This past Tuesday, in our Tuesday Night Bible Study (a personal study group made up of a longstanding group of dear friends, a group full of book-worthy journeys) we explored the different accounts of the virgin birth. This was not necessarily because of “tis the Season,” but because our current study theme is “Strange Stuff in the Bible.” We happen to be exploring the strange stuff of a virgin birth in December.
Our study time opened with each of us having our own solitude with three different gospel passages that note the virgin birth announcement and actual birth (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; Luke 2:1-20). When we moved to process the passages as a group, our discussion began with someone immediately saying, “The virgin birth was my big hang up before becoming a believer.” Several others joined in quickly with their own virgin birth hang ups. A consensus rapidly developed that, of all the strange stuff in the Bible, this is one of the strangest.
We had vibrant back/forth sharing and touched on the different nuances of each gospel account of the virgin birth. Eventually, discussion of the strangeness of a virgin birth took us to Hebrews 11:6, “And without faith it is impossible to please God.” If this is true, and it obviously is, it would make sense that God would bake a few things into the faith journey that require faith. The idea of a baby conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of a human cannot be easily reasoned. Nor, while we’re at it, can the idea of a human (a human who is actually all God and all human) being physically, brutally put to death by crucifixion and then brought back to life three days later!
Leave it up to God to load the believing process with tripwires, ludicrous events integral to the gospel story that ask us to suspend physical laws and enlightened reasoning. In other words, events that require faith to believe that they actually occurred. But in exercising that belief, and according to the remainder of Hebrews 11:6, we are given great reward for believing. That is so God.
The words of Hebrews 11:6 are a gift. God knew it would be a jump, a literal leap of faith. Which is why it brings Him pleasure when we take that jump. You can hear God saying, “This is crazy, right!? But that’s what makes it so good!”
Eugene Peterson’s take on Hebrews 11:6 in The Message:
It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.
To state the obvious, the existence of ludicrous events in the Gospel story does pose a heavy lift. However, this does not have to be a step toward deconstructing faith, but rather an opportunity to do something crazy with God! Because here’s the thing: belief in the virgin birth is not a test, it’s an invitation.
Merry Christmas!
Barry Shafer
Founder/Director, InWord Resources
For your benefit/consideration:
The story of a virgin birth is not unique to the Christian faith. But it is unique in comparison to the other stories. Do a brief Google/Wikipedia search of virgin births. How does the virgin birth of the gospel message differ from other virgin birth traditions?
Take a stroll through the gospel passages pertaining to the virgin birth (announcements, actual birth, etc.). Let God speak to your heart about this unbelievable event that He invites us to believe in.
Matthew 1:18-25
Luke 1:26-38
Luke 2:1-20
Take a moment to journal a personal “statement of faith” regarding your belief in the virgin birth. Make it an honest prayer to God and articulate any hang ups or hesitations you have.