There is an ad that has hit our TV screens, just in time for the Christmas present buying frenzy, from the Betta Electrical chain, that depicts the baby Jesus throwing the gold, frankincense and myrhh back at the three wise men who came to worship Him. The implication is that the presents weren’t what He wanted. I would go as far as to encourage everyone I know to boycott the chain of stores for crossing the boundaries of good taste and religious respect. While we all know that the three kings arrived when Jesus was around two years old, the theological mistakes are not the point. Would the same chain of stores ridicule the message of Mohammad during the feast of Ramadam? Would the same chain of stores ridicule Buddha during Visakah Puja? I think not!

I don’t usually get too het up about these things but the issue here for me is that the ad reverses all that Jesus stands for. This ad represents the human corruption of the heart of Jesus and is offensive in the extreme for that purpose alone. Jesus accepts everyone as they are when they come to Him. Jesus accepts every gift given in faith and love. Jesus is about acceptance, not rejection. He is about salvation not materialism. Jesus didn’t arrive as a baby here on earth to sell plasma TV’s but to give us life by reintroducing us to the love of the Lord God Almighty.

With all that in mind, have a very blessed Christmas and a safe New Year. May your greatest gift this Christmas be the love and grace of God, wrapped in the righteousness of Jesus.

In love, Alan