Editorial Note: We asked Lisa Rodriguez-Watson, our National Director, to reflect on our autumn series on disruption through the lens of the Christmas narrative. Here is her beautiful, poignant response. Merry Christmas!
God Disrupts the World Through Incarnation
It was in this season some 2000 years ago that one of the most significant disruptions occurred. In the midst of 400 years of silence, which may have felt like abandonment to God’s people, God disrupted the silence with the cry of a newborn, the One who was long-awaited and sent to save the world.
God disrupted Mary and Joseph’s plans. Rather than a joyful betrothal, Mary and Joseph were thrust into a controversial pregnancy ahead of their marriage. But for a visit by an angel, Joseph would have quietly ended the relationship with Mary. Their story almost ended before it began, and it certainly didn’t go as they had dreamed. After Jesus’ birth, they faced another disruption that forced them to flee their country and take refuge in Egypt. Disruption plagues even our good and faithful plans. God disrupted Mary and Joseph’s plans. Rather than a joyful betrothal, Mary and Joseph were thrust into a controversial pregnancy ahead of marriage. Their story almost ended before it began, and it didn’t go as they had dreamed. Click To Tweet
God disrupted the voice of Zachariah and caused him to be silent, to learn the ways of quiet trust and faith. Disruption is often uncomfortable.
God disrupted the darkness over the hills of Bethlehem where the shepherds, the discarded ones of society, were keeping watch over their flocks at night. With a whole company of angels, the stillness and darkness of that night was shattered by a resounding roar of angelic voices praising God and alerting the disregarded that there was good news of great joy for all people. Holy disruption disturbs oppression and liberates the downtrodden and disregarded.
It wasn’t just the disregarded that were disrupted, though. The wealthy wise ones, the Magi, saw a star that set them on a course from their far-away lands to bear gifts to the king of the Jews. What family and community plans were disrupted by the sudden appearance of the significant star in the sky? What resources were sacrificed to embark on a journey that had a relatively unclear destination and a completely unknown recipient? What weariness did they experience as they journeyed countless miles to pay homage to the long Awaited One? As these wise kings made their way to the Newborn King, bearing treasured gifts, what did disruption cost them?
Consider the dreadful cost to Jewish families in the vicinity of Bethlehem whose lives were disrupted by the systematic annihilation of their baby boys. What grief and lament for the many families who lost their tiny, precious sons at the hand of a wicked, jealous ruler!
The Promise of Incarnational Disruption in Our Lives
Tragically, this may be an oddly comforting reminder that even the presence of the Holy One doesn’t remove the sorrow of systemic sin and the grief of loss in the midst of good news and great joy. Because, still today, we are keenly aware of the injustices in our country and in our communities. Likewise we not shielded from the difficult realities of a world that continues to groan under the weight of sin and brokenness, even as we long for all things to be made new…for Jesus to come again.
The promise of disruption in the Kingdom is that despite the cost, there is a trajectory of justice and righteousness that has been and is being established. Renewal has come and is coming. The promise of disruption in the Kingdom is that despite the cost, there is a trajectory of justice and righteousness that has been and is being established. Renewal has come and is coming. Click To Tweet
The Christmas story offers us hope amidst our disrupted lives. It reminds us that joy and lament can coexist. It reminds us that Love put on skin and flesh to be with us and to show us what love looks like. It reminds us that the Prince of Peace is the comforter to the disrupted and the disrupter to the comfortable.
The Christmas story is one of good news of great joy, and we are right to celebrate in this season. It is good for us to long for Jesus to come again in our lives in new ways. There is also an invitation to pay attention to disruption, to acknowledge the grief and cost of it; for we cannot live wholehearted lives with half-hearted truths about joys and sorrows.
As we make our way through the remainder of Advent, may we fix our eyes on the old familiar story, seeing it through the beautiful lens of disruption and pressing toward the joy, hope, love, and peace that is found in Him. The Christmas story offers us hope amidst our disrupted lives. It reminds us that Love put on flesh to be with us. It reminds us that the Prince of Peace is the comforter to the disrupted and the disrupter to the comfortable. Click To Tweet
Missio Alliance Comment Policy
The Missio Alliance Writing Collectives exist as a ministry of writing to resource theological practitioners for mission. From our Leading Voices to our regular Writing Team and those invited to publish with us as Community Voices, we are creating a space for thoughtful engagement of critical issues and questions facing the North American Church in God’s mission. This sort of thoughtful engagement is something that we seek to engender not only in our publishing, but in conversations that unfold as a result in the comment section of our articles.
Unfortunately, because of the relational distance introduced by online communication, “thoughtful engagement” and “comment sections” seldom go hand in hand. At the same time, censorship of comments by those who disagree with points made by authors, whose anger or limited perspective taints their words, or who simply feel the need to express their own opinion on a topic without any meaningful engagement with the article or comment in question can mask an important window into the true state of Christian discourse. As such, Missio Alliance sets forth the following suggestions for those who wish to engage in conversation around our writing:
1. Seek to understand the author’s intent.
If you disagree with something the an author said, consider framing your response as, “I hear you as saying _________. Am I understanding you correctly? If so, here’s why I disagree. _____________.
2. Seek to make your own voice heard.
We deeply desire and value the voice and perspective of our readers. However you may react to an article we publish or a fellow commenter, we encourage you to set forth that reaction is the most constructive way possible. Use your voice and perspective to move conversation forward rather than shut it down.
3. Share your story.
One of our favorite tenants is that “an enemy is someone whose story we haven’t heard.” Very often disagreements and rants are the result of people talking past rather than to one another. Everyone’s perspective is intimately bound up with their own stories – their contexts and experiences. We encourage you to couch your comments in whatever aspect of your own story might help others understand where you are coming from.
In view of those suggestions for shaping conversation on our site and in an effort to curate a hospitable space of open conversation, Missio Alliance may delete comments and/or ban users who show no regard for constructive engagement, especially those whose comments are easily construed as trolling, threatening, or abusive.