Smith: Yes, Virginia, There is a Jesus

The reign of Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus 2,000 years ago was disconcerting for many countries. Although Augustus was an effective emperor and ensured stability throughout the region with his large standing army enforcing the peace, or Pax Romana, there was little true freedom in the countries that fell under Rome's long shadow.

Many, like Jesus' disciple Judas, were political zealots who wanted to overthrow the heavy yoke of Roman rule. He thought Jesus was leading them in that direction, and when he didn't, Judas became disillusioned, betrayed Jesus, and killed himself. If Judas had only gotten beyond his self-centered idealism to understand Jesus' ministry, his world would have been much different. Jesus distinguished between God and politics by using a coin with Caesar's image to admonish the Pharisees to, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." His message was about love and forgiveness, not politics.

Judas' intransigence cost him dearly, but aren't we as misguided as he in many ways? Don't we often try to make Jesus' ministry suit our personal, political or religious purposes rather than his? We are upon the Christmas season and should reflect on the true meaning of Christ.

Although he used Santa Claus instead of Jesus, an editor named Francis Church explained the significance of Christmas far more eloquently than me in the New York Post in September 1897. His response to 8-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon's inquiry about the reality of Santa Claus is priceless. "In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole truth and knowledge," he began.

Church reminds us that our minds are too small to understand the grand truths of the universe. I think of God mockingly asking Job in the Old Testament, "Where were you when I set the earth on its foundation?" Yet, we behave so arrogantly in our beliefs as if we, our religious denominations, our academic institutions, or our governments have answers to life's most perplexing problems. No one does but God.

However, some things in life we know are true even though we cannot see and touch them. As Church explained, "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound to give your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! ... The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see."

Those were refreshing words to people who Church described as "affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age." Similarly, Americans today are skeptical. Our political leaders let us down. The traditions we once held true and honorable are under attack. What is sacred? What is just? In whom or what do we believe? Santa Claus?

No, not the red-cheeked, bearded old toy maker swigging a Coke, but the real and compassionate Son of God who has, in a tortured way over the years, been represented by that jolly elf of mercantilism. God sent his son not so we would be judgmental, divisive or self-righteous, but so we might know the unmerited grace and forgiveness of a Creator that loves us. That is what I believe Church meant in his reference to "love and generosity and devotion."

My goal this Christmas season is to allow my concerns for the dangerous, mixed-up world in which we live rest for a few moments and let God be God. I hope I can reclaim that youthful excitement of believing in something bigger than myself and the world I live in; otherwise, as Church said, "The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished."

Roger Smith lives in Soddy-Daisy and is a frequent contributor to the Chattanooga Times Free Press. He is the author of "American Spirit."

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