49 Danger! Baby On Board!

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"Danger! Baby on Board!"

The Rev. Tom Wright was preaching at a big, magnificently well
attended Christmas service. In attendance was a well known historian,
famous for his skepticism toward Christianity. Afterwards, he approached
Rev. Wright all smiles: "I've finally worked it out", he declared, "why
people like Christmas: A baby threatens no one, so the whole thing
is a happy event that means nothing at all!"
How would you respond to that supposition? I'm sure you would
like to hear how the Reverend responded: I was dumbfounded! At the
heart of the Christmas story in Matthew's Gospel is a baby who
poses such a threat to the most powerful man around that he kills a
whole village full of other babies in order to try to get rid of
him....Whatever else you say about Jesus, from his birth onward,
people certainly found him a threat. He upset their power
arrangements, and suffered the usual fate of people who do that.
In fact, the shadow of the cross falls over the story from
that moment on. Jesus is born with a price on his head. Plots are
hatched; angels have to warn Joseph; they only just escape from
Bethlehem in time. Herod the Great, who thought nothing of killing
members of his own family, including his own beloved wife, when
he suspected her of scheming against him, and who gave orders
when dying that the leading citizens of Jericho should be slaughtered
so that people would be weeping at his funeral - this Herod would
not bat an eyelid at the thought of killing lots of little babies in case
one of them should be regarded as a royal pretender. As Herod's
power had increased so had his paranoia - a familiar progression
as dictators around the world have shown from that day to this.
The Gospel of Jesus the Messiah was born in a land and at
a time of trouble, tension, violence and fear. Banish all thoughts of
peaceful Christmas scenes. Before the "prince of peace" had
learned to walk and talk, he was a homeless refugee with a price
on his head." Why? Because the world's most powerful man feared
that if he were allowed to grow to manhood, he would go about preaching.
Preachers are dangerous.
Not all that long ago, I went to Cuba. I needed to go for personal
reasons, and I was allowed to go - licensed to go - by taking medical
supplies for the handicapped which we delivered on arrival - we being
my friend Paul, a Canadian and Paul, who at that time was the head of
Social Security in our area, and his wife. Neither Paul was interrogated,
but I was as we prepared to leave - "What churches had I visited? With
what clergymen had I met?" - the same questions over and over again.
(The closest I had come, was stepping into the Cathedral) - as did my
traveling companions - but I was the dangerous one - a preacher.
The problem with preachers is they use words. Words are what
worry those in power. Speak out for what threatens those in power and
you're in trouble - your life is in danger - it may be taken, as was the life of
Prime Minister Bhutto.
Joseph and Mary, fearing for the life of their infant Son, fled to
Egypt, becoming refugees.
This ancient story is all too familiar in our world today. There are
something like 50 million refugees around our world today - crowded into
terrible conditions, fearing for their lives. In Sudan, the Sahara, in Malaysia,
in Jesus' own homeland, millions who are homeless, jobless, and hopeless.
Kind Herod could tell a threat to his power when he met one.
This little baby brought a new Kingdom, a new rule, a different sort of
sovereignty. After the arrival of the Baby, nothing is ever the same again.
After welcoming Him into our world, there is no going back to
normalcy. The arrival of ANY child makes that happen. I love to watch
the real estate shows that depict people looking for houses. More often
than not, it's to get greater space to accommodate the new arrival.
Will Willimon from whom I get illustrations for sermons told of
getting a phone call from someone he knew only casually - a distinguished
business person in the southern community who Will had met in discussions
relating to making their city schools more racially diverse. The business
man was not in favor of any such thing and let everyone know it. Now the
phone call. He wanted Will to get other Pastors and himself to support a
neighborhood center he had adopted - a center that works with mostly
minority young people. The surprise showed in Will's voice: "What
happened?" he asked. The business man said that he had had a rather
remarkable experience a couple of years before. "I met Christ. He
made me take a hard, hones look at my life and I didn't like what I
saw. I had to make a move. I'm not the same person I was just a
few years ago. I'm not living in the same place in the world. Through
the love of Jesus, I've made a move."
Since Jesus was born among us, little is the same. We can't get
back to normal. But we sure try! We have to be urged to move - to act
- to speak for the principles of the Christ Child - we should have a sign
for ourselves and our cars: DANGER! BABY ON BOARD!
It's time for all the members of the religions of our world to speak
out for the principles of peace and cooperation to which each of them
calls us. John Buchanan, editor/publisher of the Christian Century says
that "A remarkable thing happened this year in the weeks before
Christmas. A letter was written to Christian leaders by 138 Muslim
clerics and scholars representing every branch of Islam. 'A
Common Word Between Us' stated that the peace of the world
depends on peace between Muslims and Christmas, and that love
for God and neighbor is a central tenet of both religions and common
ground on which we stand. 'Our eternal souls are at stake,' the
Islamic leaders wrote.
It's so good to hear someone else say that - I've been saying it for
so long, and it is so encouraging that the same thoughts are coming from
Islamic leaders - representing all of its branches.
Yale Divinity School's Center for Faith and Culture put together a
response that was published in the New York Times on November 18,
expressing gratitude for the letter, asking forgiveness for historical Christian
hostility toward Islam and promising dialogue with Islamic and Jewish
leaders that "seeks the good of the other" and that asks how God "would
have us fulfill the requirement that we love God and one another."
Amid the tranquil scenes on our Christmas cards, we must ask
what God is calling us to do. I love getting Christmas cards. My favorite
was a new version of the 12 days of Christmas - rewritten as A Florida
Christmas:
A seagull in a Palm Tree
Two mouse ears
Three launching shuttles
Four snapping alligators,
Five golden oranges
Six Dolphins Leaping
Seven Flamingos Flocking
Eight Key Lime Pies Baking
Nine manatees munching
Ten Hurricanes blowing
Eleven Tourists Tanning
Twelve Early Birds Dining.
Yes, I love Christmas cards and thank you to all of you who sent me
one
- and I confess, I can't throw them away - there's something so sacred
and special and powerful in those tranquil scenes - and something so
touching about the letters that are enclosed, catching us up on the family's
progress through life, and we feel connected not only to them - but to the
whole human race - exactly how Jesus wants us to feel.
Then he calls us to act upon our feelings. Exercising our vote is a
major way. I don't know who will get my vote as yet. I just know that
I scan every speech I hear for the word "DIALOGUE" - I'm looking for
the leader who will choose diplomacy over destruction - cooperation over
conflict, peace over war - because that's the way of Jesus - and that is
VERY important to me.
I am so impressed with what our military forces are doing for
peace - the good that they are doing to help the people victimized by war
- particularly the children. Our member, Naval Commander Angie Keith
writes: I can't think of a better way to spend Christmas Eve than by
giving gifts to people who truly need our help. We visited the Kabul
Orthopedic Clinic which fits people with prosthetics, provides rehabilitation,
massage, and mental health treatment, free of charge, to more than 10,000
disabled patients a year. Afghanistan is one of the world's most heavily
mined countries and over 250,000 Afghans suffer from disabilities
associated with mines. Most of the patients we visited were young
amputees or children with other disabilities.
After the clinic we visited the Inderia Gandhi Children's
Hospital...We visited patients with cancer, orthopedic injuries, malnourished
children and the nursery. Between the two locations, we gave away over
200 bags of toys and candy and we put tons of smiles on the children's
faces. It is truly better to give than to receive? I felt like Santa today....We
are making a difference here, one smile at a time.
I feel, I see the Christ Child Smiling. His Gift to the world of
Love is being given - may we all be part of the delivery process. The
baby is coming......the Baby is coming.......DANGER! BABY ON
BOARD!

Sermon Notes(Not edited nor proofed)The Rev. Dr. Garth R. Thompson Pastor, M.B. Community ChurchA sermon is a simple truth told by someone whobelieves it to people he knows and loves (Phillips Brooks)December 30th, 2007 10:30 a, m. Matthew 2:13-23
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our heartsbe acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer.