It becomes more stunning to me every year that songs about Jesus being the Christ are acceptable in our culture, simply because they correspond to American traditionalism. Even secular musicians get in the act by singing and recording songs that exalt Jesus as Lord and Savior. The implication that seems to be increasingly ignored is that the birth of Christ demands the worship of God. This desired worship certainly entails more than reading or singing some words; the worship that the birth of Christ demands is presenting ourselves as an ongoing living sacrifice for God’s pleasure and not our own. Nevertheless, it is incredible to think about that in the infinite wisdom of God, he designed a facet of his plan of redemption to include something so palatable, namely a baby boy, that even a culture which is anti-truth, anti-Christ and anti-gospel, can mouth the words. However, very few people realize who that baby born in Bethlehem really is, God in human flesh, and what he will be capable of. Throughout his ministry, he would teach that he is the only way of salvation, the one and only way to God; and by doing so, he would divide every person in the world into two groups—those who adore him evidenced by a life of faith and obedience to what he has said; and those who oppose him, evidenced by an indifference or refusal to embrace all that he commanded. In fact, what is clear in this passage is that the quality of one’s heart is exposed simply by how high one esteems Jesus. So in the words of the Psalmist:
Psalm 2:11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
The Polarizing Effect of Jesus
