The Christmas Blur

Does the Christmas story ever feel like a blur? Mary and Joseph… Santa Claus… no room in the inn… the Grinch… baby Jesus in a manger… and the Disney Holiday Special!

Is that what it’s all about, Charlie Brown?

Over the years, December has become a mashup of meaning and marketing. And somewhere in the swirl you think, “I’m exhausted by the Christmas blur. I’m hungry for what’s true.”

If that’s you, let me point you to two surprising guides who can help bring things back into focus—a secular journalist and a rock star.

• First, Lee Strobel, formerly of The Chicago Tribune. He’s an award-winning legal journalist who began as a skeptic. In his book The Case for Christmas, he investigates eyewitness testimony, archaeology, fulfilled prophecy, and more—then concludes, based on the evidence, that the baby lying in the manger really was the Son of God. (Interested? Get the paperback from Amazon.)

• Second, Bono of U2. When asked about Jesus, he pushed back on the idea that Christ was merely a great moral teacher. Similar to C. S. Lewis decades earlier (in Mere Christianity), Bono said: “So what you’re left with is: either Christ was who he said he was … or a complete nutter.” He went on to make one of the most personal and compelling statements of faith you’ll ever hear. (Curious? Check “Bono: Who is Jesus?” on YouTube.)

If you still find yourself wondering, I have a question for you this Christmas: What if it really is true? What if God really did step into the blur of our world to bring forgiveness, hope, and salvation? Seriously. What if…?

Photo by krakenimages on Unsplash