free christ from christmas

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Christmas is upon us, and you can see it on people's cars. This year elf ears are a new creative addition to wreaths, antlers, garland, and lights. The car decoration that I've always felt ambiguous about is the, "Keep Christ in Christmas" magnet. You may have one on your car, a couple of my family members have them, and put them on display for the season. On the one hand, I like the public reminder that in the midst of the busy shopping season. Between the Santa photos and abundance of twinkly lights, there is, in that magnet, a little reminder of the Christian story that is about God becoming Incarnate in human flesh. The magnet captures many elements of the birth narratives in Matthew and Luke's Gospels (Mark and John do not include the story Jesus' birth.) The magnetic image includes Mary and Joseph; it includes an interpretation of the animal shelter they lodged in; it includes the star the Magi followed to come see the newborn King after he was born, and it even has the feed trough with the "X" representing either the first letter of Christ (in Greek), or the cross, where Jesus' life ended. So far so good.
The troubling thing to me is that it takes me to the nostalgic place that so many of us go to around Christmas. It creates a freeze frame of that little innocent baby, safely guarded by two parents and secure walls and a roof. The Jesus depicted is a safe Jesus. You don't even get a sense of the manure that must have been all around. Even the phrase "Keep Christ in Christmas," makes me wonder if we wouldn't all like to keep Christ in Christmas, and not let him escape into the rest of the year, or even the rest of our lives.
Theologically, this Incarnation we begin to celebrate on December 25th is something we have no control over. In it we actually recognize God's own power to break our barriers, and we celebrate God's choice to be among us (even when it seems too close for comfort.) Incarnation is about God putting on flesh and dwelling among us in surprising ways that will transform the way we live and move in the world. When the calendar tells us it's Christmas, that celebration is only the beginning (though it is an important beginning) of what God is up to in the world.
On a cultural level, I know most people don't get that. I'm not really interested in stores, schools, governments, and banks promoting the Incarnation this time of year, because that's not their job.It is the church's job to live out what Incarnation means, not culture's. Culture will always mess it up, because culture is about maintaining status quo, making some profit, and keeping things quiet. Incarnation, (are you ready for this?) Incarnation is about God showing up against all odds, right here among the apparent mess of things, and transforming who we are as people, so that we start doing God's work, too. That's Incarnation. It's challenging work, and it's our work, thanks be to God. Merry Christmas, this is only the beginning.


(More on the Dancing Christ: http://www.allsaintscompany.org/icons/dancing-saints)

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