"Closed Door Thinking"
December 5, 2004

The Old Testament Lesson: Psalm 14
The New Testament Lesson: Luke 1

To call people to release their skepticism in favor of a willingness to believe 

I.  The Events surrounding Jesus’ birth are recorded because people knew they were miraculous and believed in a God that can do anything!
   A. When you think about the stories of Jesus, how do you approach them?
        1. Do you see them with the awe and wonder of a child at Christmas?
        2. Or do you approach them with modern skepticism
            a. That could never happen!
            b. Why would the Bible contain such silly stories?  Bah!  Humbug!
    B. For many who pretend at an enlightened point of view, they’re silly.
        1. They look at the world as only containing what our 5 senses reveal
        2. If we can’t quantify it, then it can’t really exist.
        3. When they hear the Christmas story, they laugh at the simpletons.
            a. The simpletons of the Bible times.
            b. They were naïve enough to believe that a virgin gave birth!
            c. That of course is just pre-scientific credulity.
            d. No enlightened person would ever believe in such a miracle.
        4. And the include in their laughter those who believe it today.
            a. but it is not nearly such benign humor as that toward Bible people
            b. Those who believe such stories today have no excuse.
            c. We now know the laws of physics.  We understand human biology.
            d. Today, people who believe in the virgin birth are simply ignorant!
        5. If you are such a thinker, you can count me among the ignorant!
   C. There are good reasons to approach the Bible with Child-like faith.
        1. First, I differ with anyone who counts Bible times as pre-scientific.
            a. They certainly did have knowledge about the world.
            b. It may not have been as detailed as ours, but they had science.
            c. And they knew where babies came from.
        2. The reason that Jesus’ birth of the virgin Mary is recorded is that it was miracle!
            a. They recognized that God had done something extraordinary!
            b. As Isaiah foretold, this was given as a sign pointing to Messiah.
        3. They differed from “the enlightened” because they believed.
            a. They believed God could do anything.
            b. They were willing to keep their minds open to God’s action.
        4. Those who pooh-pooh this miracle look at reality with closed minds.
            a. They have closed the door to the possibility of miracles.
            b. They have closed the door to actuality of God’s intervention.
            c. And I would ask, on the basis of what evidence?
        5. There is actually far more evidence and witness to the possibility that God does intervene!

II.  Those with Closed doors will hear laughter: God’s laughter!
   A. This attitude in nothing new.
        1. Psalms 14 addresses these very people.
        2. It describes them as fools.
            a. These people say in their hearts that there is no God.
            b. They start their perceptions with this basic thought.
            c. Everything else that they see comes through this lens.
        3. They come to the wrong conclusions because they start with the wrong assumptions!
   B. If you start from the position that there is a divine Creator, can anything be excluded?
        1. If we have a sovereign God, why can God not intervene?
        2. If God intervenes. what limitations can we put on the intervention?
   C. So we come back to the virgin Birth.
        1. Yes, it is an astounding belief.
            a. But not because of the scientific impossibility.
            b. Any science we have can not comprehend the infinite.
        2. The astounding part is the incredible love it shows.
            a. The Creator of all deigns to take our frail form to live among us.
            b. Almighty God, limits the divine nature to show us how to life.
            c. The Immortal God experiences death so that we can live forever!
        3. I am astounded and awed, not because science is bent
        4. I am astounded because the power of death is broken!

        Do you wish to see the God who came and is coming again?  Then you have to put aside your silly closed door thinking.  You have to stop limiting what God can do and be open to all possibilities.

     With what attitude will you approach the miracle of Christmas?  I ask you to approach it like Mary.  Do you remember that when the angel announced she would have a baby she asked, “How can this be since I am a virgin?”  Everything depends on our attitude in that same question: “How Can this Be?” Are We sneering?  Are we bringing a closed door thought process that limits the power of God, if so, we’ll see just what we believe: nothing!

But, are we seeking an answer with openness like Mary?  Are we willing to accept the divine answer to our honest question?  They, my friends, we will see miracles!

And as you go from this place, may you walk in the way of Christ Jesus and May God always find you faithful!