The Pesky, Cumbersome Soul

I was reading a book recently that was suggested to me by one of my friends with the intention of "seeing my response to it." The book was written by an outspoken and passionate atheist (although he despises the term), who brings up some intriguing objections to Christianity. One of the themes of the book that the author uses to attach Christianity is the anti-morality of the Bible. He brings up slavery and the treatment of non-believers in the Old Testament and really presents a strong case. He claims that since our moral guideline (the Bible) is debunked, then we should throw it out, and our faith is worthless.

My first thought was an odd one: if only it were that easy. I think that the writer seems to think that we Christians simply judged the morality of the Bible against our own innate morality and decided that it is close enough to use as a framework to base our lives around. This is far from the truth, at least for me. If he was right, then it would be easy to read his words and walk away from the faith forever. I could create my own morality centered around me. I could do always what feels good or benefits me personally and maybe find some sort of satisfaction.

My faith, however, is not a result of a logical decision.

Today I heard O Holy Night. It seems that every year, a new line in the song catches my attention. This year it is:
'Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth
This is a much more accurate picture of what it means to be a Christian. we all have this pesky, cumbersome soul living inside of us. It gives us morals and makes us feel funny sometimes. Christians and Non-Christians alike, we all have it. It leaps when we love and is heavy when we weep. It often gets in the way of advancing our own kingdom. It makes us make decisions that don't always benefit us. We wonder sometimes why we even have it.

Then, it happens. He appears, not just two-thousand years ago, but every single moment of every single day. He is constantly appearing. Our lives intersect with the divine, and we realize it. Our soul feels their worth. It all becomes clear. The Bible is not a morality handbook, it is a story of the shape of things and where our souls fit in it. Before Christ, our souls are a hindrance and a weight. After Christ, we see that they are our connection with the divine and our internal moral guide.

So this Christmas, celebrate the meaning of life. Celebrate that love has come to earth and that we now can love more fully. Celebrate that suffering will one day expire. Celebrate that there is meaning in the world for you, for me, and for the writer of the book I am reading. Celebrate that your soul is worth something.

Merry Christmas!