Zetland Park Methodist Church Pastoral Letters
Christmas 2012
"God comes on earth to dwell"
In a series this autumn I have been looking again at Methodism's new vision - to be a "discipleship movement - shaped for mission". In this the third article we look at what it means to be "shaped for mission". "What," I hear you cry. "I thought he would at least talk about Christmas." Well, fret not - I am going to! Amongst all the tinsel and trees, presents and food, family gatherings and for some an unbelievable loneliness, we remember a baby being born to a young peasant women in cattle shed in a little known place called Bethlehem, at least a week's travel from her own home, to which shepherds and wise men were directed to discover … the son of God! The incredible story of Christmas, which we so easily lose sight of, is that God came down to earth, not in great pomp and splendour displaying his unworldly greatness beyond imagining, but as a human baby born in poverty and vulnerability. In coming in this way he made himself accessible to ordinary humans, even if those in power at the time (both Jewish and Roman) totally missed what was going on. In the words of a popular carol, "Our God contracted to a span, incomprehensibly made man!"
So what was it all about? Well, God was being "mission-shaped" to fulfil his purpose. In Jesus he was coming into his world in a way which would reveal and further his mission of being reunited with his creation! God has always wanted to be at one with his creation, but humanity has a propensity to keep wandering away from its creator! So finally, God came to us - and for us - in Jesus, in a way that even the lowliest person could not feel threatened by - as a human baby - and then he lived amongst us until the final act was revealed when, rejected again by humans he was killed on a cross. Yet even then God proved his power was greater than anything of humankind, for he has the power even over death itself!
That is what we celebrate at Christmas - God disclosing his mission to the world! Of course, as Jesus lived and taught so he revealed his mission was the same as his father's and he called his followers to be similarly mission-shaped in what they did by going to bring good news to the poor, to preach freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind (even the spiritually blind!) - to bring humanity back to the God who loves them. So, if this Christmas we are willing to be reminded again, and to remind others, that Christmas is about God wanting to be reunited with his creation - especially the human bit - then the message of Christmas will not fade when the decorations are put back in their boxes, but it will give us light and hope for the New Year - indeed for eternity! So let's share the message this Christmas. Emmanuel - God is with us!
That is what we celebrate at Christmas - God disclosing his mission to the world! Of course, as Jesus lived and taught so he revealed his mission was the same as his father's and he called his followers to be similarly mission-shaped in what they did by going to bring good news to the poor, to preach freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind (even the spiritually blind!) - to bring humanity back to the God who loves them. So, if this Christmas we are willing to be reminded again, and to remind others, that Christmas is about God wanting to be reunited with his creation - especially the human bit - then the message of Christmas will not fade when the decorations are put back in their boxes, but it will give us light and hope for the New Year - indeed for eternity! So let's share the message this Christmas. Emmanuel - God is with us!