Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Emergent Village

Home
Progressive Christian
May Christmas be Filled with Mouse Poop and Camel Spit By Randy S. Woodley

May Christmas be Filled with Mouse Poop and Camel Spit By Randy S. Woodley

Last updated on: December 24, 2012 at 12:59 pm by randywoodley

May Christmas be Filled with Mouse Poop and Camel Spit By Randy S. Woodley 2012-12-24T12:59:23-06:00 randywoodley

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.

In this cynical and snarky world in which we live, we are getting pretty good at diagnosing the problems in the world, sometimes even to the point of paralysis. We blog about them, we read about them, (many Christians today would like to read themselves into Heaven),we discuss what’s wrong with the world and we even preach about them. Being informed is not a bad thing but it is often the only thing we do. Our Western worldview has come to equate knowledge with real spirituality. I would like to argue that knowing and being informed does not add one real thing to our spiritual life in Christ. But, what does make us spiritual?

The Jesus community must be actively present wherever oppression, marginalization and exploitation of the disenfranchised exists. Wherever prisoners are confined; where the sick are in need; where mental patients are held; where people are hungry; where people are treated unjustly for whatever reasons, where widows and orphans (be liberal in your definitions) are suffering, where immigrants are refused hospitality; where the earth and any non-human creation is being abused, etc. Whenever we give up our power and privilege in order to reach out to help another of God’s creatures, just because we can—we become more like Christ. Action, that risks something, like giving up power and privilege can actually can make us spiritual.

The American and Euro-Western church has spent the past 500 years creating a dualistic, individualistic, and abstract theology that was followed by a wake of injustice and violence against the earth and her creatures. Whole nations and species have been conquered in Jesus name! I believe that colonial driven church and that imperialistic theology is dying quickly. Hopefully, one day soon the oppressive, violent, dualistic, individualistic church, (that I contributed much to) will be only a confession on our lips that we use to check ourselves from becoming arrogant. So what is being birthed now?

From where I stand, it appears to be a messy, blundering, almost leaderless bunch of communities who want to focus on the real, authentic Jesus who gave up his own power and privilege so we could live on this earth in Him and together with all creation in a good way. That Jesus was born in a stable in the midst of mouse poop and camel spit. That Jesus grew up in the poor hillbilly region of Galilee. That Jesus hung out with prostitutes, Gentiles, beggars and other disenfranchised people. That Jesus radically spoke out against the oppression of both the Roman occupied government and his own nationalistic and religious contexts. That Jesus died with criminals and still loves everyone just the same, even the ones who oppress and kill THE voice of authenticity. That Jesus chose shepherds and women, two marginalized groups who were forbidden to testify in Jewish court, to share the most important news on earth, his birth and his resurrection. If we could represent that Jesus, the real Jesus, it sounds just like the kind of communities for which God has been waiting.

The Christmas card I received yesterday is so very “in order.” The wise men are all in their proper place giving homage to the halo lit, baby Jesus. The shepherds wait outside the barn, the animals look on with serenity. It is all as it should be for as the song goes, “the little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.” Actually, I’m glad life is not like most of my Christmas cards. Perhaps we all need a little more mouse poop and camel spit in our Christmas celebrations this year?

Life is messy. Not just my life when I first came to Jesus, but my everyday life; every time I come to Jesus. Being human is a messy affair. But I’m so glad to be human. I think about that great contextual truth in John 1:14 “and the Word was made flesh and dwelled among us.” One translation says “He pitched His tent in our camp.” Oh how grateful I am that Jesus did not come into a Christmas card world because that is not the world I live in. My world is messy and nasty and often screwed up because I make it that way. And, when it comes to my faith, I really mess up…(I have to admit, sometimes I wonder if God waits outside the church doors on Sunday morning until the service is over so we don’t become confused).

God used the most unlikely of circumstances to bring unconditional love to me. Consider this:

Jesus was born in an obscure village among an obscure people who were living in an obscure country under foreign occupation (later He would become a refugee).

The circumstances of His birth were very suspect and cast a shadow over a “descent” marital relationship.

The first ones to give testimony to His impending birth were shepherds, a marginalized profession-which automatically exempted a person from testifying in civil court.

The wise men were likely Iranian psychic/astrologers who were not even worshiping God according to the Jewish prescription.

The cave where the Son of God was born was cold, moldy, full of animals (which always means full of animal poop and urine), had mice scattering to catch the spilled grain, people dodging birds flying in and out, and smelling like barn.

And yes, the manger where Jesus was first laid to rest was likely full of camel, horse and donkey spit.

I don’t know about you, but I can relate to a God who allows Himself to become vulnerable to everyone and everything He created. I love to celebrate the Christ who was willing to come into my messy world so I, and everyone else could know, the mess of shit and spit in unconditional love. The fact that I receive this messy love from Jesus is motivating enough to make me want to show that kind of love to others.

american christianity

Previous Post

December 23, 2012

God the Father and Embryo

Next Post

December 26, 2012 A Brief Introduction

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Addiction Advent Atheism Authority Bible Cartoons Christian Year Christmas church church planting Civil Rights Community Contemplative Spirituality Culture emerging church Empire Eschatology Evangelism Events Gender Healing Humanism Islam Justice Kingdom Lent Movement Building Multi-Faith Music mysticism New Wave Emergence origins Personal Poetry politics Prayer Preaching Privilege Racism Religious naturalism Resurrection salvation SKEPTIMERGENT Theology Trauma Uncategorized

Select a Month December 2017 November 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 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 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 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who said, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Moses Joshua David Samuel