OK - so now the Jewish guy steps in to tell Christians their businessQuote: MLH- i agree that Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, but he was still a helpless baby in the manger. can't get around that fact.
Are you implying that we should therefore celebrate His helplessness in the manger?
. Actually, the celebration of Jesus as a helpless baby is highly significant, and should not be slighted or passed over in embarrassment.For the "orthodox" Christian, recognizing that Jesus' taking on humanity was comprehensive is of great theological importance. From this perspective, Jesus emptied himself of the privileges of Godhood to take on the frailty of humanity - even the helplessness of infancy. This communion and sacrificial self-identification is one of the most important aspects of "orthodox" Christian theology, and so the helpless Christ-child is rightly celebrated as an icon of Jesus' lifelong sacrifice - perhaps even his eternal giving of his very self for the benefit of mankind, insofar as Jesus retains his human nature forever.
For the "heretical" adoptionist, the helpless Christ-child is of great importance too, for he is iconic of the full and common humanity which Jesus shares with all of his fellow humans - which tenders the great hope that each human can fully emulate his example. Again, celebrating the helpless Christ-child is an affirmation of the precious hope to be found in infant human life - contemptible to the hard-hearted in its temporary straits, but beautiful to the sensitive heart in the prospect it holds for the future; naturally, the icon of the pathetic present individual as the seed of future hope can be carried beyond infancy in a profitable manner. [And, these adoptionist values are no less adoptable by the "orthodox" Christian as well, inasmuch as such a one also believes in Jesus' full humanity.]
In the paradox of Jesus' existence, it never serves truth to slight his weakness for his greatness. Indeed, many would say that it is his weakness that makes his greatness so great.
Shalom,
Emmet