Dr Rowan Williams said that many families start each Christmas
season with good intentions, such as writing cards weeks in advance and
arranging every detail of the turkey dinner.
But their preparations often descend into “the usual mess” and a “last-minute
panic”, with the problems made worse this year in many homes by worries
about how to pay for it all.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/christmas/8959204/Have-a-very-messy-Christmas-says-Archbishop-of-Canterbury.html?utm_source=tmg&utm_medium=td_8959204&utm_campaign=christmas1712
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/christmas/8959204/Have-a-very-messy-Christmas-says-Archbishop-of-Canterbury.html?utm_source=tmg&utm_medium=td_8959204&utm_campaign=christmas1712
Having read the article entitled “Have a Messy Christmas says the Archbishop of Canterbury” I regret I must correct the well-intentioned but error-filled comments of the Archbishop.
ReplyDeleteThe Archbishops observations are honest, logical, and appear to be obvious. His ‘chaos’ / ‘unplanned’ theory appears to be referencing the facts that either the Inn was noisy and full; or the time, was a busy time; people on the move; the tax season; the census, the town was busy; all other hotels/Inns were full; or the location / conditions / circumstances of the Holy birth, etc.
However there is no confusion or mystery surrounding the birth of Christ. A mystery is only a mystery to those whom it has not yet been revealed. So in the Spirit of Christmas, here’s an explanation as to why the Birth of Christ (and that’s what Christmas is really about) was the opposite of “chaos” and most certainly far from being “unplanned”.
Why was there no room at the INN? (No... it was not a “muddle”).
The reason why there was no room at the Inn is not that it was ‘unplanned’ but that God did not want room at the Inn.
God did not want His Holy Son born there amid drunkenness, sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idol worshippers, evil thoughts, etc.
In short there was SIN in the INN
and so it was not a fitting place for the birth of a Holy God. At that time, that place was the stable! It would have been nothing for the creator of all things seen and unseen to provide the grandest palace adorned with Gold and Silver but it was not with gold and silver we were to be saved nor would the Lord condone mammon and greed. The humble stable with the animals that bore no sin was the cleanest place for our Saviour to be born.
However had our Living God wanted, I don't think there would have been any major problem on His part to provide a room at any inn of His choosing, at any time regardless of how many people were or were not coming for any census or event at that time.
It was God's wisdom and predestination alone that His Son Jesus Christ be born on ground that was Holy and without sin in the camp. (No ‘chaos’, no ‘unplanned’ events, no ‘lack of peace’)
We have an all powerful God where ALL things are possible and who knows ALL things past, present and future, and He had already made up His mind to have His Son born on ground made Holy by His Presence. God’s planning is ALWAYS perfect and He is a God of order not disorder.
A beautiful video with carols that reflects the true meaning of Christmas is at: http://www.fivefoldministryireland.com/#/christmas/4557967804
Wishing the Archbishop and all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Harry