It would be unAnglican to this waste this Christmas by failing to mention how Trump has ruined it for everyone by planning to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem.
With that in mind, Oh Little Town of Bethlehem has, at last, been correctly interpreted by Fred Hiltz. It is all about the Israelis with their nasty wall, ugly checkpoints, and preposterous obsession with trying to prevent their citizens being murdered by rampaging Palestinians. Most of all, it’s about Trump moving his stupid embassy.
Brooks speaks of the town’s stillness and its undisturbed sleep above which “the silent stars go by”. Then he speaks of the beauteous light that shines in its streets, as the birth of the Messiah becomes known. As we hold our candle, and focus on this lovely text, we might think of how far a cry the Bethlehem of today is from the stillness and peace of which the carol speaks. Stark images of the massive Separation Wall come to mind, as do images of the heavily guarded check point through which people must pass in and out of the city. In many respects, Brooks’ words “the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight” are a fitting commentary on the circumstances in which people live there. They live with hope for the peace God intends, however elusive it may be, however challenging to negotiate and secure. They live with fear that developments such as the world has witnessed in recent weeks will escalate political tensions in their city, in Jerusalem, Gaza, and throughout the Middle East. So as we hold our candle and sing, we think of all those for whom this “little town” is home, all those who know its history and cling to its destiny in the sight of God.
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The baby Jesus was born in Bethlehem and died outside Jerusalem. He rose again on the third day and ascended into heaven. He will return to judge all humans. We should look forward to the new heaven and new earth.
Good catch on another of Hiltz’s “sermons.” He means well, but fails at critical points, as in their ‘hope for the peace God intends’ — the idea Hiltz offers is that that peace is something that people can negotiate and secure. But is God’s peace something that is between men and between nations, or is it between man and God?
At another part of the sermon he tantalizes his congregation with a great line: people are gathering in Manger Square in Bethlehem with the purpose of “attesting to the loving purposes of God in Christ.” Now, now, now is the time to remind us sinners of the redemption available to us through Christ’s sacrificial death upon the cross, now is the time to open up, however briefly, the justification by faith we can receive, now we can learn about the grace of God, now, now, now…. Nope, we can merely hold a candle to ponder our spiritual pilgrimage, while grieving over another missed opportunity by the leader of the church to be a real blessing through the preaching of biblical truth.
So close, yet so far.
I sometimes wonder about articles and sermons by liberal Christians. So often they simply do not mention the name of Jesus in the text they have written, as is the case here. Do you think that this is in some way a measure of the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives?
“This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God…”
It’s almost as if writers work their thesarus over, at finding every other way of acknowledging Jesus, except by using his name directly…
For apostates like Fred Hiltz we are not dealing with “liberal Christians” but rather apostates. They are quire happy to be referred to as “liberal” but since they basically reject the authority of Scripture and the uniqueness of Jesus Christ they can no longer be called Christian but rather apostates. This has been clearly proven by apostates such as Michael Bird and Michael Ingham legally stealing properties from genuine orthodox Christians by using the civil courts which have absolutely no interest in theology.
To quote The Ronny, ‘There he goes again!’ with the Fake Gospel.
The Wall of Partition broken down is The Gospel + Ephesians ch.2
“…built upon the foundation of the Apostles and the Prophets,
Jesus Christ Himself being The Chief Cornerstone…through The Spirit.”
From the article
“Stark images of the massive Separation Wall come to mind, as do images of the heavily guarded check point through which people must pass in and out of the city.”
And does Hiltz ever stop to think why such security measures are in place?
It is to protect innocent lives from evil people that are intent upon committee heinous acts of violence.
And does Hiltz ever wonder who these evil people are?
It is the muslims. Who are a hate filled people that are intent on carrying out genocide of the Jews, and are also determined to wipe out all Christians.
So one feels compelled to ask…
Is Hiltz on the side of evil? Or is he just plain stupid?
Christians are being persecuted in the modern state of Israel also. Like the Muslims, the Jews need to turn to Christ.