Not long ago, a certain talk radio show put on a contest, the winner being the one with the “best” pet peeve. While I do not remember who won or what most of the peeves were, the one that stands out was the caller whose chief lament was with those who tell children, “There is no Santa Claus.” Though the caller, obviously an adult, admitted to the host that he realizes there isn’t, to air such complaints only shows the power that fabled traditions and customs have in our society.

If we were to look back to many ancient cultures, or even those of under-developed countries of today, we would probably call such power superstition. While it is not my intent to delve deeply into superstition, it has been my hope these last few weeks that all of us will take an honest look into the things we believe surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ. While I am sure that many will ask with Pontius Pilate, “What is truth?” (John 18:38), for those who really want the truth, only a careful consideration of the Word of God is going to yield any results (John 8:31-32).

With this in mind, let us leave this holiday series with yet one more hymn associated with Christmas, “Joy to the World.” Herein lies yet another song that only very marginally at best speaks of his birth, while the bulk of its’message speaks of a time yet to come. Let us begin with the first verse. It says: “Joy to the world, the Lord is come: Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare him room, And heaven and nature sing ...”

While it may be argued that this verse speaks of the birth of Christ through the analogy of preparing room for him when there was no room for Mary and Joseph when they entered Bethlehem at his birth, any further similarity just cannot be found. Even though Almighty God had robed himself in flesh and had been birthed into the world, the only joy that is recorded on that night was that of the shepherds in Luke 2:20. Those whom they told were filled with wonderment, verse 18, but this sentiment expresses no joy. Even in verse 10 when the angel brings them greetings, the future tense is used in regard to the tidings of great joy, as the verse says, “which shall be to all people.”

Additionally, even though Jesus was born as King of the Jews, he did not come to be king, but savior at his first advent. As we have mentioned before, for Jesus to come as a political and military messiah before coming as a messiah for man’s soul is to leave man dead in trespasses and sins. Yet, even as king of the Jews, Jesus was rejected by his own people, and to date, the earth has yet to receive him as her king.

While we could continue through the balance of this hymn, it would only serve to validate that this song speaks of those things yet to come. Verse two speaks of the saviour who reigns, a time yet future when the Lamb of God will return to this earth in great wrath (Revelation 6:16-17). Verse three speaks of the lifting of the curse during Christ’s millennial reign, again a time yet future (Amos 9:11-15). And verse four speaks of how Jesus will reign, yet again, this is for a time yet future.

Yet, as I consider this song, two thoughts stand out before me. First of all, there is more said in the New Testament about his soon return to this earth than there is about his birth. Consider for yourself that the only place you will find the New Testament speaking of his birth is the first two chapters of the gospels of Matthew and Luke. Yet in regard to his second coming, not only will you find it the gospels and in the epistles of Paul, Peter and Jude, but almost the entire book of Revelation expounds upon it.

But for all this disparity, our traditions teach us to do just the opposite. We spend far more time and resources on those things regarding Christmas traditions than we do on those that will prepare us to meet him face to face.

In my study of his second coming, I notice that even though he will demonstrate to fallen man that he is able to bring in his kingdom without the aid or assistance of the church or the armies of heaven, and that he is able to perpetuate peace for 1,000 years, human nature remains the same. For all of Christ’s goodness, man will still rebel against Almighty God (Revelation 20) in the end.

Hence, if the reality of Christ’s presence will not change the tendencies of the sin nature, can we honestly expect it of our traditions? If we cannot demonstrate the power of transformation (Romans 12:1-2), what difference is there between our traditions and theirs?

Ron Hamman is pastor for Independent Baptist Church of Wasilla. Contact him at 357-4229.