When we sit down and read the Christmas story, as recorded for us in Luke, around our cozy living rooms surrounded by friends and families with warm drinks in our hands we often don’t pick up on the subversive nature of the story being read. While sitting in our pews and holding our candles, raising them at the crescendo of our favorite Christmas hymns, we often miss the political message we are proclaiming. Yet, the birth narrative is as political and subversive as they come. Caesar Augustus, whom is referred to at the front end of the story, is regarded as the divine son of god who proclaims good news of salvation, peace, and victory (or peace through victory). The Roman empire, as every empire does, promised that if one would submit to their rule, though oppressive, you will experience peace, stability, and (ah em) freedom. And the more peace and stability one would experience, the more one, whether explicitly or implicitly, would revere the great lord Caesar all the more.
The problem with this message for the people in the Empire is that all (peace, stability, victory and freedom) is won on the backs of the people of the Empire, thus a great deal of oppression. And this is the purpose of the census (as it is the purpose of censuses). In the Empire, the census was to help in determining the tax revenue and military conscription, thus oppression (Israelites were exempt from being forced into military duty). Who has to pay for the wars that bring all the “benefits” of the Empire? Who funds the propoganda to the Empire about the due respect and worship due Caesar?
Then, the angels break-in to lowly shepherds, not Caesar, saying, “The true Savior has arrived, the Messiah, the Lord.” This flies directly in the face of the gospel of the Empire. ”What, another Savior and Lord besides Caesar?” But that is exactly the message according to Luke. The Son of God has been born, and no Caesar’s wife didn’t bear him, nor did Herod’s or any other ruler. And this is the message that contends with every Empire or emperor who demands one’s complete loyalty. Jesus, the truly divine, Son of God is Lord. And it is through him and in his kingdom that true salvation, peace, rest, security, and freedom comes. Glory to God in the highest! As we have gathered with family and friends, in essence, this is what we are declaring, whether we realize it or not. The King has been born. Jesus is Lord, let the earth rejoice!
Huh…… Never quite thought about that one. I wish I knew my history better. Facts like these don’t often occur to me because I have a hard time piecing together dates, names, places, etc… This puts so much into perspective for me. I guess it would have taken a multitude of heavenly hosts for me to believe that this tiny baby, who is not Cesar’s son, is The Son of God, too.
Dawn
You make a good point. At the end of the day our true loyalties should lie with Christ instead of past empires like Rome or present ones, such as the US. In our modern age of terrorism, rescessions, and swine flu; God, not our president, should be the sole provider of our peace and hope. We are clearly a country that has strayed and can no longer declare or is embarassed to proclaim itself “One Nation Under God,” for fear of being politically incorrect!