Still No Room at the Inn

| Posted By Charles Gaston

A Word from the Dean
in the December 17, 2017 Adventurer

I read recently of a vicar in the Church of England who is discouraging his parishioners from celebrating Christmas. By that he means for them to not to engage in the cultural traditions, but keep it strictly about Jesus. I hear what he is saying. Yes, Christmas has seemingly been hijacked by the culture around us that has mindlessly affirmed that there is still no room at the inn.

The Washington, DC, public transit system, Metro, refused to carry an advertisement from the Archdiocese of Washington. The advert included a star, shepherds, and sheep, which led Metro to declare it to be “religious” and thereby inappropriate. If such things qualify an advert as religious, what hope has the Shepherd Foundation in getting its message out? This, of course, is only one of a number of stories that come out each year about trying to kick Christ out of Christmas. What are we to think?

Honestly, I don’t get bent out of shape by such things because I expect them. Why should we expect the world to welcome the Lord Jesus? Their response to his appearing 2,000 years ago was an attempt to kill him as a baby, only to succeed when he reached adulthood. And yet, such attempts are foolish. They killed him, but the grave couldn’t hold him. This baby born in a manger now reigns as a King.

If anything, my sure and certain hope does not cause me to disdain our cultural traditions (Christmas trees, food, gifts, Santa, etc), but enhances my Christmas joy. For unto us a child is born who is the savior, Christ the Lord – shouldn’t this season be a celebration?

The secular song “We Need a Little Christmas” resonates so powerfully with me year round, because I feel mightily my need for rescue and Christmas reminds me that my deliverer has come and by his death and resurrection has made me his child, an heir of his eternal kingdom.

Regardless of what the world says, and will continue to say, let us keep our eyes focused upon him who was born in a feeding trough, but now sits upon an unshakable throne.

– Andrew