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Why The Incarnation Matters 2\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\""If Jesus is just a good guy, then the world has one more hero -- but nothing more -- and we are stuck with no way out. You can stack up martyrs like firewood (and many have), but the world will remain broken." Spiritual Director & Episcopal Priest Fred Schmidt on "Why The Incarnation Matters..."\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/faithforward\/2010\/12\/why-the-incarnation-matters-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Faith Forward\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2010-12-21T17:56:44+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Guest Contributor\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Guest Contributor\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"1 minute\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/faithforward\/2010\/12\/why-the-incarnation-matters-2\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/faithforward\/2010\/12\/why-the-incarnation-matters-2\/\",\"name\":\"Is Jesus Just a Good Guy? 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{"id":1727,"date":"2010-12-21T11:56:44","date_gmt":"2010-12-21T17:56:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/community\/mainlineportal\/?p=1727"},"modified":"2010-12-21T11:56:44","modified_gmt":"2010-12-21T17:56:44","slug":"why-the-incarnation-matters-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/faithforward\/2010\/12\/why-the-incarnation-matters-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Jesus Just a Good Guy? Why The Incarnation Matters 2"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

What does it mean for us that God chose to enter the world in flesh and blood \u2014 incarnate \u2014 through a poor baby in Bethlehem?\u00a0 We invited a dozen theobloggers to consider the question:\u00a0 \u201cWhy Does the Incarnation Matter?\u201d\u00a0 And we asked them, as usual, to do it in 100 words or less. \u00a0We\u2019ll be sharing one response a day over the next couple of weeks here at\u00a0Faith Forward<\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n

Today, Spiritual Director and Episcopal Priest\u00a0Fred Schmidt<\/a><\/strong> shares his reflections: <\/em><\/p>\n

If Jesus is just a good guy, then the world has one more hero \u2014 but nothing more \u2014 and we are stuck with no way out.\u00a0 You can stack up martyrs like firewood (and many have), but the world will remain broken.<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

If God had not bothered to tell us that we are beloved by entering into our lives, then we are stuck with the architect of the cosmos, living at a comfortable, divine arm\u2019s length from our chaos.\u00a0 Nicely celebrated at the opening of Congress and football games, but no earthly good.<\/p>\n

The incarnation says \u201cno\u201d to both alternatives.\u00a0 God is different enough to be capable of saving us \u2014 and enough like us to understand our needs.<\/p>\n

Read the rest of the responses to \u201cWhy The Incarnation Matters\u201d <\/strong><\/em>here<\/strong><\/em><\/a>, and join the conversation.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Frederick W. Schmidt, Jr.<\/span><\/em><\/a> <\/span>is an author, Episcopal Priest, and Associate Professor of Christian Spirituality at <\/span><\/em>Perkins School of Theology<\/span><\/em><\/a>. He blogs at his Patheos Expert site <\/span><\/em>here<\/span><\/em><\/a>.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"