Christmas - Politically Incorrect - Week 1
December 14, 2008
Christmas - Politically Incorrect
Matthew 2: 1 - 18

We are living in an era of political correctness. That means that we don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings; we don’t want to leave anybody out – and when it comes to Christmas, there are a lot of people that say the celebration is just not politically correct.

Politically correct

When it comes to Christmas, some think it's not kosher

We can’t say "Merry Christmas"; it now has to be Happy Holidays

We can’t have a Christmas Tree; it's got to be a Holiday Tree

We can’t sing Christmas Carols; they have to be generic holiday songs.

There is a whole new group of Grinches that want to steal away Christmas. To erase it. Or at least to take CHRIST – out of Christmas.

Recent display in the state capitol of Washington, manger scene – Atheists had to post their display attacking Jesus.

That same spirit - that same attitude –that same hostility toward Jesus was present even at the first Christmas. Take your Bibles and turn to Matthew 2.1-18

The first (politically incorrect) Christmas

In a sense, that first Christmas was itself very politically incorrect. The Messiah didn’t come in the way the world expected him to come.

• He came to the wrong people – Jewish people, not prominent, not powerful – under Roman oppression
• He came at the wrong time – Roman domination, spiritual "black out"- not heard from God for 400 years
• He was born to the wrong parents – young unwed mother, carpenter father, scandal
• He was born in the wrong place – born in a manger, not palace, not wealth, educated
• He came for the wrong reasons – not a military warrior, political leader but to die on a cross, to be a Savior, Substitute, for forgive erase sins and open heaven

Jesus didn’t come in the way the world expected him. His birth wasn’t politically correct and as a result he wasn’t accepted. The Bible says "He came unto his own and his own received him not" John 1. – even the people Christ came to, didn’t receive him because he didn’t come as they expected. But there was one man who so opposed Jesus from the beginning – one man who was so violent in his outrage that this one man nearly…. nearly killed Christmas.

The man who almost killed Christmas

 

King Herod is one of the most troubled and conflicted people in the Bible.

Herod was an Indumean – from the nation of Edom, not a Jew

Father Antipater had done favors to Rome, so when the Romans occupied the middle east, son Herod was made procurator of Judea, Samaria and Galilee and was crowed "king of the Jews" in 37 B.C. He was the consummate politician, doing everything he could to win the approval of Rome – known for the merciless tactics used to extract taxes from the people- power increased. He loved the title, "King of the Jews!" and he was known by that title until his death.

He was paranoid – always afraid of loosing his power. He would stop at nothing to protect his rule. He murdered all the sons of the Maccabeans who had led a revolution against the Greeks. He didn’t want to risk them revolting against him, so he slaughtered them all.

Herod had ten wives and twelve children. Herod became suspicious of one of his wives and so ordered her and her son to be killed. On another occasion Herod became fearful that one of his two older sons might take his place, so he murdered them both. Five days before his death he executed another son for plotting against his throne.

His final act– he had the distinguished leaders in Jerusalem imprisoned with orders that they would be executed upon Herod’s death – so that there would be weeping in Jerusalem when he died!

Herod was a brutal, merciless and twisted man – obsessed with himself and his own power! And you can imagine, when wise men from most likely ancient Persia came into Jerusalem inquiring about a new "King of the Jews" how this threw him into panic. "And when Herod heard this, he was disturbed and all Jerusalem with him." (v3) Troubled – panicked. And so was everyone else. They didn’t know how he would react!

But instead of going into a mad tirade, Herod tried to use the wise men to locate this new baby that would be king. And when they refused to report back to him, the Bibles says that Herod ordered the death of every baby boy who were two years old and younger!

That first Christmas, there was an attack on Jesus.

There are still Herods today in the world – believers suffering today (Christmas martyr)

Lottie Moon

In our country, resistance to Christ and Christians. You may have people around you this Christmas that want to take Christ out of Christmas. Abrasive to the gospel. Hardened to God. Or maybe indifferent

Herod’s problem is that he was far from God! And because he was far from God, Christmas was a threat not a promise. Keep in mind that the greatest need the people around you have is a spiritual need -they need to know God. For many, Jesus is a threat to their lifestyle, independence instead of the hope of new life!

So how should we respond? What is the wise way to handle the hardened skeptic?

How did the wise men deal with Herod?

Living wisely in an unbelieving world

1. Be Gentle and Respectful -They discerned Herod’s motives, didn’t attack, didn’t argue, didn’t accuse, didn’t retaliate. They were polite, respectful and discerning. "with gentleness and respect" They didn’t protest, make placards, organize petition, call their congressman. They simply responded to him reverently and respectfully. We are supposed to counter the culture, not curse the culture. Stepping stone not a stumbling block! How did Jesus respond – "without speaking a word". God did not call us to a ministry of retaliation, but a ministry of reconciliation! God didn’t commission us to at all cost win the argument, but at all cost win the soul! God didn’t leave us here to be abrasive but be an ambassador for Jesus Christ!

I Peter 3.15 "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…"

Look at those two words. Gentleness, respect. That is what is going to get your message across! Gentleness. Respect!

Col 4.5-6 "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

Be wise. How? Let your conversation be well seasoned, pleasing "full of grace"! Listen, it may test your limits of grace to deal with someone that is cranky, hostile, disrespectful, rude, insulting, accusing. But when you respond with grace, gentleness, respect, dignity – you set the stage for the message of Christmas to get through!

2. Worshipped Jesus – no matter the threats and resistance, they didn’t let Herod spoil their opportunity to worship. Don’t let the environment of political correctness steal your worship. The angels sang, the wise men knelt, the shepherds gathered. Family Advent Candle. Candlelight service. Reading the Christmas story. Take time to make Jesus prominent this Christmas – go out of your way

Create times of worship

3. Give to be a blessing – Book to neighbor. Proverbs 19.6 "…everyone is the friend of a man who gives gifts." - Wise men gave gifts. Book, tape, something that contains the gospel. Story of lady giving me gift, "that will be four dollars". Woman who knew a family, father had died before Christmas, four children. 12 days gifts would come at night, Christmas Eve – something special for everyone!

4. Follow the Spirit’s prompting – they were directed to go another way. Spirit may prompt you this year to do something you have never done before, reach out to someone at Christmas time and share the meaning of Christmas! Neighborhood party.

He is there is we will seek him!