CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT WARFARE
by Rev. Clarence Talley, Sr
Youth Pastor and Professor of Art PVAMU
Don’t be alarm but Christmas is also about warfare.
Christmas is more than the fulfillment of the promised Messiah. It is also an escalation in the war between the forces of good and evil. No one, however, likes to think of Christmas as being a military maneuver in a holy war between the two greatest forces in the universe for the souls of men. And yet it is.
When we contemplate Christmas most minds turn quickly to Mary, Joseph, the Christ child in the manger, shepherds watching their flock, the wise men, and anything else that conjures up blessed thoughts about the event.
But Christmas is also a strategic military move by the Lord of Host in His holy war against Satan.
The Advent of the promised Messiah was a divine decision made long before the creation of this world. The divine decision was serve as deterrent to the diabolical and evil efforts of the archenemy of God, Rev. 13:8.
Mankind was drawn into this conflict when the adversary of the Lord deceived the parents of the human race, thus allowing sin into the world, condemnation on all humanity, and furthermore the expansion of the battleground in the greatest contest known to man.
With the succumbing of mankind to the devices of Satan, man was now separated from God, completely cut off from his Maker. As a result, a Redeemer was needed to restore the crown of creation back to his rightful place as sons and daughters of the Most High God.
The restoration of mankind called for creative military planning by God. Therefore, He decided that One should come in human flesh. He would be the “seed of woman” and He would be both human as well as divine; Son of Man and Son of God. The first formal announcement of His coming is found in Genesis 3:15. “And I will put enmity [hostility] between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Satan was now well warned of the child’s impending arrival; an arrival in the fullness of time which insured his doom and eternal defeat.
After hearing the dreaded news, Satan did not sit around wring his hands. He knew the “seed of woman” must be prevented entry into the human sphere. Therefore, He caused the first murder; the slaying of Abel by Cain. Satan poison the entire pre-flood world save Noah and his family. The devil encouraged the Pharaoh of Egypt to enslave God’s people, set them free, and then tried to wipe them out at the Red Sea. The devil seduced God’s people to forsake Him and turn to idol worship.
The devil influenced Jezebel to massacre the prophets of God. He also marshalled the wicked Assyrian army to carry off ten tribes of Israel into captivity. Later, Satan swayed King Nebuchadnezzar to wage war against the remaining two Israelite tribes. He defeat them and he took many into exile in Babylon, bringing the house of David to the brink of annihilation.
Satan and his demons tried all they could to destroy the lineage in which the “seed of the woman” was to come. Yet, they failed.
As promised a blessed Jewish maiden gave birth to the Christ child and as instructed she named Him Jesus for He was destine to save man from his sins, Lk.1:26-38; 2:1-7; Mt. 3:21.
With the birth of Jesus Christ, the warfare waged on. Satan inspired Herod the Great to try and eliminate Mary’s baby by having all male infants age two and under killed, Mt. 3:16.
The devil manipulated the religious leaders, the Pharisees, Scribes, and the Herodians to conspire to kill Jesus, Mk. 3:6; Lk. 22:1. Satan even rallied a group of Jesus’ home folks to rise against Him, Lk. 4: 28-29.
Today the war wages on in the midst of the sights and sounds of the last Christmas of this millennium. The forces of good and evil continues to collide.
Nonetheless, the birth of Christ, the life He lived, and the vicarious death He died all speak of the ultimate victory Christians have in Him.
As we celebrate His birth this holiday season, let us not forget that Christmas is a glorious episode in the continuing saga between good and evil; light and darkness. MERRY CHRISTMAS
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Rev. Clarence Talley, Sr. has been Professor of Art at Prairie View A & M University since 1975. He is Youth Pastor at Mount Corinth Missionary Baptist Church, Hempstead, Texas and a Fulbright-Hayes Scholar to Africa.
He received a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; a Master of Fine Arts from Louisiana State University; and a Master of Arts in Theology from Houston Graduate School of Theology. Further study includes: Rice University; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Devon House, Kingston, Jamaica.
Rev. Talley’s articles and sermons have been published in a variety of literary sources, national newspapers and magazines. A man with combined talents, Rev. Talley’s first book, The Call for the Prophet, is a penetrating analysis of the elements and factors involved in the calling of the Old Testament Prophets.
He is listed in "250 Years of Afro American Art," "Who’s Who in the South and Southwest," "Who’s Who Among African Americans," "Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers" Art in America: Guides to Museums and Galleries," "Directory of People of Color in the Visual Arts," "American Artist of the Renown," and "Outstanding Young Men of America."
