A Scandalous Christmas

We certainly have become accustomed to reading about scandal in the 24-hour news cycle world that we live in. Whether political scandals, celebrity scandals, or the scandals we like to talk about in our small communities, we have become addicted to them somehow, and I’m not sure that is a good thing. That said, every year on December 25th, we arguably celebrate the most scandalous story ever told.

Over the years, we seem to have domesticated the Nativity story in many ways. I am as guilty as anyone. We paint the picture through our “nice,” often middle-class, everyday lives. Not to say that any of that is terrible. I heard someone say the other day that all of the fuss and abundance that this time of year brings is a way to celebrate something huge. I like that thought. I think we all want to feel a sense of abundant joy.

Nevertheless, the scandals that surround the birth of Jesus strike me more. Here are just a few that I find helpful and challenging this year.

First, we have the scandal of Joseph breaking the law to protect the dignity of his wife, Mary. We all know the story; during those days, Mosaic law indicated that if a spouse had committed adultery, they were not only to be divorced but stoned. So here is Joseph, going against everything that he was taught from a child as law, and instead, followed the tiny voice in his dream and, thus, God’s will. This must-have created tremendous inner turmoil for this “righteous” man. He was refusing the law of God for the will of God. Wow. All of this makes me wonder how Christianity became so infatuated with rules and regulations when the law was broken in its very conception. Maybe God’s will is done whenever Love triumphs, even against statutes.

Secondly, I think of the smell and conditions of this holy birth. In a manager, animals present, strangers lurking—what a mess. There is dysfunction happening everywhere. (Thinking back to the comfortable Christmas that I have in my head, this certainly is not that). I wonder, maybe we should not only try and find God in all of the pretty and pleasant things but also the places we would never think to find Him, namely, our dysfunction. (Which includes our dysfunctional relationships and families). We might be surprised by the abundant grace that awaits us there.

Finally, probably the biggest scandal of them all, God became not only one of us but is now dependent on us by literally putting Himself in our hands. Is there anything more vulnerable and dependent than an infant child? What are we to make of this? For one thing, maybe our perception of who God is should come into question. I read this week someone describing God much like Santa, making his list and checking it twice, trying to find out who is naughty or nice. Well, that certainly doesn’t fit the description of this infant child in total vulnerability, breaking into the world of dysfunction, all so He may love us in the most remarkable ways. Ways we are still not ready for and can imagine. Talk about hope.

God becoming man gives us profound hope because we no longer have to look up and out wondering if God exists and cares. His presence can be found in the physical, in both the body and soul. In both you and me.

Moreover, this Christmas scandal reminds us that He is not apart from our minor scandals and dysfunction. He is with us, and he loves us…and even takes our dysfunctions and creates something new and beautiful from them.

I wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas. One full of wonder and abundant joy. Let this Christmas remind us that all of the scandals that surround us, those that we read about, yours and mine, pale in comparison to the scandal of the Nativity. Thus, giving birth, quite literally, to a scandalous Hope.