Christmas 2019 in America

by | Dec 23, 2019 | Christianity Today | 14 comments

The shepherds to whom the angels appeared that night near Bethlehem were carrying the same weight of misery that we as modern Americans are carrying.  Did you ever wonder who they were and why they were gifted with the greatest angelic light show the world had ever seen?

That question is more important than you may realize, because their story is our story.  Their situation is our situation. We share a common threat and a common enemy.  The terror that stalked their night is the very one that preys on Americans today.

The leaders of Israel had taken the Word of God and had replaced it with the traditions of men—what we now call ‘political correctness.’

Every line between right and wrong had been blurred in order to keep them in power. They used guilt to extract money and to help them maintain their control over the people. Our 21st Century Pharisees use boycotts, cancel culture, and shame anyone who doesn’t use the right pronoun, or who doesn’t share their political faith.

In the first century, Israel’s national debt mortgaged their future to a foreign power, Rome. For them it was Rome, for us it is China.

Caesar Augustus was their globalist threat—a threat that was absorbing their sacred values, freedom, and the faith of their fathers. All of which is happening right now in America.

Why were these “certain poor shepherds” abiding in the fields? Because the convulsions in their culture had resulted in widespread robbery and murder. Even shepherds had to respond to the raised threat level and protect their sheep.

Why do we in this nation live in a perpetual state of high alert? Because lawlessness has increased, just as Jesus said it would. Our cultural obsession with deviance and drugs has resulted in chaos.

Why did God choose shepherds, those who were considered the lowest of the low in Jewish society? I believe it was because they were utterly believable. Our impression of shepherds is skewed. They were not ‘90 pound weaklings,’ they were battle hardened by life. Remember that David, the boy shepherd, had killed a lion and a bear.

When the shepherds told the story of seeing angelic messengers, the people of Bethlehem believed them because their first reaction was to say to themselves, “Why would men like these tell such a lie?”

Let’s reread the word of God:

Luke 2:8 Now, there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, 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, goodwill toward men!” 15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.

What is the Christmas story trying to tell us in 2019? Let me answer a question with a question. What do you think those men were like after the angels visited them? The angels brought them into a reality that nullified their daily grind. The stage lights went up and suddenly they were aware of the ‘real world’—the spiritual realm, inhabited by angels.

God skipped the theologians, the priests, and even the king.  He sent angels to lowly shepherds. How embarrassing! None of those in power, not one professional student of the Law and the Prophets received this visitation.

Every year, Christmas returns with a vengeance. How puny are man’s efforts to destroy this annual celebration. This year, Christmas comes to pull the plug and drain our fears.

The angels turned their priorities upside down. 

We know the Bible says, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all of these things will be added unto you,” but in our daily grind it can seem to be an impossible task.  Moments before the angels appeared, these men were on high alert and were so protective of their herd that they would have gladly fought to the death to protect their flock.  Now, they are completely oblivious to the fate of the sheep they left behind, and are hurrying to see a Baby that had been laid in a feeding trough.

Christmas beckons us to see through the lies and the boasts of evil, and remember: this will all be over soon because, in Christ, we have already won.

In the words of the timeless carol, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, “Joyful, all ye nations, rise, join the triumph of the skies; with the angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem.”

Modern pulpits have ruined us by preaching a “how to” Christianity. It seems so right to get practical teaching on relationships, money, and handling emotions. And that is the very problem—we learn to “handle our lives” and “fix” ourselves. This is not wrong if it subsequently leads to a glorious encounter with God, but what we need most at this moment is the Glory of Christmas. Glory will make our soul gaze at God, and while we gaze and are distracted by His splendor, God Himself will fix the issues of our life.

The shepherds took off in a glory-fueled sprint to the manger. It was an act of total defiance against all their fears. And that, my friend, is how we celebrate the birth of Christ—in defiance of all of our fears, and in spite of all our circumstances.  We must leave behind our “sensible selves” and become like little children.

 

 

14 Comments

  1. megagenius

    Yeah…we need to move out of dead religious methods into the glorious mysteries of the KINGDOM where men can not control it. The mystery of the incarnation lying in a feeding trough. God with us. The Bread of life. There is no other way. We must become childlike to enter.

    • Audrey Wright

      Thank you Mario, you said it so well! MERRY CHRISTMAS.

  2. johnny

    Jesus is all about Christmas our redeemer our deliverer!!!

  3. Carolina

    MARIO the most profound statement of Truth for this Christmas or any other is what you’ve expressed here….”what we need most at this moment is the Glory of Christmas. Glory will make our soul gaze at God, and while we gaze and are distracted by His splendor, God Himself will fix the issues of our life…And that, my friend, is how we celebrate the birth of Christ—in defiance of all of our fears, and in spite of all our circumstances. We must leave behind our “sensible selves” and become like little children.”
    These are the words of a Champion? What a Gift? Here lies the key in your words of wisdom?…”in defiance of all of our fears”…?
    My Husband & I have lately been recycling an old acronym which applies to the current situation we find ourselves in:
    F…False
    E…Evidence
    A…Appearing
    R…Real
    ?Merry Christmas to all‼️

  4. Sheri

    This is profound – thank you Holy Spirit and Mario. Merry, joyous and glorious Christmas and a Victorious New Year!!

  5. Deloris Berry

    wonderful article

  6. Ramona

    This is so beautiful! Thank you so much, Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords that has come to set us free and is soon coming again. Thank you for the beautiful reminder of this most wonderful gift of Love poured out to us.

    • Carolina

      Ramona a dear response, is this comment from you sis?…did you get your book???‍♀️??‍?

  7. Gene L Quient

    Thanks Dennis,
    Be Well,

    Gene Quient

  8. Cheryl Wildman

    MERRY CHRISTMAS, Mario!!!

    On Mon, Dec 23, 2019 at 1:06 AM Mario Murillo Ministries wrote:

    > mariomurilloministries posted: “The shepherds to whom the angels appeared > that night near Bethlehem were carrying the same weight of misery that we > as modern Americans are carrying. Did you ever wonder who they were and > why they were gifted with the greatest angelic light show the worl” >

  9. kingskid48

    Very beautiful article, Pastor Mario. Sometimes the mocking and hatefulness of the world can get to us, at least it does me, but then, I stop and think that it will indeed soon be over. The Father will one day soon say, “Son, go and get my children”, and Jesus will have His way in this world, for all time. May His Holy Name be blessed and honored forever.

  10. Jeff Wiegand

    The left could probably say that Jesus committed assisted suicide because he knew he was going to go to the cross to die glad he did I’m glad he rose again and ascended and I’m glad to be part of this Christmas season

  11. Randall Verarde

    The pundits don’t get it, never have. I’m guilty of trading my faith for professional punditry and faux enlightenment. Election night 2016 was a new awakening for me on several levels. Thank God for being faithful when I wasn’t, and for what he’s doing in our nation and world!

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