Perhaps a better question is the gospel's description of these events- truth or parable? And does it matter? The suggestion is that these events could be coming from Jesus' teachings in which he uses many parables to convene a message. Parables are about meanings; they can be truth-filled even if they are not historically accurate.
The birth of Christ is the beginning of a transformative ministry. Christ was passionate about the kingdom of God, what life would be like on earth if God were king and the rulers and emperors' of the world were not. A world of justice in which everybody has enough and the system is fair for everyone.
Whenever we recite the Lord's Prayer, we recommit ourselves to this concept- Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Theologian John Dominic Crossan's one-liner on the subject "Heaven's in great shape, the earth is where the problems are."
As Christians, our calling is to look at issues of today through the lens of faith. The deeper theological meaning of Christmas is not whether but how Christians should engage with those in need of greater human dignity and justice.
In his poem "I Will Light Candles This Christmas," Howard Thurman envisions a light burning brightly through us-the light that dashes away sadness with joy, replaces fear with courage, and banishes despair with hope.
The magical story of Christmas challenges us to celebrate the teachings that Christ brought to this earth. A message of goodwill and peace on earth. During this time, celebrate and reflect on the teachings of Christmas. But when the Christmas season ends, try not to tucking those teachings back away with the ornaments
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