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| Not this sign! |
After Christmas the sign reads, "Jesus is born. Come and learn about him." I have found it profoundly disturbing, and each morning as I pass it causes me to ponder.
Why such a sign has disturbed me, I am not quite sure. But, I will try a little self-analysis. (I think my being disturbed is more about me than about this little church of faithful souls.) So here goes ...
When Christians announce at Christmas "Christ is born" they are making a spiritual rather than historical statement. Of course, it refers back to events two thousand years ago, but our record of those events is scant. If the announcement was of historical interest only it would be "Jesus was born."
"Christ is born" is a profound statement about spiritual realities and mystical union and inner divinity and discoveries of love. (Theologians among us notice the difference between "Jesus was born" and "Christ is born." There is something important here about the Jesus of history and the Christ of faith.)
"Come and learn about him" disturbed me even more. I'm not sure that learning about Jesus is a very helpful idea. I can learn about weather patterns. I can learn about the habits of polar bears. I can learn about the development of mining in Pennsylvania. All very useful in its own way, I suppose. But, not exactly life changing! That Christ is born is a spiritual reality that calls us to follow, to experience, to know, to be, to become.
I have pondered what I would have rather seen on the sign. Here's a few contenders:
Christ is born! Be a follower!
Christ is born! Experience love!
Christ is born! Look inside.
That being said, I'm not big into church notice boards and probably would not have one!
+Ab. andy