True Christmas: The birth of innocence within

The internal meaning of Joseph, Mary and Jesus tells how we can open our hearts to love today

The birth of Jesus on earth represents His birth in our hearts. His birth in us is the creation of unselfish love in our hearts.

But before He can come to us we must do our part – through obedience to His law, shunning the evils forbidden in the Ten Commandments, and doing good to the best of our abilities. The story of His birth follows those actions in our lives.

Luke 2:1-3: And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place when Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

Rome was the earthly government at that time. It brought order - subject to its whims. It represents the external government of our own reasoning power - that ordered, logical process which can amass legions of thoughts in patterns and attack a problem with ruthless force.

The Emperor called a census. He wanted to know how many people he had so he could tax them better. This tells of our life, when we are trying to be good. We too gather our mental powers, put the things of our minds into a more proper order so that we can live our lives. We do it from a rather worldly perspective. We feel that we are good, and that we have the power to order our lives.

Think of that census. Think of all those families criss-crossing the land, each going to the place from whence they came. Remember that when the tribes came into Canaan hundreds of years earlier, each was given an inheritance, and in fact the families’ genealogies were kept in their original cities, recording each birth and all the descendants. It made sense that Rome would call such a census in Judea and Galilee.

This shaking up of the families represent our re-ordering of our minds as we try to live good lives, obedient to God.

But unknown to Caesar or to Herod, one journey was taking place which would change the course of history. It was of the Lord’s providence that the census took place, and that Joseph, who was living in Nazareth, not in Bethlehem, would make a journey. For while we are trying to order our minds, rearranging our priorities, there is a part of our minds which is lifted into a new realm.

Luke 2:4: And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David.

Joseph was a carpenter - working with tools of iron on wood, shaping the wood into useful items. He represents the human understanding - perhaps particularly that part of the understanding which is interested in religious and truly moral matters. Joseph, carving wood into pleasant forms, stands for how we use our understanding to mold our goodness, believing that this will bring us true happiness.

But true happiness comes from a much more miraculous source. It comes from the Lord incarnate, flowing into our hearts from within.

However, as we use our understanding to seek for the meaning of life and of goodness, we are lifted up into higher thoughts. The journey of Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Judea, and especially to Bethlehem, represent a spiritual journey - the uplifting of our understandings to see deeper truths about life. Bethlehem, which means “the house of bread,” represents the deepest meaning of the Lord’s Word, a spiritual understanding of truth. So as Joseph went up to Bethlehem, our understandings are secretly raised up to see deeper truths. We think it’s because we are working on understanding life. Joseph thought he obeyed Caesar’s command, whereas it was the Lord’s providence that led him to Bethlehem. So it is the Lord who secretly uplifts our thoughts.

David, the great king of Israel, represents spiritual thought also. Joseph was of the house of David. Our understanding seems to be very practical and earthly, but it is endowed with the power to see above the body and beyond the world. It is “of the house and lineage of David.”

Luke 2:5: To be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.

As Joseph was promised to Mary, so our human understanding is promised in love to something rather precious inside of us. Mary, the virgin, represent the innocent affection for truth. Each of us has a strain of idealism deep within us. The understanding receives impulses from many sources, but as we try to obey the Lord it promises itself to the spiritual Mary - to a love of more innocent, apparently naive truth. We fall in love with ideals and with dreams of unselfish, worthwhile love.

We all have this idealism, for the Lord has secretly implanted it in our beings from the moment we are born, Every lovely feeling, every true thought, is stored within us by our loving God and becomes our spiritual Mary.

Joseph naturally thought that his marriage to Mary would produce a child who would bring them happiness. We think that if we marry our understanding to our ideals, we will build our happiness. And in one sense that is true. Yet in fact, it is the power of almighty God inflowing into our idealism that produces true love. As Joseph was not the father of Jesus, but was his natural guardian, so our understanding plays a role in our future happiness, but true love is a Divine birth within us. This is the true message of Christmas - that He who came to earth, He alone can warm people’s hearts with love.

Luke 2:6: And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

It took centuries for the Lord to be born on earth. During all that time He prepared people for His birth, and because of those promises, they looked forward to it.

We lose our innocence quite early, and feel, perhaps, that we are very selfish people. It takes time for the Lord to create love in our hearts. We’d love to become kind, totally loving people in an instant. That birth needs time and patience. But its time does come!

Luke 2:7: And she brought forth her first born son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for Him in the inn.

He could have been born anywhere on earth - in the most splendid palace, heir to worldly power and might. He chose a humble stable. Partly this was because He didn’t come to be an earthly power. As He said, “Who is greater? He who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.” (Luke 22:27).

But the reasons were greater than that. Even in Bethlehem He could not be born in the inn. The inn represents a place of instruction, a place where people gather and exchange thoughts. But the inn was full, even as in our own minds, we often think we know it all.

So He was born in a stable, where the horses feed. A horse, which carries us where we want to go, represents an understanding of specific truths which show us the way in life. It represents an understanding of spiritual truth. And He was wrapped in swaddling cloths, which represent simple, innocent truths, and laid in the place where horses come to eat. Innocent truths are the ones we are tempted to scoff at - simple ideas like “It’s good to be good,” or “It’s wrong to hurt others,” or “I can use my abilities to bring happiness to those I love.” These are among the most fundamental teachings to be found in all of Scripture.

In other words, the Lord, when He descends into our minds and hearts, finds that in many parts of our lives our spiritual “inns” are full. We think we know very well how to make our way in life. So He chooses instead to move us with His love in a special part of our mind - where we seek spiritual truths, and we do so from innocence.

We all have a spiritual manger in our minds. Every person has an innocent spot, where she or he wants to learn, and where she feels humble in learning ideas which will make life so very much better than it is now.

To all of us our Savior wants to come. He created us for heaven, and in order that we may know the joy of heaven He teaches us His laws. When we respond, then His love is born in our hearts, and that birth follows an orderly pattern.

1. All the ideas of our minds are brought into order apparently by our own efforts. (The census).
2. A spiritual journey takes place. Our understanding is gradually raised up from thinking only of worldly values into a new light. We take our idealism (our spiritual Mary) with us into that light, to the spiritual Bethlehem.
3. The Lord is not born in those truths which we have filled and perverted with purely worldly values (the inn).
4. Instead He is born into those innocent truths from His Word which we have always trusted and loved, and easily understood (our manger).
5. They are wrapped in simple, clear observations (the swaddling cloths) which protect our newfound love as it grows within us.

This is the process told in the 7 verses that announce the birth of God with us.

I had a wonderful meditation last night on the End of the Age:

Revelation 14: 6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth--to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people-- 7 saying with a loud voice, "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water."

Internal meaning:

An announcement of the Lord's advent, and of a new church to descend from Him out of heaven, - to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people - to all people who, owing to religion, are prompted by goods, and owing to doctrine are guided by truths. [7] An admonition not to do evil, because it is to act against the Lord. and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; An acknowledgment and confession that all the Word's truth comes from the Lord, and that everyone will be judged in accordance with it, and that the Lord alone is to be worshiped, because He alone is the Creator, Savior, and Redeemer, and because the angelic heaven and the church and everything in them originate from Him alone. ~ Apocalypse Revealed 612 ~ Swedenborg

As much as things change, the Lord always stays the same

But before He can come to us we must do our part – through obedience to His law

You may wish to look at the life of the Apostle Paul.

Phl 3:3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God [fn] and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh--

Phl 3:4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more:

Phl 3:5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;

Phl 3:6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

Phl 3:7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

Paul wouldn't agree with it nor does his life reflect it.

I'm not sure I would trust Google for my theology.

Let's look at Paul and the Law a bit - his thrust was DEEDS/WORKS of the law did not justify - the washing, etc where there was no understanding of the spiritual significance... it was just being done for show. Paul indeed believed in the Commandments - and he had quite a few things to add that people who walk in Christ should not do. Turning to the Word:

Romans 2:13 NKJV (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;

Romans 3:20 NKJV Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Romans 7:12 NKJV Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.

Galatians 2:16 NKJV knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

Galatians 3:24 NKJV Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

We believe in keeping our spiritual house in order by using the Ten Commandments as a guide for repentance, as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ taught. Paul is so misunderstood and his writings have led to horrible false teachings... but, if they are read in the light, they are in harmony.

As for trusting Google for your theology... our Church utilizes Google technology across the board - it's great for video conferencing and file sharing via their cloud - and it's free - we don't have to pay an IT department to build and maintain a infrastructure - I was in that business - it's horribly expensive. Don't tell me you believe Google is 'evil'? At any rate, there is a traditional webhost for this in the works - we used Google to develop all of it.

I would suggest that you are simply misreading Paul's statements. Paul's salvation experience was NOT built on the fact that he lived a good life following the commandments. That simply ignores Paul's teachings. Paul lived by the commandments. He was a "Jew among Jews". Yet when confronted on the Damascus Road by Christ, he cried out, "Who are you, Lord?" (Acts 9)

Our salvation rests not on "living a good life" nor having God pleased with us. Our salvation rests with God the Father opening our eyes and ears to the truth of the gospel. Just as He did with Paul. Following God's commandments is what a Christian wants to do.

And, as a side note, living by the commandments is NOT for God's benefit. The commandments are given to us by the Father so that we may have a good and wholesome life. Sure, they reflect God's nature but that is what a good and wholesome life should be about. Sure, if we followed all the laws we would be like Christ-but we deliberate don't want to. We do not keep the commandments because having a good and wholesome life is totally against our nature. We are rebellious-not only to God and those around us but to ourselves. We would self destruct if it was not for God's substaning grace.

Job 15:14 What is man, that he can be pure? Or he who is born of a woman, that he can be righteous?

Job 15:15 Behold, God puts no trust in his holy ones, and the heavens are not pure in his sight;

Job 15:16 how much less one who is abominable and corrupt, a man who drinks injustice like water!

It's only because of Christ coming to us, opening up our eyes and ears, asking us why we are persecuting Him that we truly respond, "Who are you Lord?" It was when Paul was blinded that he truly saw the truth.

And Mary said:
"My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant....
He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.
He has shown strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things...." (Luke 1)

"The essential element in all adoration and all worship is humility. Without humility there can be no worship or adoration of the Lord, because what is divine and the Lord's cannot flow into a proud heart, that is, into a heart full of self-love; for such a heart is hard and in the Word is called "a heart of stone". It can flow only into a humble heart, since this is soft and in the Word is called "a heart of flesh". Such a heart is receptive of goodness flowing in from the Lord; in other words, it is receptive of the inflow of the Lord." (Emanuel Swedenborg, AC 9377)

I'm not Catholic, BTW - see my profile page.

I'm not Catholic, BTW - see my profile page.

Thank you. I listened to some of the sermons. Interesting.

Here are New Church Live's statement of beliefs:

2) To live into those gifts we need to step up. - Stepping up means growing closer to God and closer to others. That entails actively and purposefully working on repentance (rethinking), reformation (restructuring), and regeneration (recreating). It means developing an awareness of the need to live purposefully and deliberately in the present.

3) Stepping up to grow closer to God means embarking on a journey with hills and valleys.

4) To help us along the way, God gave us His Word.-... New Church theological canon, authored by the scientist and theologian Emanuel Swedenborg, helps us to more fully understand God’s Word.

5) The promise is eternal life in heaven if we so choose. - If we have consistently chosen evil on earth, we will continue to choose it in the next life. If we have tried to live good lives here, regardless of religious denomination, then that choice of a God centered life will be confirmed in the next life and we will be led to heaven, where we will become angels.

That's it! No scriptural verses or systematic theology for how these doctrinal beliefs were arrived at. Instead they stem from Emanuel Swedenborg who "talked to the angels". From Wikipedia, we find the following about Emanuel Swedenborg:

This culminated in a 'spiritual awakening', in which he received revelation that he was appointed by the Lord to write a heavenly New Church Doctrine to reform Christianity. According to the New Church Doctrine the Lord had opened Swedenborg's spiritual eyes, so that from then on he could freely visit heaven and hell, and talk with angels, demons and other spirits; and that the Last Judgement had already occurred, in 1757, although this was only visible in the spiritual world, where he had witnessed it.[8] New Church Doctrine states that The Last Judgement was followed by the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, which occurred, not by Christ in person, but by a revelation from Him through the inner, spiritual sense of the Word[9] through Swedenborg.[10] Swedenborg then argued that it is the presence of that spiritual sense which makes the Word Divine.[11] However, he tells us that at this day it is very dangerous to talk with spirits, unless a person is in true faith, and is led by the Lord.[12][13].
New Church Doctrine rejects the concept of salvation through faith alone, since he considered both faith and charity necessary for salvation, not one without the other

While I appreciate the fact that Swedenborg claims to have died 15 times and conversed with angels, Joseph Smith also made the same claim-at least the part of conversing with angels.

I will admit that I was wrong. Perhaps it would be better if you were Catholic.

While I appreciate the fact that Swedenborg claims to have died 15 times and conversed with angels, Joseph Smith also made the same claim-at least the part of conversing with angels. I will admit that I was wrong. Perhaps it would be better if you were Catholic.

Hope you had a Merry Christmas.

I'm not sure that I know of your source for 'died 15 times' never heard of that. I do know that in Heaven and Hell, he is put through the process of dying so he can document it - but he didn't actually die.

I certainly don't believe the Lord has stopped talking to us after John on Patmos. Many have recorded visions and have had mystical experiences, myself included. What happened to Swedenborg and the fact that he documented 35 volumes of his 27 year experience should give anyone - believer or non believer - pause.

Better off Catholic? And believe: The Old Testament Foretold that Mary Would Give Birth Without Pain (Catholic Caucus)?

We don't go to church to hear what someone thinks. It's a time for communing with the saints and fellowship. It's also a time for the preacher to remind us of our sinfulness, our forgiveness, and to give us a good swift kick in the pants to boldly preach and practice the word of God. Something all of us need. If they don't do that-leave and find some church that does.

As far as preachers lining their pockets there certainly are enough of them. But my feeling on all of this is that if God leads us to give to His work, so much the better. But God doesn't need our money. And if we want to keep it, does anyone think it bothers Him? We don't give because God is going to give it back to us in a tangible form or some spiritual way. We give because we want to give-freely and without expecting anything in return.

However, I would suggest given the span of time that the scriptures were written, there were very few ‘mystical experiences’. Sometimes nothing happened for 3-400 years-even longer. When we look at the approximately 4,000 years that the scriptures cover, there really aren't that many mystical events. God isn't in a hurry. But heck, today they seem to pop up like daisies on a sunny hillside.

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