In a culture that emphasizes consumerism and family togetherness as the marks of Christmas, we need to be reminded that Christmas is a celebration of the Incarnation. At Patheos, the mainline Protestant portal features the answers given by twelve pastors and scholars to the question: “Why Does the Incarnation Matter?”
Each respondent was asked to write an answer in 100 words or less. Two of the responses were especially helpful in my quest to refine my own answer to the question:
In the scandalous Christmas stories of God-made-flesh, we see crystallized in Jesus the promise of a world transformed, a world of justice and peace where empire must be challenged, where God asks sleeping, frightened shepherds — like us — to jump up and run. God still comes, God is still being born, in our tired world. Incarnation calls us to face into the future, put flesh on Micah’s ancient dream: “. . . they shall all sit under their own fig trees and no one shall make them afraid.” (Anne S. Howard, Executive Director of The Beatitudes Society)
The Incarnation matters because it is particular. God is not merely an abstract, theoretical “Other”; instead, we are invited to find God in the diversity of people, places, and times of our particular life. How much more particular can you get than a finding God in one first-century peasant from a backwater village! The Incarnation also matters because it is bodily, calling us to engage life, not only with our minds and spirit, but with our bodies. Further, the Incarnation matters because it is earthly, reminding us that this world matters, and that Creation is good and very good. (Carl Gregg, Alliance of Baptist Pastor of Broadview Church in Chesapeake Beach, MD )
So What?
How do you answer the question: “Why Does the Incarnation Matter?”