Christmas 2 C The Dignity of Man

 

Christmas 2 C The Dignity of Man

January 2, 1983

By Rev. Ernest F. Campbell

This past week the Union Bulletin ran a story about two young men in our community who fancy

themselves as inventors. In the interview these budding creators explained how they were

discovering that trying to promote a new idea is much harder than having a new idea in the first

place. It seems that people in general are slow to understand, accept and ultimately invest in

something they have been able to live more-or-less happily without.

Because their ‘thing-a-ma-jigs’ are not catching on as fast as they had hoped they have decided

to move to another geographic area where new ideas seem to enjoy a heartier try. I’m sure you

would join me in wishing them every success. One can only speculate on how many good ideas

there are out there, gathering dust, for want of the right promotional connection.

It is always difficult to get a new idea from one mind into another mind. This is particularly true

with something which you have never seen before. And which is outside of your experience.

That is why it is commonly said that one picture is worth a thousand words. We learn more from

seeing something than hearing about it.

Ex) the Northwestern Railway 400 ‘Mars Light’ (seeing the light at the crossings is one of those

life imperatives)

Mars Lights are signal-safety lights used in the United States and built by Mars Signal Light Company for

railroad locomotives and firefighting apparatus. Mars Lights used a variety of means to cause the light to

oscillate vertically, horizontally, or both, to catch the attention of motorists and pedestrians. [Kathy

added explanation and photo]

Preachers, it seems, are willing to try almost anything; pacing, pointing, pounding, and

projecting, if more people would see the light. Trouble is, of all the ideas which are foreign to the

human mind…. of all the new concepts which we have not experienced, none is greater than the

concept of a God who loves us.

If our Walla Walla inventors think that selling their ‘low slung’ bike idea is tough, they should

try promoting a relationship between an infinite, eternal, all powerful God and a finite, limited,

and by comparison, puny human being. We can easily grasp the concept of the ‘Mars Light’ but

how can we experience the love of almighty God?

‘The Incarnation Event’ like the star of Bethlehem, lights the way out of our quandary. The

creator who made us understands our limits and knows our problems. (what good inventor

wouldn’t know the limitations of his creation?)

So, that we might know what God is like, God sent Jesus Christ into the world. In Jesus Christ

we can see as much of deity can be put in humanity.

When John wrote his Gospel, he explains the incarnation event by saying that God is the idea

behind the reality of Jesus. Jesus said, “If you have seen me, you know what God is like.”

So, the creator and inventor of all things; who, because he created them, understands all their

limitations and potential. This very being of God…. became flesh and dwelt here among us….

on this planet, so we might experience the awesome presence and company of Almighty God.

Now, when we ask, how can I experience the love of this infinite, eternal, all powerful God, in

terms that a simple mortal can grasp…we can study the concrete, tangible influence of Jesus’

life on our human existence for the last 2000 years.

The light of Christ has cast a shadow behind every human being on the face of the earth since

His resurrection. When God became man, He raised the dignity of all human beings to an eternal

perspective, young and old, rich and poor, people of 5 talents and people with one…. all were

raised by Christ. No honor, no treasure, no power on earth could match the glory of being in the

same fellowship with the God who created all of it.

Think of it; you, all the members of your family, our community, our country, our world were

destined to be members of God’s eternal family through Jesus Christ.

I pray with Paul, that all of us may really see with our hearts that we have been adopted by God.

God created us and then by becoming one of us…in Christ…(Oh, how I love this line in today’s

collect) “Wonderfully restored the dignity of human nature. Grant that we may share the divine

life of Him who humbled Himself to share our humanity.”

What God has shared with us is so priceless we could never pay Him back. We can however

become the incarnation or the enfleshment of God’s intent with our own lives.

If God intends to raise man up, to restore his dignity, to free him with His forgiving love, then we

are ignoring God’s will (sinning) when ever we do something that degrades, humiliate, or

oppresses man [anyone]. To serve God’s will in relationship with our fellow man, means to raise

him up.

Ex) Whom – Ever – story (Father took her in his arms. “Yeah, Babe whomever”) (the father

didn’t mind being identified with her – he was saying she’s my girl and I love her – I understand

– you may not understand, but she has worth to me.)

(ask Mom?)

Oh, if we could only believe in our hearts how God has wonderfully restored the dignity of

human nature and to see how easily we could do the same.