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11.30.04 The Rev. John Dorr, pastor of Peachtree Corners Presbyterian Church in Atlanta. Seminary graduate says true meaning of Christmas found in manger A graduate of Erskine Seminary returned Tuesday to help turn the campus's attention to Christmas. The Rev. John Dorr, pastor of Peachtree Corners Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, talked about the Christmas story during his sermon, saying the nativity scene is the first sign that the Christmas season is under way. Having children has been the truest education he's received, Dorr said, recalling how his son had placed G.I. Joe and other toys among the original characters in the nativity scene and his daughter had placed Barbie and her belongings beside the manger. "I initially thought that their toys didn't belong there," Dorr said. He thought about it some more and decided that they belong there as much today as the original characters 2,000 years ago. He said we might see ourselves among the original characters. There were the shepherds, who were on the lower end of the socioeconomic scale. "There might not be much to do in Due West, but there's more to do than 'keeping watching over their flocks by night,'" Dorr said. When the angel of the Lord appeared to them, the shepherds went to find the baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. "Christmas just instills curiosity in us," Dorr said. "What's the point of it all?" There were also wise men from the East who followed the star to Christ's crib. "All truth is God's truth and leads to the baby in the manger," Dorr said. "We need to examine the story of Christmas." He said the meaning of Christmas is sometimes lost. "We need to encounter the child in the manger who changes you and me." Another of the characters in the Christmas story is King Herod, who heard rumors of the Savior's birth and immediately ordered the killing of all boys 2 years old and younger. Dorr likened Herod to "The Andy Griffith Show" character, Ernest T. Bass, who was classified as a "nut" by Deputy Barney Fife. "More often than not I see myself in Herod," Dorr said. "If I give that child first place in my life, I'm not in charge. We turn our backs on things right in front of us to stay in control. We have to realize that there is one greater than we." He talked about the role of Mary and Joseph. "I'm sure they didn't understand the complete implication of what was happening," Dorr said. "What about the appearance of God Himself in human flesh? Later on, Mary would watch Him die, not only for her sin, but the sins of the world." He said it is not necessary for us to understand all of the details of what it all means. "But we need to know that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us," Dorr said. "That God so loved the world that He gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." He urged students to "share the good news of Christmas." "Don't forget the Savior," Dorr said. "Don't forget the nativity scene. This is a real season and is real to you and me." |
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