Always Winter, Never Christmas: Faith, Creation & the Culture of Bitterness

We call this the Season of Good Cheer, but not even the approach of Christmas can warm the hearts of one vocal segment of our countrymen. How do we explain the pandemic of anger and resentment that has infected the minds of some educated Americans? They elevate politics of the moment over lasting friendships and family ties. They overlook the mass murder of Jews by terrorists and justify the cold-blooded execution of an insurance exec in NYC. They advocate for expansive government but resent growing churches. What gives?

C.S. Lewis wrote about a kingdom called Narnia where it's always winter but never Christmas. He imagined a land of perpetual snowflakes, starry nights, and even chestnuts roasting on an open fire, but no hope, no joy. The only hero who ever promised peace and freedom to the people has been missing for some time. He is a majestic lion named Aslan, a figure for Jesus Christ.

Lewis understood that faith in Christ is more vital than politics, more profound than conventional wisdom, and rooted in Truth more timeless than pop psychology or weather conditions. The Bible is emphatic that one of the first changes to occur in the life of any new believer is a transformation of our ability to think clearly.

The Lost Secret of Creation

Most of us have read the Book of Genesis many times. We often focus on one singular idea, divine creation, but overlook another act of God mentioned time and again in the opening chapters of the Bible. Consider for a moment the concept of division or separation.

The Creator separates light from darkness, calling the former Day and the latter Night. He also separates the expanse of the heavens from the earth, gathers the waters to divide land from the sea, and separates the heavenly bodies, ordering some to rule by day and others by night. Finally, God separates a rib from Adam's chest to craft a new and distinct form of humanity, a woman we know as Eve. Why are these small details included when Genesis 1 famously omits so many other particulars that might seem more instructive? You may be surprised.

Did you know our word intelligence comes from the Latin roots inter + legere, to choose between? Intelligence is the ability to draw distinctions and choose wisely, which suggests Genesis 1 is more than a history of beginnings. In fact, it is a divine primer for learning how to think. Don't forget the Children of Israel had been suddenly delivered from centuries of bondage in Egypt. They emerged as broken, downtrodden people brutally controlled for centuries, ordered around, and told how to think. After the exodus, they wasted whole days standing in the hot sun waiting for Moses to assist them with the most routine daily conflicts. They had lost the ability to reason or judge rightly. Those former slaves required an education in drawing distinctions and separating the good from the bad, right from wrong, and holy from unholy. Genesis is arranged in pictures illustrating how to break a complex subject into smaller parts to gain insight and develop wisdom.

The Source of Bitterness

Today's climate of rage and division did not begin with the COVID-19 Pandemic or even the election of one president or another. We can track its rise and spread over several decades as American culture abandoned biblical absolutes for clear thinking. In 1962, the US Supreme Court banned prayer in public schools. In 1966, Time Magazine published the iconic cover that asked hopefully, "Is God Dead?" In 1969, a movie celebrating a male prostitute, Midnight Cowboy, became the first X-rated movie to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. We've been slouching toward Gomorrah ever since.

The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. After generations of immersion in atheistic public schools and secular entertainment, many of us in America find ourselves like those clueless Hebrew slaves marching toward frustration in the wild lands of freedom. We must learn to think deeply once again. We must relearn the basis for making valid distinctions. Slogans and memes may help win elections, but they are utterly insufficient as a basis for making decisions or nurturing character.

The Renewal of Your Mind

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

(Romans 12:2) Following Jesus is a way of life borne of a distinctive way of thinking, a path called holiness. By contrast, the Woke fashions of our world today are merely strange ideas derived from the ancient lie that we can be gods. Selah.

When you lose something valuable, it's useful to go back to the last place you remember seeing it. But returning to the 1960's seems about as practical as putting a genie back in the bottle. After decades of decay, national renewal will demand repentance, prayer, training in godliness, and tireless faith. It's hopeful to think it might already have begun. But if not, may it begin today with you and me and a fresh vision of the Lord.

For help reading the Bible in general or understanding Revelation specifically, get Timothy Floyd's new book, The Epic Life: Revelation, Resistance, and Revival. For other timely blogs like this one, visit TimothyFloydAuthor.com and click the tab for Blogs.