By Annette Hill Briggs, Pastor at University Baptist Church in Bloomington, Ind.
“Please do not take Baby Jesus. They are all sets. Thank u.”
The green index cards were handwritten and taped above every shelf of nativity sets. Not a few lacked a holy infant.
Every sign was in English, notable given the shop was a tiny stall in a huge Mexican market in San Antonio. The shopkeeper noticed me reading the sign and came over, “I do not understand it, he said sorrowfully, Someone who believes in the Christ would never steal the Baby Jesus. And someone who doesn’t believe in the Christ has no use for him.” I thought about it all day—white people filching brown baby Jesuses rather than paying $20 for the sweet sets with girl shepherds and sombrero wearing wise men.
In Galatians, chapter three, Paul writes to a community of believers who were also lifting Jesus from the gospel story, adding him like a charm to their chosen worldview. Specifically, they expected those unlike them to be believers just like them, following the same rules, doing all the same rituals.
Looting the gospel story to reinforce our chosen way of faith is no less a theft than pinching Baby Jesus from a $20 nativity. Both are rendered useless, the nativity of its worth and the gospel of its power. But left in His proper place, Jesus brings us the story of our very lives, the light of which shows us to ourselves, the children of God through faith . . .clothed in Christ . . . [made] one in Christ Jesus. The vision of our lives and life together begins again at Advent, should we have the restraint simply to watch and listen to the birth of a tiny brown baby in a certain corner of the world.
Reflect
How have I noticed in myself or my faith community the habit of regarding Jesus as a good luck charm rather than relating to Him as the savior of humanity?
What are one or two everyday habits I can establish to experience the oneness in Christ described in Galatians 3:28?
Making Room is a daily devotional through Christmas from the CBF family, with two guides—one for adults and one for children and families—featuring reflections and simple activities for home, Sunday school or worship. Find the Making Room Advent resource here.