Dignity Redefined

Matthew 1:18-19
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

In 1994, I began serving my first church. It was a United Methodist Church in Arlington Heights, Illinois. I was young, inexperienced, and very excited…especially as we drew nearer and nearer to Christmas. I will never forget my first Christmas as a pastor and planning for the Christmas Eve worship service. You know the deal. Candlelight. Angels. Reading the Christmas story. And of course, singing Silent Night, raising your candles high, singing the sweet refrain, "Slee--eep in hea--ven-ly peace." Sigh.

Now, what was causing me a bit of consternation was the fact that a local group home of developmentally disabled adults attended the church. And they were there most of the time. And for the most part, they were very well behaved. Except for when it came to singing. They sang at the top of their lungs, and not particularly in tune. And most of the time, it was sweet. They didn't know any better. They didn't know that they should sing quietly, blending in with those around them so they wouldn't stick out. They were presenting a problem to me in my Christmas Eve planning. How could we possibly sing Silent Night in reverence and awe with the members of the group home yelling out the words? You see, I didn't want my Silent Night to be blemished by their awkward behavior. I didn't want to sacrifice my dignity, nor the dignity of the occasion.

And yet, what I failed to realize, is that my thoughts of their behavior, had already cost me my dignity altogether. For truly, what is more dignified: to be concerned with what all those around you are thinking and how you're behaving and whether or not everyone is in tune as you sing Joseph Mohr's famous Christmas hymn? OR, to lose yourself completely in worship, singing to your Savior at the top of your lungs?

Dignity redefined.

Here is a Christmas story over which we gloss each year when it comes time to read about the silent, holy night in that little town of Bethlehem where the world in solemn stillness lay: a teenage girl on the verge of being stoned to death. Silent night, holy night, huh? Mary, a young woman betrothed to Joseph was found to be pregnant…and Joseph knew he wasn't the father. And for her perceived actions, the punishment was clear: death by stoning. This is a death difficult to imagine any time, let alone in the midst of traversing malls to buy the perfect gifts for our loved ones. It is a death difficult to imagine, let alone in which to partake. Put down the wrapping paper for a moment and try to imagine instead bending down to pick up a fist-sized stone and then hefting it at a young pregnant woman.

A young woman, just barely past girlhood, her dignity shattered, as she thought of what her family and her husband-to-be would think of her. And yet, the angel was clear, wasn't he? "You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.” Luke 1:31 So, a virgin is suddenly with child…and it's not the child of her betrothed. This was not her plan. It certainly wasn't Joseph's. To anyone else, the young maiden was a disgrace, a shameful wretch, an undignified out-of-wedlock mother. But to the Father of Creation, she was the mother of God.

Dignity redefined.

Is the story of young Mary fore-shadowing of a later woman in a similar situation? She's caught in adultery and is drug into the town square, publicly derided for her sin. And as the angry mob stirs deeper into the oblivion of their self-righteous fervor, a rabbi steps into their midst. Did Jesus bend down to write in the dirt so as to avert His eyes in an effort to preserve this woman's dignity because the memory of His mother in the same situation was overlaid upon that moment? Jesus preserved her dignity, just as His earthly father Joseph had preserved Mary's.

And as you read this, my friend, what undignified actions of yours come to mind? Over what have you sinned? Have you held hatred in your heart? Have you clung to bitterness, rather than seek to forgive? Have you lusted after that which you have no justification for, and yet have sought with all your heart in a futile attempt to assuage the pain you've endured? Let's cut to the chase now. Friend, as you draw nigh to Christmas, to celebrate Jesus' birth, what sins are yet before you?

Will you come to the manger this Christmas with them? Instead of laying gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh before Jesus, won't you kneel before Him and lay your sins at His feet? Because truly, the greatest gift you can give, is to set aside your own dignity, humbling yourself, seeking His grace.

When you seek out Jesus, in humility and repentance, He honors His Word by "remembering your sin no more." The Lord of this universe, more powerful than presidents, kings, and even capitalism chooses to preserve your dignity. Your sins are cast into the depths of the deepest sea. They are as far as the east is from the west. They are blotted out by His bruises. For the preserver of our dignity--this Jesus--was "bruised for our iniquities…pierced for our transgressions," sacrificing His dignity to preserve yours--and at the same time redefining the word.

Pre-serve. Hmmmm…now there's a thought. Jesus died to pre-serve you. He was serving you before you were even born. He was pre-serving you. And His pre-service has preserved you for all eternity to be at His side.

Because here's the thing, my friend, Jesus came to redefine your dignity by sacrificing His.

When the "Silent Night" moment rolls around for you this Christmas, remember the song of the developmentally disabled group home members. Without a care in the world for what anyone around them thought, they burst forth in a song so beautiful, and so pure, that it didn't need a certain melody because it was filled with such a dignity of undeniable, overwhelming faith--sung at the top of their longs, with no particular tune.

Silent night. Holy night.
All is calm. All is bright.
Round yon virgin, mother and child.
Holy infant so tender and mild.
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Dignity redefined--for you and for me.

Merry Christmas, dear friend.

A Secular Christmas

A Secular Christmas

Red ribbons of the blood He shed, each bow a crown of thorns.

The ornaments hung on the tree, just like the one that He adorned.

Each sparkling light upon the tree, the star of Bethlehem.

And the angel that sits on top, brings glad tidings to all men.


For even in this secular world, the sacred still shines bright.


Each store-bought bow, brings hope you know,


On each blessed Christmas night.


Each candle light around our wreaths, an angel shining bright.

Each gift I get reminds me of, the gift God gave that Holy night.

Each candy-cane with its red stripes, reminds me of His wounds.

Each trumpet sounds Joy To The World, He's comin' back real soon.


For even in this secular world, the sacred still shines bright.


Each store-bought bow, brings hope you know,


On each blessed Christmas night.


Each house I see with Christmas lights, reminds me of the barn,

Where Jesus got His gifts that night, like in our stockings made of yarn.

So if you're growing cynical now, about each store-bought Christmas toy,

Remember in each Christmas gift, to every girl and boy,

The gift He gave, His life and light, to bring this world some joy.


For even in this secular world, the sacred still shines bright.


Each store-bought bow, brings hope you know,


On each blessed Christmas night.



--Shane Burton
Copyright 1999