Well it’s that time of the year again when we all start gearing up for the Christmas season. Our churches are already practicing for their musicals and the kids are trying to memorize their lines for the Christmas play.
In all the wonder of this time of the season how is it that the Church has let the evil one get his hand into the Christmas story?
We Southern Baptists especially pride ourselves as a people who teach and believe in the inerrancy of God’s Word. We quickly rise up, and rightfully so, when error is taught — except at Christmas! Every time we have the “wise men” at the birth of Jesus we teach an error.
I have had good people get very angry with me over this — good Christian people. But when they take a moment and re-read the “Christmas” story, they usually apologize.
Read it for yourself: Luke 2: 8–16 — no house, but a stable; no wise men, only shepherds.
Now here comes the problem. What are you — especially our pastors and teachers — going to do? Remember — the truth will set you free! So what about all the nativity scenes with all of those wise men? May I make a suggestion? Place them somewhere else in the room or across the room. Someone will certainly ask, “Where are the wise men?” or, “Why aren’t the wise men at the manger?” To which you will respond with the truth. What a teaching moment that will be. Someone is bound to say — aren’t you just nit-picking? This is tradition you’re messing with!
Paul the apostle said, “a little leaven, leaveneth the whole lump” (1 Cor. 5:6). After all it’s only a little lie — yeah right?
Tony L. Fisher
Birmingham, Ala.
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