?
For I against thy mother here
Had almost been by zeal beguiled;
And I had thought to cast her off --
Alas, I saw not truly then
How in her bosom she should bear
The costliest treasure known to men,
To make my poverty, so soon,
The richest lot in mortal ken!

David, that king of ancient days,
My ancestor, had placed the crown
On his head, and there it lay;
But I sank deep and further down;
I was no king, but in its stead
A carpenter, and that alone.
But now may crown my brow again
That which befits a kingly throne,
For here upon my bosom lies
The Lord of lords, my very own!"

As we enter into the Christmas season perhaps Ephraem the Syrian (who lived one thousand seven hundred years ago) can help us remember what the season is about. Perhaps we can even reflect on what Joseph experienced and we can join him in worshiping the "little one" from heaven.

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine

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Aurelius Clemens Prudentius: An Ancient Christmas Hymn

We are setting out our Christmas decor this evening, that along with the "cool" wintry weather just sort of puts one in the "mood" for Christmas ... after all it was a frosty 70 something today! And since I am home alone doing that which is communal by nature I thought I would share an ancient Christmas hymn dating to around 400 A.D. It is nice to know that over the course of one thousand six hundred years we still have some "fellowship" with the saints through joyous song.

One of the most highly regarded Latin poets of Christian antiquity, Aurelius Clemens Prudentius, left a prominent government position at the age of 50 to enter a monastery and dedicate himself to writing hymns to God. One of his hymns, "Corde natus ex Parentis" (i.e. Of the Father's love begotten) expresses his faith in babe of Bethlehem. Some Christian fellowships are blessed to still sing this hymn.

"Of the Father's love begotten
Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the source, the ending he,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see,
Evermore and evermore.

O that birth for ever blessed!
When the Virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving,
Bore the Saviour of our race;
And the Babe, the world's Redeemer,
First revealed his sacred face,
Evermore and evermore.

O ye heights of heaven, adore him;
Angel hosts, his praises sing;
Powers, dominions bow before him,
And extol our God and King;
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert ring,
Evermore and evermore."

May that Babe bring blessings to all this year as well ... Thank You Father for the gift of the Child in the manger.

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine

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Dark Side of Christmas: The Loneliest Time of the Year

What do you think of around Christmas? What do you normally see at a Nativity ... even one at a church? There are usually animals. Mary, Joseph, Wise men all have there place. There is usually a star of some sort. And of course there are angels. Most Nativity's are a whole lot of Luke with a little bit of Matthew thrown in for good measure.

The opening of Matthew's Gospel is considerably different than Luke's. He opens with that seemingly irrelevant genealogy (its not by any means!). We are then confronted with a scene that is horrific in nature. It is a crime that Tom Mueller in the December 2008 National Geographic declares "Herod is almost certainly innocent of" (p.40). In Matthew there are no angels that welcome the baby Yeshua rather we are confronted with "Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more" (Mt 2.18). This is what is missing from every Nativity I have ever seen in my life. There are no mothers crying for their children.

But there it is right at the beginning of the "good news" about Jesus. I too used to overlook that scene from the real Christmas ... but not anymore. Matthew acknowledges something that needs to be acknowledged: Christmas is painful for many people. With the emphasis on family, friends, parties, giving gifts ... we need to see the "Rachel's" in our churches and our communities that "refuse to be comforted."

These Rachel's have suffered loss. Loss of loved ones. Some to disease. Some to death. Some to divorce. This time of year can be merciless for some, so much so that many even end their own lives.

At Palo Verde last Sunday we had a worship service centered around "Christmas: The Loneliest Time of the Year." We began by reading Psalm 22 which confesses intense agony. Then the service was divided into three parts we read scripture that allowed us as a church family to embrace those who have suffered loss. We invited everyone to write down a name of some one and bring it down to the communion table. I was not prepared for the outpouring ... people streamed to the table of brotherhood. Psalm 88 was read for the loss of our loved ones. Every piece of paper was read. We prayed and lamented together. After the third lament was over ... with all those cards still on the table ... we decided to take the Lord's Supper and "discern the body" ... perhaps for the first time. We were family and we were all one before the Lord. It was powerful. We closed the service with a congregational reading of Psalm 23. We began with embrace of loss and left with the comfort of the Lord.

This coming Sunday we are doing the "other side of the coin." We will have a happiest time of the year ... but first we need to see the Dark Side of Christmas. I encourage my readers out there to embrace those hurting. Sometimes Christmas really is almost unbearable ... but we can be the very comforting presence of Jesus for them. The response to our service last week has been overwhelming.

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Books in the Stocking & Under the Christmas Tree

Well it is that time of year again. The mountains are brown. The saguaros are thinner. The coyotes and mountain lions are prowling. And the palm tree in lights has reappeared in Corona commercials. Yep, it can only be Christmas time in the desert. Every year people ask about a couple good books for the minister, elders, or just the reading disciple ... and for themselves. It stands to reason that most books are simply junk. Millions of titles are published and promoted every year. The world could probably have been spared most of them. On the other hand there are some worthy titles to emerge every year. The list that follows will be an ensemble of various areas that intersect with life beneath the cross:

1) Christopher J. H. Wright, The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible's Grand Narrative. I believe this book deserves the accolade of "book of the year."

2) Ron Clark, Emerging Elders: Developing Shepherds in God's Image. Clark's new book is very good and written from one on the front line of ministry. Full of sound theology and pastoral insight. (Follow the link and click on the "ministry" button)

3) Oskar Skarsaune, In the Shadow of the Temple: Jewish Influences on Early Christianity. Its been a long time since I've read a book as rich about the early church as this engaging work.

4) Jack R. Reese, The Broken Body: Embracing the Peace of Christ in a Fragmented Church. For those who long for the gift of Shalom in our church families.

5) N.T. Wright, Surprised by Hope. Title says it all.

6) James K. A. Smith, Who's Afraid of Postmodernism? Taking Derrida, Lyotard and Foucault to Church. It is true ... our world has undergone a huge worldview shift. I have not read a better book on PM than Smith's. Do not be put off by the title for the book is short (a mere 156 pages) and Smith is an outstanding and anything but boring writer. Who's afraid? No one ...

7) John Goldingay, The Psalms. Goldingay's 3 volume commentary on the Psalms is nothing short of exciting for a serious bible student. Not only are these the most extensive commentaries in English they are actually an exercise in "spiritual" reading.

8) Philip Jenkins, The Lost History of Christianity. Short and eye opening book.

9) Scott McKnight, A Community Called Atonement. Often the church calls for "sound teaching" but often fails to live it. McKnight is one of my favorite biblical scholars ... he just happens to be able to write a good sentence too.

10)Donald Miller, Searching for God Knows What? Miller has a unique writing style. If you make it past the first chapter you are in for a real treat. Loved this book.

I have left off my books with John Mark Hicks (Kingdom Come and A Gathered People) but they make good presents too, ;-)

Well here are a few titles that have challenged and blessed my life. Perhaps if you get one or two of them for some one special they will be a blessing to them as well.

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine

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The Word Became Flesh

o( lovgo$ saVrx

The Gospel of John declares the radical message: The Word became flesh. It did not look like flesh. It did not assume flesh. It did not just act like flesh. The Gospel declares the Word became flesh. This notion is so important to John and his community of believers and (using slightly different lingo) it is also important to Paul. For example John declares that if a person denies that Christ came in the flesh that person (not some satanic incarnation of Hollywood) is the antichrist (2 Jn 7).

What is so important about this idea that a person could even be called the “antichrist” for denying? In a nutshell because in Jesus of Nazareth God is showing us what he intended in the beginning. Jesus is the true human being what God wanted from the first day of creation. In the person of Jesus we see restored humanity. Humanity in harmony with God. Humanity doing the will of the Father. Humanity with an unbelievably intimate relationship with the Spirit. In the Flesh, through Jesus the Christ, God is showing us what he wants for you … and me. The incarnation, when the Word became Flesh, connected salvation with creation. John teaches us that God so loved the world, even the “flesh,” that he gave his one and only Son to redeem and save it. It is good news that the Word became Flesh. It is good news to know that God loves all of me and not just some invisible part of me. It is good news that God became flesh in Jesus. What a compliment. John dares to say that we simply cannot understand the story of Jesus without believing this incredible truth.

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine

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Alexander Campbell's Christmas Musing, 1843

Alexander Campbell's Christmas Musings, 1843

It is Christmas morning here in the land of beer, cheese, Packers and snow. Several years ago I came across some "Musings on Christmas Morning" by Alexander Campbell and have always enjoyed them. Campbell was far more gracious and poetic than some admit. I share these with you as we celebrate the birth of the Messiah.

"THIS morning being Christmas, and, as the Roman superstition would have it, the nativity of man's Redeemer; assuming it as true, my thoughts naturally lead me to Bethlehem, Calvary, and the sepulchre of Joseph. And what mysterious, sublime, and animating associations cluster around those three places! How near the point of distance! Eight short miles measured the whole space from the manger to the cross! And how short the interval of time between the first birth from Mary, and the second birth from Joseph's tomb, of Arimathea! Not quite the half of three-score-years-and-ten completes the labors and the life of Heaven's and Earth's First Born! And yet what scenes and transactions crowd this narrow space of earth, and this short interval of time! ...

And how was all this accomplished! Born in a stable-circumcised the eighth day-- dedicated on the fortieth, at Jerusalem, in the Temple--persecuted into Egypt--nursed in the land of Ham--brought back to Bethlehem--removed to Nazareth, wehre he lived subject to his parents till he completed his thirtieth year, living so obscurely, too, as not to be mentioned but once after his return till about the time of his immersion; and at that time he is found in the Temple amongst the teachers, listening to their discourses and propounding to them questions... (excerpts from January 1844 of the Millennial Harbinger).

The Incarnation of the Word of God is worthy of celebration. The world has never been the same since Jesus came from God.

Merry Christmas and may it be filled with God's Shalom,
Bobby Valentine

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The House

The House

Way COOL! The Transiberian Orchestra is one of the more talented groups around. I really like this light show. Merry Christmas.

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine

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Christmas, Peace & John Lennon

Christmas, Peace and John Lennon

Today marks the anniversary of the death of the greatest musician of the 20th century, John Lennon. Though not a believer in Jesus he did grasp, ironically, some of the import of the message of the Babe from Bethlehem. One of my favorite "secular" songs for Christmas was written by Lennon in 1971 and it reached #2 on the charts. It is stirring and I find myself singing it over and over. I think this song is just as "prophetic" now as it was when I was a little kid.

Happy Xmas (War Is Over) - John Lennon


"Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9.6-7, NIV)

"He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore." (Micah 4.3, NRSV)

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good wil [sic] towards men." (Luke 2.14, KJV)

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine

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Reading - Christmas Suggestions

Reading: Christmas Suggestions

Well its that time of year again. Where has 2006 gone?? The sages from Kansas and Steve Miller are surely on to something when they opine we are all just dust in the wind that keeps slippin' into the future! Christmas will be here in the blink of an eye and some out there are scratching their head as to what to buy their minister, elder or friend as a present. Books! That is if the minister or elder likes to read ... and if they do not perhaps they are in the wrong calling. Here are my recommendations.

1) Jack Reese, The Body Broken: Embracing the Peace of Christ in a Fragmented Church (Leafwood Press, 2006). Reese has gifted the church with this book. This year, 2006, has not flowered into a year of healing the shame of division or the removal of blight from the Bride. However this book can provide some necessary nutrition for the health of the Body. I believe every preacher and every elder should read this book. It is elegant. It is showered with grace and love for all. It is in fact spiritual reading. I urge you to read this book.

2) John Mark Hicks & Bobby Valentine, Kingdom Come: Embracing the Spiritual Legacy of David Lipscomb and James Harding (Leafwood, 2006). I am partial to this book. Far from perfect yet I believe this book can help Christians among the Stone-Campbell heritage move to a kingdom perspective. The book is not written for scholars but there are even surprises for them as well. In this book we learn that WE have a heritage with a robust theology of the Holy Spirit, a rejection of any deistic understanding of God, a passion for caring for the disinherited, relishing the presence of God in worship, prayer and Bible reading. We also learn that our heritage can rattle our cages in our easy accomodation to American nationalism and even demands for freedom of thought.

3) N. T. Wright, Simply Christian (HarperSanFrancisco, 2006). This is the book of the year and possibly the book of the century to date. Certainly the title should resonate with any in a restoration heritage. Yet Wright goes about making a refreshing statement of not only what Christianity is but what it means to live that faith in our contemporary world.

4) Terence Fretheim, God and the World in the Old Testament (Abingdon 2005). One of the consistent challenges of biblical Christianity in our American setting is the not so subtle forms of neo-Gnosticism that runs rampant in our "spiritualities" and other doctrine. This will probably be (sadly) one of the least read books on this list. Not because it is necessarily a difficult read (it is not!) but because it has a hundred pages of notes. But if I had the ability to make preachers read a book I would force them to read this one. What "good" is creation? Does God love creation? Not just humans but creation? How important is it in Scripture? Fretheim has shown that it is at the heart of biblical faith. I love this book. It is scholarly. It is rich. It is spiritually healthy.

5) William H. Willimon, Pastor: The Theology and Practice of Ordained Ministry (Abingdon 2002). Willimon is a preacher's preacher. He has lived and breathed "pastoring" for longer than I have been alive. This book will speak to your heart and your mind.

6) James K. A. Smith, Whose Afraid of Postmodernism? Taking Derrida, Lyotard, and Foucault to Church (Baker Academic 2006). This could be the best book on "postmodernism" written ... it is without a doubt the best I have read. Smith asks serious questions of the church and how she (you and I) can function in the new emerging worldview. Great book.

7) N. T. Wright, Judas and the Gospel of Jesus (Baker, 2006). This is the latest from the pen of the Bishop of Durham. This is a Gnostic buster! About the same size and design as the National Geographic's publication edited by Meyer, Erhman and company. This is an easy to read work (assumes the reader knows nothing) and is a handy book to share with anyone intersted in the sensationalism around the Gospel of Judas.

To Consider:

8) Eugene Peterson, Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places (Eerdmans, 2005). I read this book as I was working on Kingdom Come and it richly blessed me. Peterson takes the reader through a spiritual reading of Deuteronomy, Luke/Acts, Exodus and has some marvelous reflections on Baptism and love.

9) Thomas Merton, Contemplative Prayer (Image, many editions). Let the Spirit wash over you through this work.

10) Jim Wallis, God's Politics (Harper 2005). This is certainly a book that you will have a conversation with. Wallis takes on both the Republicans and the Democrats in this book which may make him unpopular with both. But he takes his faith seriously and seeks to integrate it into a truly biblical public theology. You may not agree with some ... and some may not agree with a lot ... of this book but I do not think you can read a better book to hear a counter point of view that is God saturated. You will be blessed.

This is a short list I know. However these are some books that in my view are a cut above.

Merry Christmas,
Bobby Valentine

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