Confessing the Sin of Dividing Christ
If you Confess, He will Forgive
Babies are Bizarre
Baby humans are helpless balls of cuteness who, on an hourly basis, will soil themselves without the vaguest sense of wrongdoing. I’ve studied their faces—there’s not even a flicker of awareness, no grimace at the smell, no shame at the act. But they do react to us. They’ll smile at our horrified expressions of disgust and laugh as we attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the fastest diaper change. I know I’ve done this, but it wasn’t officially recorded.
As strange as babies are, having babies is even stranger. While researching this confession, I found that babies can cry in the womb. Our poor moms have literally heard the whining before their child was even born. But, to make up for it, fetal cells can travel into the mother’s bloodstream and help heal her body! Meanwhile, pregnancy can also gift women with hyperosmia—an enhanced sense of smell. Maybe that’s why moms can detect a dirty diaper from three doors down. Come to think of it, that sounds more like a curse.
And if babies and biology weren’t strange enough, we humans have added our own eccentric cultural traditions to the mix:
• Bali babies’ feet aren’t supposed to touch the ground for their first 210 days! Some Balinese believe newborns are divine beings who haven’t yet fully transitioned into the earthly realm. So, family members carry them everywhere until the Nyabutan ceremony marks their official introduction to the physical world. I can only assume these parents have Olympic-level upper-body strength.
• Rural Ecuadorians expect fathers to give their wives their sweaty shirts while they’re in the delivery room. During labor, the mother clutches the stanky shirt for strength. After the birth, both mother and baby are kept out of the sun for 42 days. Then, the mother is given a much-needed bath with herbs, perfume, and three rose petals to mark her re-entry into the world. Honestly, after all that, I’d be questioning whether I wanted to come back at all. More rose petals, please!
• Kyle House: While in the womb on the day of my birth, I was informed that farm life goes on. My mother and I were in the passenger seat on the way to the hospital when my father took a turn away from the interstate. We needed to make a pit stop—Marcantel’s Feed Store. We were out of dog food and needed to pick some up on the way. Hold on, little baby Bo—we got lots to do today!
Jesus: Fully Human, Fully Divine
As strange and funny as birth stories are, Jesus’ conception and birth take the cake. In this section of our reflection on the Apostles’ Creed, we focus on Jesus’ miraculous arrival. We confess that He was “conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary.” I could walk through the Scriptures that link His birth to ancient prophecies, but for the sake of time, I want to explore why Christians must confess the implications.
By confessing that Jesus was “conceived by the Holy Ghost” and “born of the Virgin Mary,” we proclaim that Jesus is fully God and fully man. He belongs wholly to God but was given Mary’s biology. Why is this important? Jesus maintained unfiltered access to the Father. His union was undistorted by sin. Yet, because He was born like us—as a man—He experienced every temptation and trial we do. But unlike us, He never erred.
Let’s confess a pattern of sin: we neither give Jesus the honor of God nor the respect of man. Have you ever doubted in your heart that Jesus hears your prayers? (You can put your hand down.) This sin strikes at Jesus’ divinity. And have you ever felt like Jesus doesn’t understand what you’re going through? (Seriously, you raised your hand for both?) This sin denies Jesus’ humanity. We are something else… What is Jesus going to do with us?
I imagine Jesus speaking to us as He did to Peter, who stepped out in faith during an ocean storm to meet Him on the water. Transfixed, we see our Savior—both God and man—walking on water. We step out in faith. But, Lord, the water! This makes NO sense. Doubt breeds fear, and fear bears more doubts. Maybe, at that moment, Peter doubted Jesus, too. Our minds can’t grasp what was standing before us. Let alone Jesus allows us to stand with Him. It’s all too much, too wonderful, maybe unbelievable. So, doubts wash over us. Is this all make-believe? It can’t all be true! Our doubts will roll over us until a hand reaches to rescue us. Jesus’ voice speaks to us and Peter:
“You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
I don’t know, Lord… and I do know. I’m so confused. Who? Are? You? Help me. I don’t even know The One who is holding me up.
Jesus is both God and man. He knows you, He loves you, so only He can save you. Do you still wonder who He claims to be? Only He can tell. Just ask.
As is our custom, I invite you to join the other readers in a corporate confession of sin. Let’s pray:
Our Father, we confess that we neither trust Jesus fully as God nor embrace Him fully as man. Lord Jesus, forgive us for doubting Your power to save and Your heart to understand. Holy Spirit, assure us that in Christ, we are fully known, fully loved, and fully forgiven. Amen.
Thanks for praying; God Bless You! I hope you’ll read and pray with us next Saturday at 10 a.m.