Clergy/Leaders’ Mail-list No. R-023 [Repeat of CLM 975: 24 Dec 1999]

JESUS, NOT THE REASON FOR THE SEASON

by James Irvine

Jesus said, “God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, that everyone who has faith in him may not die but have eternal life. It was not to judge the world that God sent his Son into the world, but that through him the world might be saved.” John 3: 16-17, New English Bible

In recent years, cards and bumper sticker slogans tell us that “Jesus is the reason for the season.” But that just isn’t the case. It flies in the face of the scriptural warrant and it flies in the face of our human experience as well.

The Father’s initiative is recognized in Bethlehem. Having heard the plea of his people, he responded in an expression of grace and truth recognized in the stable manger. Our need prompted the chain of events that began in the City of David and ended in the darkness of a Friday some years later. So the scriptures proclaim, the creeds declare and we believe. Redemption – forgiveness – salvation – drawing our attention, along with the shepherds.

Our reluctance to affirm that we are the reason for the incarnation demonstrates our arrogance and underscores our need for the Bethlehem event, year after year. Allowing today’s prevalent bumper sticker theology to deflect our attention from our own need leaves us aloof and beyond our need of God.

That appears to be the heresy of the day. Oh, we believe in God, all right. But, our sense of self-righteousness may prevent us from acknowledging our need of God’s grace. We are good, and we have no need of God. Alternatively, our sense of righteousness may prevent us from acknowledging other’s need of God’s grace. They are not good enough, and they are undeserving of God.

Our sense of distance leads to the exclusion of others, and, ironically, a baby in a stable manger: a baby we do not need but a baby we are prepared to worship.

By removing our need of his reconciling love, we place ourselves above the baby and beyond his reach.

He receives our adoration, our praise, our obeisance. We say that he is the reason for the season and when we do, we fail to recognize our need of him: a need that first brought him closer to us, than we to him.

YOU are the Reason for the Season.

– The Reverend Canon James T. Irvine <>