Monday, December 18, 2023

It is the 18th of December, 2023. Welcome to the Christian History Almanac brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org; I’m Dan van Voorhis.

A very happy Monday- the last Monday in Advent, I suppose. Or just one more week to Christmas. As of writing, it's still 78 degrees at the CHA studios, but we hear some weather is coming.

And speaking of the CHA studios, today’s email comes from one of the most oft-quoted questioners on mailbag Mondays. He is Wade from Mission Viejo, who tells me that Mission Viejo’s first church- Mt. Of Olives Lutheran, was dedicated in 1966. It is currently a part of the LCMC association of churches- it has a membership of over 1800, which makes it a medium-sized church in Orange County.

Wade’s question stuck in my head for some time- he wrote: Last Sunday, I was reading Luke 2 with some friends,  and we were marveling at Jesus humbling himself to be born as a man (in a pretty un-ceremonious way). Someone pointed out that If Jesus were born in the finest palace on earth, it would still be a huge step down from where he came from.

Someone else asked: did you know that historically, there has been some controversy regarding the true nature of Jesus? Some said he was a regular person who became God's son at John's baptism; others said he was never actually a man (just appeared as one) because bodies are bad and God can't be bad; others said he was one person with split personalities.

I am sure that ship lands on the Nicene Creed, but can you walk us through ideas that were discarded and why we should have confidence in the work that came from Nicaea?

Well, Wade- you’ve been paying attention because, yes- the answer is the Council of Nicea and its formulation:

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,

born of the Father before all ages.

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;

through him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation

he came down from heaven,

and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary
,
and became man.

So, first- why does it matter that some old council said something? As protestants, we can become unmoored from history as a guide and as one kind of authority. It seems that God deemed it fit to have his people tell his story (he used people) and have his church decide the BIG questions by consensus. Unfortunately, the church has splintered over time, but in those first centuries, it could- for the most part- speak with one voice. You always have outliers- but the most important question- who is Jesus was answered with a kind of unanimity we get hardly anywhere else. It is the cornerstone of our faith- it is an ESSENTIAL, and so we do well to speak with one voice. For us and for our salvation, Jesus became a man- but sinless- as a second Adam- as a sacrifice without blemish- and as the old church would say- everything that he has assumed, he has saved.

But what kind of street value does this have? It matters in worship- we sing to Jesus as God. He is not a prophet, an enlightened human, etc… but God- and the Word that was brown before all ages and created the world. A fundamental question that all world religions seek to answer is: who is God? What is God like? Or- colloquially- I found myself on this planet, and things seem to be a little off, and I’d like to speak to the manager. Who is that? Some sky spirit? A divine light inside of me? No-  you want to know what God is like and what God wants- speak to him. It’s the beauty of this season- “long lay the world, in sin and error pining, until he appeared….” He is the creator and on a count of the incarnation- our brother. The one who points to the father and reconciles the creation to the creator- that is, to himself. It’s the mystery of the trinity- I was talking about this with my youngest today and, as you might expect, his head couldn’t quite get it- so I said- until it makes sense, know that Jesus- the one to whom we pray and worship is God. And, like us. He can empathize with us and be a sacrifice in our stead. You know I’m a broad church ecumenical guy in general- but that’s AFTER we settle the question- who do you say that Jesus is? And I’ve not only been given a brother but a family over 2,000 years old that can’t agree on a lot- but did and has agreed with remarkable unity on this fundamental question.

Thanks, Wade, for the question, and send me your questions at danv@1517.org- last few days for Christmas questions- which I may also be answering this week on the program because I can…

The last word for today comes from the daily lectionary from Ephesians and a famous extended metaphor from Paul.

13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

This has been the Christian History Almanac for the 18th of December 2023, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org.

The show is produced by a man whose own Random Lake, Wisconsin, has fewer inhabitants than Mt of Olives Lutheran has members… He is Christopher Gillespie.

The show is written and read by a man who forgot to wish his sister, Lisa- a very Happy Birthday on the Weekend Edition- you’d think she was my younger sister…. she’s that immature (j/k). I’m  Dan van Voorhis.

You can catch us here every day- and remember that the rumors of grace, forgiveness, and the redemption of all things are true…. Everything is going to be ok.