Living On The Edge

I was thumbing through a book the other day, found what I was looking for, then tossed the paperback onto a chair near my desk. The book landed with the back cover up, the place where people make kind comments about the author or the contents of the book. By the way, I’ve never seen a book with comments like “poorly done” or “not worth $17.95”. Amazing, isn’t it, how every book gets high praise…on the back cover. Anyway, my eye caught this provocative note: the author “has been surrounded by controversy as he labored on the leading edge…” in his efforts to present the Christian good news. And it occurred to me that Christmas is a “leading edge” story; it pushes the boundaries of comfortable certainty and asks us to stand on the precipice of principle.
Another way of saying it: we can cuddle with Christmas because it makes us feel good, or we can commit to Christmas because it leads us to the “leading edge” of life. And on that “leading edge,” guess who we find there, waiting for us. I believe the Christmas drama, told by Matthew and Luke, will ultimately lead to two places: controversy and the leading edge. We certainly find joy, wonder and beauty in the story and in our own personal experience of the event. It is truly “good news of great joy.” But when December 26 rolls around, you and I have a choice. We can pack it all away for another year, or we can pack our bags and move to “the leading edge,” to the “controversy” of being a Christian. Controversy: “turned against” or “disputed” according to my dictionary. Christmas is controversial because it leads us through contentment to commitment. Jesus gathered “leading edge” people to be his disciples, people who stood against principles and practices that hurt humanity and creation, who disputed with the those who promoted radical self-interest. And He is still doing the same thing: calling us through Christmas into commitment.

You and I live in a time when principles and practices of justice, mercy, truth, and compassion are at the top of a list of what the world needs. And that list is fulfilled by Christmas people who dare to meet Him out on the “living edge.” He waits for us there.