Truth telling at Christmas time

It is difficult to tell the truth when the Christian world is having such a good time celebrating precious myths and legends as though they were history. Jesus was probably not born in Bethlehem in Judea. The stable story is the work of a creative writer. No Wise Men from the East or shepherds watching sheep in the fields. No traveling star or angelic choirs filling the night air. No frantic flight to Egypt to escape persecution and certain death. A virgin birth is an article of faith that is difficult to make into history.

My great dilemma is whether or not to share commonly acknowledged information at the same time pastors of churches are remaining silent about what they learned in seminary. Sermons during the Advent and Christmas seasons will be preached without a word about the fact that the birth of Jesus Bible material is myth and legend, indefensible as history.

Narratives about the birth of Jesus appear in only two of the four New Testament Gospels. The gospel that was written first is Mark. Mark wrote about 75 years after the birth of Jesus and 40 years after his death. Mark makes no mention of the miraculous birth of Jesus or dramatic events that reportedly surround the virgin birth in Bethlehem of Judea.

The birth narratives appear in Matthew and Luke and were written about ten years after Mark. Neither claims anything other than second hand information. They claim no special revelation from God. Matthew is clearly not the Matthew of the twelve apostles. The writers were totally dependent upon whatever sources were around. Myths and legends about Jesus had multiplied since his death. Matthew’s account of the birth of Jesus and that of Luke cannot be reconciled. Their genealogies are conflicting with facts of history.

The John gospel was written a generation later in an area 700-800 miles from the Jerusalem area where the other gospels were written. John’s gospel is a rich presentation of early Christian theology, but has little interest in historicity. John says absolutely nothing about the birth of Jesus.

The apostle Paul is worth a mention. Paul wrote about half of the material in our New Testament. He was the earliest writer of New Testament material. He wrote at least 10 to 20 years before Mark. He had no first hand contact with Jesus from Nazareth. He had substantial contact with the apostles of Jesus, and had time to talk theology with the apostles. Not once in all of his writings does Paul mention a miraculous birth of Jesus.

Current Biblical scholarship is unrelenting. Pastors and their churches have abandoned the serious education of their congregations, but state universities have picked up the ball. Young people are more likely to find serious study of the Bible in a state university class than in the church of their childhood. In their home churches people will simply continue to recite the Apostles’ Creed without engaging their brain.

What are the options for Christians who find themselves trapped between neglect and absurdity? They can quietly leave their churches and become seeking nomads. Many are doing that. Or they can sit quietly in the pews, park their brain at the door of the church and enjoy the company of many good people who are doing the same thing. But there is a third option.

In his provocative book “How to Read the Bible,” Harvard theologian Harvey Cox offers a third option. Accept the Bible for what it is. It is a collection of writings that cluster around the possibility of a God, who loves what he has created. The Bible offers the possibility of the kingdom of God on earth. This is the obsession of the teachings of Jesus. The Bible writers number in the dozens. Their writings are of uneven quality, but all are of value. They range from brilliant to mundane. The writers do not agree with one another. They argue with one another. The wise reader will join the argument.

Vigorous discussion is needed. The Bible through history has earned a place at the discussion table. However, room at the table must be made for people of other faiths. Isolation and exclusion must be banned. Scientists, sociologists and historians must have a full voice. The discussion table cannot be exclusive in any sense. I would love churches to be the hosts of the needed discussions and arguments. Churches can be the gatekeepers for the gatherings.

During this season of the year, I will again sing “We Three Kings,” “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” “Away in a Manger,” and “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” I will sing with thanksgiving for God’s goodness and grace. I will honor the traditions that they represent.

In this Christmas season I will also continue to look for the discussion room.

The Rev. Howard Bess is a retired American Baptist minister, who lives in Palmer, Alaska. His email address is hdbss@mtaonline.net.