THOUGHTS ON CHRISTMAS AND WORLDVIEWS
Some say it doesn’t matter what a man thinks in his
heart; that truth is relative, and others say that God
is dead or that He really doesn’t have a say in what
goes on in the world. Modern man has excluded God
from the creation saying that nature created itself
through natural phenomenon. Evolutionary theory
teaches us that man is autonomous; he is master of
his fate and captain of his soul. Therefore, man has
no need of a Savior; he is getting better and better.
Instead of understanding that the human heart is
desperately wicked, man deludes himself into
believing that his own brand of goodness will catapult
him into the heavenly realm. Men are especially good
at self-delusion and have come up with philosophies
and traditions that shut out God’s small still voice
that comes after the storm, earthquake and
fire.
Imagine
With humanism and naturalism holding sway in the
world since the beginning of creation . . . after all,
the apple represented man’s gaining God’s
wisdom . . . I wondered how life might have been
different if the giants of faith had succumbed to
man’s view of the world.
Isaiah faced with a choice
God told
Isaiah, one of the world’s greatest prophets that he
would give his prophecy and people wouldn’t listen to
him. Isaiah could have said to God, “No way! I am
not going to waste my time on earth telling people a
message they don’t want to hear. After all, I only
get one life, and I deserve enjoyment and the riches
deserving of my high station in life.” If he had said
that, some of the richest prophecies about Christ
would be missing; Handel’s Messiah would
have no words, and the people of Israel would have
no hope.
Mary’s dilemma
God told Mary through an angel that she would bear
a Son conceived by the Holy Spirit. Instead of
humility and obedience she could have said, “This
earth is the process of natural forces; human babies
are born the natural way not by supernatural means.
I believe in naturalism; there is NO room for the
supernatural in my worldview. Besides, having a baby
before Joseph and I are married is frowned upon by
my peers; I could even lose my life for becoming
pregnant before I have consummated my marriage
with Joseph. I don’t see anything that remotely looks
like a good enough reason to risk everything for
something that you say is a work of the Holy
Spirit.”
Pragmatism and obedience
After having his dream about keeping Mary as his wife
Joseph could have said, “You are asking too much of
me; I really need a wife that is looked upon by the
community as pure and above reproach. This could
really hurt my reputation and my business in this
community. I don’t need this hassle; there are lots
of eligible girls in Nazareth that would love to have a
husband like me.”
Not Your cup, but Mine
Jesus could have changed God’s plan at any moment
had He not been obedient to the Father and had He
not loved humanity so much. He could have made
the stones into bread; He could have thrown Himself
down the precipice trusting that the angels would
bear Him up, and He could have had the kingdoms of
this world if He had succumbed to the devil’s
worldview. He could have said in the
garden, “Father, this is too hard; You are expecting
too much of Me; besides, look at these disciples of
Mine; they could not even stay awake to pray with
Me in My greatest hour of need. After all I have
done for them, they will desert Me; they are not
worth My agony. In fact, this whole idea of being
God in the flesh, living this substandard existence,
sharing My life with ungrateful mankind is pretty
distasteful. Coming to earth as a helpless baby;
being born in poverty and want and then enduring
the Cross? I am asking that You take this cup from
Me, because I am not up to it, and mankind does not
deserve it.”
It makes a difference
Worldviews do make a difference. Truth is relevant;
it does not change with societal changes. We
cannot decide for ourselves about truth. Sacrificing
and doing battle with the world system is what we
are called to do if we share God’s view of the world.
Jesus said we cannot serve two masters. He was
right.
Merry Christmas!
May this Christmas season be a time of reflection and
awe over the One who came to earth to be God,
priest and sacrifice for us all.
In Him,
Judy Smith
State Director
Concerned Women for America of Kansas
P. O. Box 11233
Shawnee Mission, KS 66207
Phone/Fax: 913-491-1380
Email: director@kansas.cwfa.org
Web site: kansas.cwfa.org |