Christmas marks the calender like an indelible marker, for as much as you know that its arrival is meaningless nevertheless its passing always registers somehow upon you.  Of course this is understandable when you consider how long you are hounded, night and day, by the merchants anxious to receive your generosity, or more poignantly by various media outlets so overcome with Christmas cheer that they insist on joining with you by orchestrating a mass outpouring of yuletide fervour in carols by candlelight.  What is not understandable is that the world has not allowed this obvious recipe for unbridled nausea and cynicism to put an end to the charade.  There must therefore be, hidden under all the tinsel, some profound need in man that he has fulfilled through Christmas.  Why else would he bother?

Over the centuries, since the beginning of the Christian era, the power and authority through which the teachings of Christ have been disseminated have, by and large, been man-made institutions bearing no resemblance to the spiritual communions that sprang into existence through the initial outpourings of God’s spirit.

As a consequence, there are many things in regard to the church, that we take for granted, which, in fact, have no scriptural origin and are rather a modern fulfillment of Christ’s admonishment of the Pharisees, “You invalidate the word of God for the sake of your tradition…”[1] 

The current discussion amongst the political establishment concerning the benefits of the separation of church and state raises some interesting unexplored areas concerning Christians and politics. While it is generally acknowledged by the secular West that politics and religion do not mix there has been no serious discussion as to whether or not Christianity precludes political involvement for its members. In the current political climate we hear Peter Costello say that “Jesus Christ rejected any opportunity to seize political power”, and while Peter was saying this as an argument for keeping the church out of politics he was also, inadvertently, opening the floodgates on the deeper question, as to whether or not this fact posed a dilemma for all the Christians who sport political colours or who aspire to higher office. While there was discomfort in some circles regarding the appointment of the former Archbishop of Brisbane, Peter Hollinsworth, to the office of Governor General, there has been no disquiet at card carrying Christians being members of Parliament. This is quite strange in the light of the Protestant belief that there is no real distinction between the laity and the clergy.

The deepest problem that faces the church today is what is meant by faith. Salvation by faith was the catch cry that came out of the Reformation and, to this day, it is supposedly the Gospel that is preached the length and the breadth of the land. Luther is the man that most claim to be responsible for steering Christianity back to where it ought to be, anchored on scripture, preaching a gospel of faith in Christ for the forgiveness of sins. But what we must ask ourselves however is, "Is this really the case?" Did Luther really steer the church back from where it had strayed? Has the church through his reforming zeal arrived back to mirror the faith that was visible in the early church? Do we look back at the Protestant beginnings and feel a sense of awe because of the mighty working of the power of God, or do we see a man bravely standing against the might of a powerful corrupt church, giving others the courage to break free from the chains of oppression and to begin to look again at what is contained in scripture. A bit like King Josiah in the Old Testament rediscovering the books of the Law and then needing to consult the prophet as to what they meant.