January 2010

Question

Dr. Van, why do you think we (the current Christian community) make such a big deal in talking about the virgin birth? The commercialization of this event has made this a nice myth in today’s Christmas culture holiday, with no theological significance. I do not see very many references in the New Testament to the virgin birth being mentioned in the proclamation of the gospel. I do see the significance to the virgin birth, but why does it have such a small amount of Scriptural mention? Have we contributed to the culture myth with our manger scenes, etc.? Should we continue?

I’m not sure of the PA Dutch wording, but I like “Once is for always.” If God says it once, that gives us eternal truth. Happily, there are several passages which clearly set forth the truth of the special conception of a body for our Savior. Perhaps our present Christian communities sense a special need to emphasize the miraculous conception in a culture in which there is little or no respect for the sacredness of sex and also a great deal of fictitious nonsense about unusual origins. I think it is more likely a reaction in recognition of a need than an overplay of manger scenes, etc.

Also, I think two things in ancient cultures need to be considered in weighing why the fact was reported but not often repeated as the Gospel spread. The rulers of several different countries declared themselves to have been specially conceived children of the national deity. A supposed “miraculous” parentage was typically claimed in several religious settings. I suspect that in almost every case the ordinary people fully realized that their rulers were but ordinary men and would die as ordinary men die, except for the pomp and circumstance. The forceful and distinct message of Christianity as it went forth was the death and resurrection; learning later of a unique birth would be no problem regarding such an One. read more

Details aren’t settled yet, but we’ll have another SI Writing Contest fairly soon.

Cash prizes for winners.

Though we’ll have suggestions, we’ll be open to all topics.

If you have ideas and writings skills, start thinking now about a project for SI!