Hello Beloved,

We have been studying the “epithets” for God. As a reminder, the Oxford English Dictionary defines an epithet as “an adjective or phrase expressing a characteristic quality or attribute of the person or thing mentioned.” Last month, we considered the epithet “Rock” in relation to God. This month, we will consider the epithet of God as “Savior or Salvation.” As “Salvation or Savior,” God reveals His attributes of love, grace, mercy, and kindness. Often, salvation bears the connotation of deliverance, whether in a physical or spiritual manner. God can and many times does deliver His people from danger, harm, adversity, or troubles.

After God delivered the people of Israel from Pharoah’s army, Moses wrote his song, exulting, “The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation . . .” Exodus 15:2 (ESV). As David recounted the many times that God delivered him from his adversaries, he wrote of Him, “Great salvation he brings to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever” 2 Samuel 22:51 (ESV). Regarding the promise of God’s restoration for the people of Israel, Isaiah writes, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation” Isaiah 12:2 (ESV). Of course, I have often sung with Isaiah of the great comfort God has given His people in promising, “I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior . . .” Isaiah 43:3 (ESV). Finally, as a segway to this special season that we call Christmas, we are reminded that an angel told Joseph to name Mary’s child, Jesus, for the name means “Savior” and He “will save His people from their sins” (Matt 1:21). Ultimately, Jesus did “save us” by redeeming us from our sin through dying on an old rugged cross, and then rising from the dead on the third day. Let us remember that this is what Christmas is all about.

In his book, The Sacred Santa: Religious Dimensions of Consumer Culture, Dell deChant, a professor of religious studies at the University of South Florida contends that “the Christmas season culture has become a religion all its own.” He suggests “It's a religion complete with mysterious and powerful deities (the economy, Santa Claus), houses of worship (malls), narratives (carols) and rituals (shopping and decorating). Santa, not Jesus, is the savior of the season,” says deChant, “He certainly saves the bottom line for retailers across the country.” Even though many of us complain about the commercialism, deChant says the “’Festival of Consumption’ between Thanksgiving and the week after Christmas has taken on all the characteristics of traditional religions, embraced with equal fervor by the holy and not-so-holy among us. He calls it "a religious culture in disguise." (Fresh Illustrations)

Let us keep Christ in Christmas. Until next time, this is Pastor Daniel writing, “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”