It’s the season of Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s supposed to be the season of good will and good cheer. Yet the season began with a series of violent nights instead of silent nights, of bad news of despair instead of good news of great joy, of declarations of chaos in the streets instead of peace on earth. It is so easy to feel that circumstances such as that which developed from the events in Ferguson make us conclude that celebrating is meaningless and not worth the effort. The culture of violence is so overwhelming. Why bother to dream that things can be better?
Benjamin Watson of the New Orleans Saints offers this perspective: “I’M ENCOURAGED, because ultimately the problem is not a SKIN problem, it is a SIN problem. SIN is the reason we rebel against authority. SIN is the reason we abuse our authority. SIN is the reason we are racist, prejudiced and lie to cover for our own. SIN is the reason we riot, loot and burn. BUT I’M ENCOURAGED because God has provided a solution for sin through his son Jesus and with it, a transformed heart and mind. One that’s capable of looking past the outward and seeing what’s truly important in every human being. The cure for the Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice and Eric Garner tragedies is not education or exposure. It’s the Gospel. So, finally, I’M ENCOURAGED because the Gospel gives mankind hope.”
Robert Lawler of Redwood Empire Baptist Association shares the same sentiment: “As a student of the Bible and of history, I am gratefully encouraged. God’s Word helps me to see that apart from His liberating work in Christ, we are ALL wounded and blind. It has nothing to do with the color of my skin or my family of origin. We are all sin-stricken and blind to truth, and so, we strike out blindly at one another. We fear and we hate and we define justice as self-satisfaction because that is our natural fallen state. I am encouraged because the Bible announces the healing for that wound and the light that brings true sight. Neither law upon law, nor harsh enforcement, nor mere education heals and enlightens. The transformation of the soul through the gospel of Christ, the ‘power of God unto salvation for all who believe,’ cures our wounds and makes us see!”
I believe being thankful and celebrating Christmas is still worthwhile. In fact, it is necessary. It is important for us not to believe the lies that make us resigned to the false idea that sin wins. God has not abandoned the world. He has already acted decisively in his mission to restore all things to his original design of order and harmony under his benevolent authority. This is gospel; this is good news.
—Keith Y. Jainga