Why The Incarnation Matters

"O come, O come, Emmanuel . . ." On Christmas morning, Christians all around the globe celebrate God's love coming into the world in the person of Jesus Christ. What does it mean for us that God chose to enter the world in flesh and blood -- incarnate -- through a poor baby in Bethlehem? We invited a dozen theobloggers to consider the question: "Why Does the Incarnation Matter?" And we asked them, as usual, to do it in 100 words or less. Their responses are below.

Our responders:

Kara Root , Pastor of Lake Nokomis Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis, MN Frederick Schmidt , Episcopal Priest and Spirituality Professor at Perkins School of Theology Amy Julia Becker , author and blogger at Thin Places Monica A. Coleman , Associate Professor of Constructive Theology and African American Religions at Claremont School of Theology Carl Gregg , Pastor of Broadview Church in Chesapeake Beach, MD Anne S. Howard , Executive Director of The Beatitudes Society Jenee Woodard , author of The Text This Week Elaine Heath , Associate Professor of Evangelism at Southern Methodist University Ruth Everhart , Presbyterian minister and blogger at Work-In-Progress Sam Alexander , Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in San Rafael, CA Lisa M. Hess , Practical Theology Professor at United Theological Seminary Bruce Epperly , author and professor of Practical Theology at Lancaster Theological Seminary

Kara Root

This moment. A seemingly insignificant moment, like millions of others: a child enters the world. His story: yet to be written. But like every other story, already written: the child will grow, learn, will know love, loss, suffering, joy. The child will become an adult. And one day, the child will die. The story of every human: now God's story. The experience of every human: now God's experience. Unlike any moment creation and cosmos has ever witnessed: Creator crossing the barrier and entering its midst. This moment rips out the end of the human story and rewrites it.

Kara Root is pastor of Lake Nokomis Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis, MN and blogs at in the hereandnow .

Fred Schmidt

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.

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's length from our chaos. Nicely celebrated at the opening of Congress and football games, but no earthly good.

The incarnation says "no" to both alternatives. God is different enough to be capable of saving us -- and enough like us to understand our needs.

Frederick W. Schmidt, Jr. is an author, Episcopal Priest, and Associate Professor of Christian Spirituality at Perkins School of Theology . He blogs at his Patheos Expert site here .

Amy Julia Becker

"God is love."

When my mother-in-law was dying, she needed people to place ice chips in her mouth and rub lotion on her body. When my children were babies, they needed us to rock them to sleep and change their diapers. I prefer sentimental statements to dirty hands and tired limbs. Jesus may have preferred to stay away from this world of stables and carpentry and crucifixion. But the Incarnation shows me that God's love isn't abstract. It is as concrete as a baby in a manger, as a young man in a temple, as a rabbi on a cross.

Amy Julia Becker is working on a book that will be published next fall, A Good and Perfect Gift: Faith, Expectations, and a Little Girl Named Penny (Bethany Books). She blogs at Thin Places .

Monica A. Coleman

Because it's easy to feel alone, and we've all asked "why me?" Because deep pain always screams, "why did you forsake me?" and we never live up to who we want to be. Because we tend to overlook the things that are right in front of us, and detest the people who cause us harm. And it's easy to think that we are more important than soil, birds and kale. So we have an annual reminder That we all bear the name "Emmanuel" God is with us God is in us This is all that matters

Monica A. Coleman is Associate Professor of Constructive Theology and African American Religions at Claremont School of Theology and blogs at Beautiful Mind Blog .

Carl Gregg

The Incarnation matters because it is particular . God is not merely an abstract, theoretical "Other"; instead, we are invited to find God in the diversity of people, places, and times of our particular life. How much more particular can you get than a finding God in one first-century peasant from a backwater village! The Incarnation also matters because it is bodily , calling us to engage life, not only with our minds and spirit, but with our bodies. Further, the Incarnation matters because it is earthly , reminding us that this world matters, and that Creation is good and very good.

The Rev. Carl Gregg is an Alliance of Baptist Pastor of Broadview Church in Chesapeake Beach, MD and blogs at Patheos .

Anne S. Howard

In the scandalous Christmas stories of God-made-flesh, we see crystallized in Jesus the promise of a world transformed, a world of justice and peace where empire must be challenged, where God asks sleeping, frightened shepherds -- like us -- to jump up and run. God still comes, God is still being born, in our tired world. Incarnation calls us to face into the future, put flesh on Micah's ancient dream: ". . . they shall all sit under their own fig trees and no one shall make them afraid."

The Rev. Anne S. Howard is the Executive Director of The Beatitudes Society and blogs at the Beatitudes Blog .

Jenee Woodard

"Incarnation" matters to me precisely because it's messy. God's presence in "meat" keeps me working in and with people and places (including myself!) where I'd give up if I hadn't seen God in weird places before. "Incarnation" messes up my tidy lines and categories, including those of divine and human, and keeps me always guessing and watching, carefully. It keeps me from quickly discounting things and people, (even in the name of charity to them!) and from expecting or endorsing some unattainable "perfection," in myself or in others. Whatever "it" is, it's going to be messy.

Jenee Woodard is the author of The Text This Week , a resource site for study and liturgy based on the 3-year Revised Common Lectionary cycle.

Elaine Heath

The Incarnation is a constant subversion of power and privilege in religious leadership. The Incarnation confronts us with a God who comes to us naked and vulnerable, to live among us and express the divine love as a faithful neighbor. What does it mean to truly worship this kind of God? It means showing up and paying attention to our actual neighbors, and loving them in ways that matter to them. It means forgoing all privilege and power as we journey with others to heaven. It means a daily surrender of ego. Bethlehem. Egypt. Nazareth. Golgotha. Empty tomb. Love incarnate.

Elaine Heath is an ordained United Methodist minister and the Associate Professor of Evangelism at Southern Methodist University. She blogs at her Patheos Expert site here .

Ruth Everhart

Ask the One unbound by space, unconstrained by time. Ask the One unreached by the laws of physics. Ask the Ruler of galaxies, the Impulse behind creative thought. Why enter space and time? Why this particular planet, this occupied country, this backwater town? Why take on form and shape? Why become matter at all? Robed in homespun, yes, and beneath the swaddling bands clothed in this most surprising substance, human flesh. So easily sullied. Why subject Oneself to this decomposable fate? Was it just so we could have a tête-à-tête?

Ruth Everhart is a Presbyterian minister, writer, mother, and sometimes-pilgrim. She blogs at Work-in-Progress .

Sam Alexander

Incarnation is about God's creative work in the world. But when I say "God," and this is key , I specifically do not mean some entity sitting high atop the thing, doling out love and judgment according to His inscrutable purpose. That idea has done enough damage. No, this story is about a different God, a God who is with us. But NOT in the sense that God dropped by to be with one child. That would make Jesus superhuman. I'm not buying it. Jesus is not special, or superhuman ; he is paradigmatic. And that means this story is about you.

Sam Alexander is Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in San Rafael, CA and is Adjunct Professor of Homiletics at San Francisco Theological Seminary . He blogs at his Patheos Expert Site here .

Lisa M. Hess

The Incarnation awakens weary, human spirit-minds to the scandalous grace of creation and audacity required to participate fully within it. In patristic Christianity, for example, Athanasius of Alexandria (circa 300-373 C.E.) touted the startling phrase, "God became man, so that man might become God." This was not to blaspheme against the Holy One of Israel but to share the mind-blowing good news that awakening unto utter joy amidst suffering is possible. Not only possible but intended and desired as true humanity for all. "Repent and hear the Good News. The kingdom of God is at hand." Here. Today. For all.

The Rev. Dr. Lisa M. Hess listens, teaches, and writes as a Presbyterian minister (PCUSA) and practical theology professor at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. She blogs at her Patheos Expert site here .

Bruce Epperly

W.H. Auden once proclaimed, "Love God in the world of the flesh." That's what incarnation is all about. God is with us and in us, loving bodies as well as spirits. This is not a supernatural rescue operation, but a loving presence, giving life to cells and souls. God seeks wholeness and beauty everywhere, but God's work is always personal and concrete. The omnipresent God, whose love permeates all things, chooses to be particularly present in Jesus of Nazareth -- baby, healer, teacher, savior, and companion of sinners. Incarnation testifies to God's intimacy and care for all creation -- and each creation -- always and everywhere.

Bruce Epperly is an ordained minister and a professor and administrator at Lancaster Theological Seminary. He is the author of 17 books, including Holy Adventure: 41 Days of Audacious Living . He blogs at his website here .

Why does the Incarnation matter to you? We invite you to leave a comment below.

Why the Incarnation Matters