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Dec
13
2004
13
2004
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False Motives
To be honest I am a little shocked.
I’ve written a few things that I thought would surely stir up some response, but I had NO idea what a fun discussion this whole wax nativity thing would turn into.
Here are a couple of good comments that you might have missed:
And, not to beat a dead horse, but I just want to point out that I was not offended… at least not by the circumstances. What could offend is a statement that would assume people do not have a sense of humor if this nativity scene bothers them. This simply is not true and could be in contradiction to the very spirit of the post… not taking things too seriously. – Frank Pembleton
Well, here is the thing that hit me this weekend. My wife’s father and step-mother saw it. This is what she said: “It really connected with me that it could happen today. I realized that the First Christmas was real and it made it that much more real.” So, the thing I see is “To the pure all things are pure.” To those looking for a laugh, it will receive a laugh. For those looking to be offended, it will be offensive. And I hope and think that was the gist of what Bob was getting at. Christians need to stop looking for things to get offended by. It just reminds me too much of how quickly ACLU people get about “Merry Christmas”. – Nathan Prong
Everyone has a right to be offended, the good Lord knows that I’ve spent many a day in the past doing so. The hardest part that I have is understanding the “why’s” of it.
Anonymous (and you know who you are) argued the following reasons:
1) That God doesn’t want us to use our sense of humor to mock him (though he in his infinite love gave us the ability to do so).
2) They also used the argument, “What if that was your son and mother they were making fun of.”
3) That they were offended at the type of people they used and the life style that they are known for.
4) Holy moments are off limits.
5) And lastly again the personalization of the event to their own circumstances.
I would agree with their first point whole heartedly. But I would disagree that this was a situation in which God was being mocked. The Bible is very clear that God will not be mocked and I don’t plan on trying to test that anytime soon.
If someone made fun of my son, I would certainly be upset. It’s your kid and you love them and there really isn’t an argument there. If someone made fun of their mother I would also take offense. Here I must disagree again. Jesus is not mocked in any fashion. He is your run of the mill Jesus in all manager scenes. So then let’s address the issue of Mary. She is full clothed, in a normal manager pose and it appears to be very respectful. So all those bases are covered; that would mean then that the real offense would come from the people they choose.
I know nothing of the personal lives of any of the people involved. What is it that Mrs. Beckham is known for having done in her private (or public) life that is so offensive? She used to be in the Spice Girls, and while I didn’t care for their music I don’t know that is offensive. Now understand that I do not come from a Catholic mindset, so the idea of Mary being as sacred as Jesus is foreign to me. Outside of the initial birth of Christ she plays little role in his ministry on earth. But that is for the most part irrelevant. However in the end it is not the actor who is playing the role that matters, it is the role. In The Passion of the Christ, people could care less that Jim Caviezel is rumored to be bi-sexual, you didn’t care about who the actor was in private, you were moved by the story of the man that he portrayed. The same thing applies here.
This leads me to recall a verse from Paul:
15) It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16) The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17) The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18) But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19) for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. – Philippians 1: 15-19
Maybe Madame Tussauds wanted to make a modern day nativity. Maybe they wanted to make fun of Bush and Tony Blair. Maybe they wanted to mock the whole idea of the Christmas Season. What does it matter? The important thing is that this image has reminded us all that this is the time of year that we reflect back on the birth of the Christ, that he is the reason that we are here today.
Don’t believe it? Take a look at this link that Wally Loman sent: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=583&e=5&u=/nm/20041213/od_nm/odd_beckhams_dc
Sadly it recounts that someone attempted to destroy the scene (What a sad commentary on Christians, we rant and rail against non-Christians and then this is how we behave?), but what I found interesting is that many in the public were appalled because they only reason they had come to Tussauds was to see the nativity.
… But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached.
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About the Author: Bob Soulliere
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Quick note I would not watch The passion of the christ either.
I hear ya on that one, but probably not for the same reasons… too much for this sensitive viewer.
Very good post Bob, As I read through the initial one, the comments and now this one…I thought about many that were in the linage of Jesus that were not quite so “pure”. Interestingly-it’s for those very people he died (even those standing there in that wax “photo”, whoever they may be). Our “righteousness” is as filthy rags-It’s because of His coming (as seen in the wax nativity) we can even stand before God one day declared innocent-sins washed away by the blood of Christ. God uses a lot of the “foolish” things of the world to confound the wise, and uses a lot of people (and always has) that would not have from a worldly perspective been much to speak of, to do mighty things for Him.
Hey Kitty – that reminds me of a wonderful song by Michael Card, “God’s Own Fool”. Now I’m going to have to go listen to it and then post the lyrics.
Good song, I think Michael Card mentions in his scribbling in the sand CD that he caught a lot of heat for it.
I also find it interesting, that there is no mention in who portrays Jesus in this nativity scene (that I’ve seen).
Oh that was me-forgot to fill the info into the top lol
–but you probably knew that already if you track such things~