The Wisdom of Christmas: Seeing the World Truly

Written By THE REVEREND CANON GEORGE SINCLAIR - RECTOR

I love the wise biblical balance that the gospel teaches us about flourishing as we read the nativity story.

On one hand, many people try to spend their time only focusing on the positive and on what is right with the world. On the other hand, many people end up spending their time only thinking about what is unjust, evil, and wrong with the world.

The “what is right with the world” crowd can easily slip into living in a fantasy. The “what is wrong with the world” crowd ends up getting warped and bitter.

Biblical Christmas shows the wisdom of following Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, in three simple ways. Please note that I am mashing together the Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55), the Benedictus (Luke 1:68–79), and the Gloria in Excelsis (Luke 2:14).

First, Christmas is not just another story about a birth. Christmas is about the Triune God, in his grace, providing Jesus as Saviour, Messiah, and Lord. When you accept him and the news about him, you will find yourself saved by Jesus and made a member of his covenant family forever. As these truths become more real to your heart, you will find an emotionally strong and safe place to consider who you are, what you have done, what you are doing, and what you are seeking.

Second, knowing that Jesus is Saviour teaches you that you do need to look at the evil in your own life and the evil in the world around you. You are called to really know yourself and to live in the real world with a real God and a real Saviour. So the Lord desires to deliver you from seeing the world through rose-coloured glasses.

Third, the emphasis at Christmas is on “the positive.” “My soul magnifies the Lord” (and by implication, so should yours). “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel!” “Glory to God in the highest!” In the context of salvation by grace, you are taught to examine your life and repent; but the real work, the bigger and more enduring work, is to fill your mind with the glory, beauty, mercy, and goodness of the Triune God in what he has done and who he is.

So, have a blessed Christmas, and magnify, bless, and glory in the Lord for what he did in the nativity of Jesus our Lord and Saviour.

Merry Christmas!

George Sinclair is the Rector of Church of the Messiah in the heart of urban Ottawa. He was the Chair of Essentials Canada and founding Chair of his denomination, the Anglican Diocese of Canada (formerly ANiC). He currently serves as the Chair of the ADoC task force to make it more deeply biblical at every level and oversees church planting in the Diocese. He is the Principal of Ryle Seminary and is blessed to have been married to Louise since 1981. They have 9 children and lots of sons and daughters-in-law and grandchildren. George is an original Council Member of The Gospel Coalition Canada.

THE REVEREND CANON GEORGE SINCLAIR - RECTOR

George studied at the undergraduate and graduate level at Carleton University where he received a degree in Sociology with a minor in Philosophy. He studied Theology and Pastoral Counselling at St. Paul University where he completed an MA in Pastoral Studies.

George was ordained in 1985. For 22 years he served in the Anglican Church of Canada (ACoC). In 2008 his church was the second church in the country to separate from the ACoC and join the Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC). George has served in a suburban and in a rural “multi-point” church.

George is blessed to have been married to Louise since 1981. They have 9 children and lots of sons and daughters-in-law and grandchildren

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Human Longing and the Resurrection: Finding Reality in Christ