Saturday, December 06, 2008

Rebel Jesus

Lately I've been listening to Christmas songs and have been thinking a lot about how we approach not only the Incarnation of our Lord, but His on-going incarnation in believers today. How do we live out Christ's life on earth? How do we live His love and sacrifice before the world today?

The song that really convicted me to examine my own life is one that Jackson Brown sings on the Chieftains' "Bells of Dublin" album. Read the lyrics and tell me what you think.

All the streets are filled with laughter and light
And the music of the season
And the merchants windows are all bright
With the faces of the children
And the families hurrying to their homes
As the sky darkens and freezes
They’ll be gathering around the hearths and tales
Giving thanks for all God’s graces
And the birth of the rebel Jesus

Well they call him by the prince of peace
And they call him by the savior
And they pray to him upon the seas
And in every bold endeavor
As they fill his churches with their pride and gold
And their faith in him increases
But they’ve turned the nature that I worshiped in
From a temple to a robbers den
In the words of the rebel Jesus

We guard our world with locks and guns
And we guard our fine possessions
And once a year when Christmas comes
We give to our relations
And perhaps we give a little to the poor
If the generosity should seize us
But if any one of us should interfere
In the business of why they are poor
They’d get the same as the rebel Jesus

But please forgive me if I seem
To take the tone of judgement
For I’ve no wish to come between
This day and your enjoyment
In this life of hardship and of earthly toil
We have need for anything that frees us
So I bid you pleasure
And I bid you cheer
From a heathen and a pagan
On the side of the rebel Jesus.

Did that make you uncomfortable? Also, check out my post at Adven-urous.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Elder's wife - thanks for coming over and commenting on my blog. Your words are very thoughtful, and your profile resume is impressive. I can't wait to read more of what you've written. Hope to see you back soon!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the kind words Matt. I've just found your blog and enjoyed it.
Kat

Anonymous said...

Kat,

I very much enjoy the comments you make over at the Imonk's site.

He threw me off his site awhile back (too Lutheran for him), but every now and again I pop my head in just to see what's going on. (I am a sinner after all).

I'm looking forward to perusing your site a bit. it should be a lot of fun.

Thanks!

- Steve Martin

Anonymous said...

Steve-
Thanks for stopping by. I didn't think anybody could be too Lutheran. IMonk is pretty democratic in his choice of bloggers.