Politically Correct Nativity
Like me, some of your will be preparing for your Church or School Nativity Play. It’s a time for excited children and proud parents. Sometimes it is hard to find enough characters for those wanting to talk part. One school I know introduced Personal Assistants for the wise men. Still short each PA had a secretary. Traditionally it is the time for tea towels to come out of the cupboard, along with dressing gowns, fluffy stuffed toys and dolls.
Some would say that we should do away with such “Chocolate Box” ideas of the Nativity because the reality was so different. That may be true but here in the UK that ‘Nativity Play’ could well be the only story the children hear from the Bible all year! However, I do think that as we grow into adulthood we should come to terms with that reality – if we don’t we miss so much of the meaning of Christmas.
Jesus came to a people who were suffering, who were under the yoke of corrupt leaders and an army of occupation – I can think of more than a few places where that is true today. Jesus too was born in the worst of conditions. My daughter recently gave birth to twins, she was in a nice warm hospital and had teams of health workers on hand as well as all the latest medical equipment. I can’t imagine what that would like in a drafty, dirty stable with none of those facilities; not even a midwife.
So Jesus identifies with the poor and the oppressed and as his disciples we need to do the same. The meaning of Christmas is God With Us in our poverty and our oppression whether that is physically or spiritually true.
One of my favourite hymns during the advent season is O Come, O Come Emmanuel. This version is slightly different but I think the mournfulness and context of the video perhaps gives a truer perspective of the meaning of this Advent season.
Tags: Church, History, music, persecution, poverty, Social Justice