FROM THE ARCHIVES: SHUN THE DARKNESS:

In Hoc Anno Domini (Vermont Royster's annual Christmas message, December 25, 2001, Wall Street Journal)

This editorial was written in 1949 by the late Vermont Royster and has been published annually since: [...]

Along the road to Damascus the light shone brightly. But afterward Paul of Tarsus, too, was sore afraid. He feared that other Caesars, other prophets, might one day persuade men that man was nothing save a servant unto them, that men might yield up their birthright from God for pottage and walk no more in freedom.

Then might it come to pass that darkness would settle again over the lands and there would be a burning of books and men would think only of what they should eat and what they should wear, and would give heed only to new Caesars and to false prophets. Then might it come to pass that men would not look upward to see even a winter's star in the East, and once more, there would be no light at all in the darkness.

And so Paul, the apostle of the Son of Man, spoke to his brethren, the Galatians, the words he would have us remember afterward in each of the years of his Lord:

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Just read an exceptionally fine book, The Faith and The Power (James D. Snyder), which reminds us of just how marginal were the Christians of the Apostolic Age and how mighty the Roman Empire. Likewise, the History Channel last night had a show on called, In Search of Christmas, where they delved into the myths and legends of the nativity. It was nicely handled even though the various historians, of necessity, were skeptical about various aspects of the story. But then at the end all of them marveled that, whatever your personal beliefs, it's stunning to consider just how completely this child of dubious origin and lowly station transformed the world.
[originally posted: 2002-12-24] Posted by Orrin Judd at December 24, 2006 7:18 AM