Panoply of Faith

In my world travels, so many long trips at Christmas, It was always interesting to see how people in other nations celebrated the greatest event in the history of the world, the birth of Jesus Christ. God, the Alpha and Omega, Creator of the world and everything in it, throwing the billions of stars into space, yet knowing every individual whose very essence came into HIS mind, even numbering the very hairs on your head, put on a tent of human flesh, born of a 13 year old Jewish virgin. She, the first Christian, showed motherhood to the world and HE, God, The Son, the Word, the Holy Spirit, dwelled on earth for 33 years giving mankind a perfect example.

One word which has always bothered me, X-Mas. I have spent my life as an antiquarian book collector, still, on this very day, two days before Christmas, 2011, selling “old” books online. The word X-Mas first appeared in print exactly 100 years ago, 1911. Some disparity but most believe intended to show the Christian cross and Mass. Unbelievers protest that it shows the mathematical X for the “unknown”. Those of us who know HIM at this season or any other season, who have been washed in HIS blood, born again, know the thrill of the baptismal pool, the communion table, know the historical Jesus, what this solitary life of THE God-man are anxious to use the word Christ. The mellow, milk-toast believers, apathetic pastors, use the word God in their conversations, so many hesitant about proclaiming Christ.

Writing paper was so scarce and expensive, many abbreviations were used, the writing very small, old books are thin, small, pages filled. Earliest books, before photography, diagrams. The first pictures were covered with a thin transparent sheath. Economizing, the pictures were all together, mid book. I have many old volumes covered in real leather, gold gilded edges. In assembling the pages of the book, if all four edges were gilded instead of three, you have a rare, valuable book. One of the most valuable books in every home was the “family Bible” It's mid section, between the old and new testaments the only family record that some families preserved. In collecting, just as the many military documents I have found, it is a shame that families do not prize old family bibles and records... even photographs. I have found wonderful photographs (photographs so expensive, some people never had but one their entire life) of adults, children, family homes. It would have been so easy to have written on the back of the photograph so future generations could identify. Instead, enmeshed with the “cares of the world, deceitfulness of riches, the lust of other things entering in” (Mark 4:19) We major on minors.

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery. Our challenge is to give the best version of ourselves today. Our ancestors, like most of our heroes, were flawed, Imperfect. It has taken a lifetime for me to realize that God knew how to work with imperfect people. Think of the “twelve” who God chose to follow HIM and yet, from the eclismic experience, changed men, from HIS resurrection, willing to fellowship in HIS suffering (Philippians 3:10) 2000 years later, the world has been dated by the birth of Christ, almost totally identified by the lives of Christ and HIS followers... Saints martyred because they knew HIM, “of whom the world was not worthy.” (Hebrews 11: 38) This writer is so afflicted and conflicted not just by atheists, but pretenders. The church is chosen, there is no middle ground yet, we must live in a bilateral world, left and right. The rowboat of America is oared from right and left. Bush 41 as well as 43, pretensions on the right, God, family, country yet, hypocrisy to the left. United Nations authority, social-popular-gay agenda, insanity of global warming. Perhaps it takes “political-correctness”, compromising with satanic-Marxist forces to get elected but, there has been an increase of 74% in Food Stamp recipients since 2004.

To those on the right or left, to the genuine-real, pretenders-fakers, the message for this day and every day: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (Ephesians 6:10-16)

Traditions come, even concerning Christmas, traditions go. Early Christians were baptized naked, this is why some had the deaconess. Even Catholics, not sprinkling, naked baptism of babies. Learn to stand, breastplate of righteousness, shield of faith and you can fight the fiery darts of Satin.