Mary, a True Christmas Heroine
Recently I read an article, from which I quote:
Psychology professor and sex therapist Dr. Eric Sprankle tweeted “the virgin birth story is about an all-knowing, all-powerful deity impregnating a human teen. There is no definition of consent that would include that scenario. Happy Holidays.”
The idea that God is predatory and assaulted Mary against her will is at best blasphemous. The ease with which Dr. Sprankle accuses God of evil is scary and shows that he is being inspired by the accuser of the brethren, Satan himself, who smoothly accused God of evil to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. I suppose the doctor smugly thinks of himself as being very bright, like a lawyer who cleverly traps someone with a perfectly crafted question during cross examination. Some may be tripped up by his assertion, but I hope you will not be. Let’s see why we should not regard the virgin conception as sexual abuse.
Acknowledging God’s Rights as Creator
First of all, God is God, which according to the Bible means he is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-wise, and all-loving. Being our Creator, he has the right and the authority to command his creatures. Dr. Sprankle fails to take this into account. He regards God as being more or less on a level with humanity, although having immense power but still subject to human laws and conventions. The fact that Dr. Sprankle would try to bind God to the latest legal fad of the Me Too movement, reveals that he has no concept of who God really is. I would assume he is an atheist, who regards the notion of God as being primitive and misguided. Correct me if I am wrong. I also assume that he would much prefer the chaotic lawlessness and immorality of the political left in place of God’s ordered righteousness. Atheism always leads to totalitarianism, where self-conceived “all-powerful” humans wield their power over the masses.
As Creator, God has the right to do with his creatures whatever he pleases.
You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? Romans 9:19-24 (ESV)
The Sovereignty of God
God’s sovereignty is one of the major tenets of faith with which every follower of Christ must contend. This doctrine assaults our pride and desire to be independent and self-sufficient. Human beings generally have a problem with admitting we were created to be dependent on God. Beginning with Adam and Eve, humanity decided to try to “go it alone.” By so doing, death and destruction was introduced into the world, causing God’s creation to spiral downward into chaos and evil. Despite millennia of proof that this does not work, proud people continue to shake their fists at God and rebel against his right to rule.
Behind this rebellious logic is the following tenet of atheistic “faith”: We are only free when we do what we want to do.
To many this seems completely rational. Being required to obey another is regarded as a form of bondage. In many cases this is so, especially when people like Dr. Sprankle try to foist their beliefs on small children in our public schools, but when it comes to God it is never true.
In fact, the greatest freedom in the world is found in obeying God.
The reason is that his will is absolutely the best thing for us and the most liberating thing we can do, because he loves us beyond our imagination and knows what is ultimately going to work for our good and his glory.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (ESV)
So here we have two opposing world-views. Dr. Sprankle views faith in an all-powerful “predatory” deity as a great evil; whereas, Mary believed that her God was and is supremely wise and only wanted the best for her and her nation. Dr. Sprankle sees obedience to such a “malevolent” deity as harmful, but Mary saw acquiescing to God’s will as the highest form of worship. Her response to God’s invitation to be the mother of the Messiah is a model for all followers of Christ.
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:26-38 (ESV)
Imagine consenting to become a “single mom,” carrying a child conceived out of wedlock, in a culture that had a law that adulteresses should be stoned to death! What kind of trust in God’s love and wisdom was behind her “yes”! Mary’s first assertion was that she was God’s servant, which led to agreeing with the angel’s words.
Application
Mary agreed to follow God down a mysterious, pain-filled road of obedience because she knew God and understood her relationship with him. He is the Creator-Sustainer-Redeemer and we are his people. He has the right to command us. He has the wisdom to direct us. He lovingly cares for and watches over us. But he does not guarantee a pain-free life. He does guarantee an eternity of joy in his presence and a sharing in his glory if we follow him.
The lesson we learn from Mary is the following.
- Cultivate your knowledge of and relationship with God . Mary must have had a history of being an obedient servant of God, or why would have God selected her to be the Messiah’s mother? Likewise, if we want to be like Mary, we must grow in our knowledge of who God really is.
- Surrender your life to Christ’s lordship . The core of the gospel invitation is to acknowledge and surrender to Christ’s lordship and right to rule over his creation. When we submit to water baptism, it launches us on a life of obedience and service to God. Every day make the choice to obey God.
- Depend on the Holy Spirit . It is impossible to live a life of obedience without the motivation and empowering of God’s Spirit. The Spirit-filled life is what God had in mind back in the Garden of Eden – God living his life in and through us! The Holy Spirit will enable us to joyfully serve God even when it costs us, just as Mary did.
Don’t fall for the age old tactics of Satan! He is always sowing accusation and rebellion against God. Instead, let’s be like Mary!
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