Olivet Nazarene University Digital Commons @ Olivet Herald of Holiness/Holiness Today Church of the Nazarene 12-15-1980 Herald of Holiness Volume 69 Number 24 (1980) W. E. McCumber (Editor) Nazarene Publishing House Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.olivet.edu/cotn_hoh Part of the Christian Denominations and Sects Commons, Christianity Commons, History of Christianity Commons, Missions and World Christianity Commons, and the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation McCumber, W. E. (Editor), "Herald of Holiness Volume 69 Number 24 (1980)" (1980). Herald of Holiness/Holiness Today. 370. https://digitalcommons.olivet.edu/cotn_hoh/370 This Journal Issue is brought to you for free and open access by the Church of the Nazarene at Digital Commons @ Olivet. It has been accepted for inclusion in Herald of Holiness/Holiness Today by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Olivet. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE WONDER OF CHRISTMAS Christmas is a wonderful Christmas is wonderful light which filled the closed season of the year—the because we celebrate the birth chambers of the holy of holies. beautiful wintry scenes; the of our Lord and Savior Jesus Rapturous adoration and preparation for homecoming Christ. In the first chapter of remembrance filled the heart gatherings and holiday meals his Gospel, John the Beloved and mind of the apostle as he and entertainment; the gives the great account of wrote, “We beheld his glory." purchasing, wrapping, and Christ's first advent into our The glory that shone from the secretive storing of gifts; the world. In the 14th verse he Incarnate Word was no look of wonder and simply says. “The Word menacing or dazzling light. He anticipation in the faces of became flesh." These four was Perfect Love bending little children around the words, so sublime and yet so down to inferiors and sinners, Christmas tree; the logs simple, are the foundation of with hands full of gifts and a burning in the fireplace all our knowledge of God. of heart full of tenderness toward casting out their warmth and man, of the relationship all men everywhere. cheery glow; the great church between God and man. the music that lifts the heart and basis for all our hopes, the The wonder of Christmas is inspires the soul of every guarantee of all our peace, that in a world where there is worshiper; the church’s and the pledge of all war, poverty, want, and need. His grace is still available to children's Christmas program blessedness. “ He tabernacled which always brings its among us"—as the divjne meet man's need in all his sin laughter and tears, its joys glory of the Old Testament and lowliness. His love is still extended to us. His truth and surprises. These and dwelt between the cherubim, hundreds of other things mean so Jesus is among men the teaches all that our ignorance Christmas to Christians true Temple, and we see a requires. All our gifts and all around the world. fuller glory than that radiant our grace come from the Incarnate Word, in whom, believing, we are the children of God and have eternal life begun here in this earth. The wonder of it all! □ by General Superintendent Orville W. Jenkins HERALD OF HOLINESS by MICHAEL B. ROSS Bradenton, Florida BUSY STREET savs that there would be - near my home has no “ markdowns" that Abecome a commercial bat­ would cheapen the beauty tleground. Small business­ and value of the Incarna­ es are using portable signs tion. to compete for the atten­ The sign to which God tion of passing motorists. still leads men does not Hashing lights and clever resort to the use of any epigrams are promoting promotional gimmicks. He half-priced chicken, dis­ who was in the beginning counted clothing, and and by whom all things book bargains. An elec­ w'ere m ade, becam e flesh tronics store is advertising a $4.99 transistor radio — and lived among us. The infant Baby was no decep­ batteries not included, of course. tion. God never just assumed the appearance of flesh; The contrast is obvious between these retailers' He became flesh. electric displays and the sign that would direct the But that reaffirms the beauty of humanness. The shepherds to the babv -Jesus. An angel interrupted an meaning of Christmas is that God wants a redeemed, ordinary night to announce the birth of the Savior. restored people. Being human is not wrong or sinful. The angels' chorus still echoed through the hills as It is not even unfortunate. It is to be created in the the shepherds hurried to Bethlehem. Hope was be­ image of God. God wants to restore the fallen race, coming reality. not destroy it. He wants only to destroy the sin But where would they look for the Christ in the which cripples and kills human life. City of David? How would they know Him when they The sign also says that salvation is not a limited did find Him0 offer available only to a few. The sign notes that Certainly there were no flashy billboards to gi\e Christ was born for all men of all time. direction. There was no plane circling the city with a T he B abe, w rapped in sw addling clothes, lying in trailing message. No one released colorful balloons a manger, symbolizes the length of God s arm of into the morning sky. There was no toll-free number mercy. The newborn Infant would become the Lamb to call for information. The shepherds heard no of God who would take away the sin of the world. catchy jingle that would replay in their minds. The angel instructed the shepherds to look for a God reached into history all the way to Adam, and sign that would be easily distinguished—a babe then He extended His grace to the last child who will wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. ever be born. He has stepped across cultural and The uniqueness was that the sign itself reflected the racial lines. He has carried the rich and the poor to nature of the One it publicized. The beauty of the Bethlehem. Anyone who reads the sign given to the sign was in its simplicity and humanness. It said shepherds will know that this is no limited offer. He that G od was with us— that He w'as one o f us. will say: "Christ included me." The sign which the angel described says that no Lights burn out, and stores go out of business. Pro­ discounts were available to Christ. The sinfulness of motions and gimmicks soon become a nuisance to the man had reaped death, and the redemption of the world's passersby. But the sign which led the shep­ world would be costly. Even though it was man who herds to .Jesus still attracts people in every part of the set the price, and even though it equaled all that world. When God became a babe, wrapped in swad­ Christ could afford. He paid it. It was divine initia­ dling clothes, lying in a manger, that is a sign for tive that resulted in the birth of the Savior. The sign everyone. It says: “God loves you." □ DECEMBER 15, 1980 3 HERALD "HOLINESS by G. WEATHERLEY " - * W . E. M cC U M B E R , Editor in Chief Norwich. England IVAN A. BEALS, Office Editor Cnnt-ribut-inn I V. H. LEWIS • ORVILLE W . JENKINS FHifnro CHARLES H. STRICKLAND • EUGENE L. STOWE ta ito rs . | W |i_L|AM M GREATHOUSE • JERALD D. JOHNSON N CHRISTMAS General Superintendents, Church of the Nazarene EVE I visited a Omarried couple who had three children. They were thrilled as they showed me all the preparations IN THIS ISSUE they had made for Christ­ mas. They had decorated THE WONDER OF CHRISTMAS .............................................2 both the inside and the General Superintendent Orville W. Jenkins outside of the house with A SIGN OF C H R IS T M A S ........................................................... 3 Points to God's love Michael B. Ross coloured lights. They had ARE YOU READY FOR C H R IS TM A S ?...................................4 trimmed the fireplace Spiritually prepared G. Weatherley with holly and candles A STAR SHINES IN THE D A R K N ES S ...................................6 and the tree with beauti­ Blessing of God William A. Tolbert ful ornaments, a garland, and twinkling lights. They CHRISTMAS PRA YER ............................................................... 7 had a good turkey as well as ample supplies of Poem Carol Wight Gritton other food. As one and another of them whispered to HE DID NOT BELIEVE E N O U G H .............................................7 me, they had bought attractive presents for each To have hope C. Neil Strait other to enjoy on the following day. “WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LOOT, DAD?” ........................ 8 Gifts that count Harold Ivan Smith When I was about ready to leave the house, the A M USIC IA N ’S P R A Y E R ........................................................... 9 father said to me, "W e are all ready for Christmas Poem Lyndell Leatherman n ow .” WHEN GOD PUT HIS KNEES IN LIFE'S M U D .................. 10 Walking home, I thought about his words. I won­ His Word made flesh Morris Chalfant dered whether they were all ready. If Christmas THE IRON K IL L E R ......................................................... ..........11 consists of giving and getting, of glitter and sparkle, Pen Point Jim Spruce they were quite ready. But is that the only sort of WATERFALL .............................. ...........................................12 preparation that ought to be made for Christmas? Poem George Eplin Some people I knew and highly respected had been THE CHURCH: WHITHER B O U N D ? ...................................13 Helps to Holy Living John W.