Relax: the Savior is Come and We are Not He

Last updated on: December 24, 2016 at 3:26 pm by John Mark N. Reynolds

Relax: the Savior is Come and We are Not He 2016-12-24T15:26:15-04:00 John Mark N. Reynolds

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

2016 is one of those years.

The Republic did not totter, but it did slouch a bit. We are divided politically and our global presence has long been in decline. We keep aborting babies, too many do not know black lives matter, and our police officers were the target of killers. Most of the world looks at our sexual confusion and decadence in horror, but inside American universities, dissent on moral decline is punished. First Nations are still on reservations and Christians are being murdered with American weapons in the Sudan.

We need help and the temptation is to make a plan and act. The other people are the problem and we will save them from themselves. In that direction lies tyranny.

If I want to see the problem with America, I should look in the mirror. If I want to see the Savior, I should look in the manger.

Politics is at best a compromise between what should be and what can be. We pray for President Obama and President Elect Trump, but neither man will save us. Politicians must compromise, thank God, but we need more than the sort-of-justice the best politicians can choose. If you still have your Clinton bumper sticker because your hope was in Her, then you simply are an idolater with a loser god . If you think “making America great again,” will bring on paradise, then you are an idolater with a god who will fail.

We long for love, we crave love, but love that is steady, real, and endures all things: even death.

Family can be good, but cannot save us because nobody in a family is good enough. You cannot accumulate perfection from imperfection and only perfection in love will do. Family is flawed and the love we find comes from flawed people. Hallmark sells an image of family that is false for most people, but even when true, cannot save us. We are broken and even happiness is not enough. There is eternity burning in our hearts and we want more than happiness in this life. We want absolute romance, eternal and everlasting. Don’t focus on the family, find the vision of the shepherds of Bethlehem.

Science can tell us what is, but never decide what ought to be. Instead, people use science to pursue weapons and make elaborate toys while some starve. People are scientists and people always misuse power. Science can solve many problems, but not our fundamental problem. Our longing is not for more, better, or fixed stuff, but to know goodness, truth, and beauty. Science does not make ideas. Research is useful, but we need transcendence so put down the journal and reach for the Gospels to find reality.

A savior came on Christmas day. Why don’t we feel saved then? We keep looking elsewhere for salvation, even Christians. We say: “Jesus is our savior,” but then look to some Cyrus to save us. We say: “Jesus is our Savior,” but hope science cures our problems. We look in the mirror and think if we try harder, work more, make a plan, transcendence will be in our grasp.

But we can no more command the ineffable, then we can save ourselves. The Savior is come and He is not us. This is very good news. We can relax and party for twelve days. God may use us to pursue justice, speak prophetically, but history does not depend on us. God will let us serve Him, but God did the necessary work already.

Christ is born! Glorify Him!

Spiritual Reflections

Previous Post

December 23, 2016

Inside information on "Rogue One" Sequel in Works: "New Hope"

Next Post

December 25, 2016 The Location of the Tsarist Gold: Merry Christmas!

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Apologetics Art Culture Education On Books On Education Philosophy Politics Pop Culture Spiritual Reflections Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 July 2025 June 2025 September 2024 July 2024 June 2024 December 2023 June 2023 September 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What city is known as the birthplace of Jesus?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Bethlehem Jerusalem Galilee Nazareth

Books by This Author John Mark Reynolds

See All Titles »