Christ's Nativity

How kind is heaven to man! If here
     One sinner doth amend
Straight there is joy, and every sphere
     In music doth contend;
And shall we then no voices lift?
     Are mercy, and salvation
Not worth our thanks? Is life a gift
     Of no more acceptation?
Shall He that did come down from thence,
     And here for us was slain,
Shall He be now cast off? No sense
     Of all His woes remain?
Can neither Love, nor sufferings bind?
     Are we all stone, and earth?
Neither His bloody passions mind,
     Nor one day bless His birth?
   Alas, my God! Thy birth now here
   Must not be numbered in the year.

—Henry Vaughan (1621-1695)

Round the Sphere Again: Persecution

By Sword
Ligon Duncun linked to a short history of the short lives of missionaries John and Betty Stam, a piece written by their nephew Chip Stam. The Stams

were young missionaries serving with the China Inland Mission in the early 1930’s. Scarcely one year after their marriage in China, they found themselves caught up in the advance of the Communists into the town where they were living. They were captured, held for an exorbitant ransom, marched through the streets of the village, and they were beheaded.

Yesterday was the anniversary of the day in 1934 when the Stams were martyred.

(Chip Stam’s site also has a collection of correspondence from John and Betty Stam.)

By Word
Doug Wilson reminds us that “[w]hile we honor highly those who have bled for Christ, we have to acknowledge that Jesus identifies slanders and revilings as forms of persecution that His followers must endure.” Do you think we are too reluctant to put maligning words spoken against a believer into the category of persecution, perhaps because we realize how much worse it is to die for the faith? Yet God calls these things persecution. Shouldn’t we?

Recently, leaders (and others) in my church have been very publically misrepresented (See, I can’t even bring myself to use the words lied about.), because they “did not shrink back from declaring the whole counsel of God.” Reading this piece helped me see this as true persecution, which, I think, helps me acknowledge the real hurt caused by it.

Labeling what happened as persecution also helps me find hope in the whole mess, for persecution is, in that mysterious way God often works, a sign from him of salvation (see Philippians 1:27-30). Persecution also seems to be one of the ways he grows and strengthens his church.

And while I’m at it (and continuing the Thankful Thursday theme), let me say that I’m thankful for leaders who refuse to shrink back.

Thankful Thursday

I’m thankful for peace with God.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1)

I’ve been thinking about what it means to have peace with God. It’s one of the blessings (or fruits) of our justification. God’s wrath has been removed from us, and as a result, God is no longer alienated from us. God is at peace with us, looking on us with his favour, reconciling us to him and giving us peace of mind and joy of heart.

The peace and joy of Christmas, really, is the anticipation of justification through Christ and the blessings that come with it. In this season of celebration of the incarnation, I’m thankful for peace with God.

I’m also thankful for a few simple things, like candles, a new french press coffee maker, and old home made Christmas ornaments.

On Thursdays throughout this year, I’m posting a few thoughts of thanksgiving along with Kim at the Upward Call and others. Why don’t you participate by posting your thanksgiving each week, too? It’ll be an encouragement to you and to others, I promise.