Theology Matters - Glory to God in the Highest

Glory to God in the Highest There is much to celebrate at Christmas. Yet, for many of us, all the sights and sounds, the food and the fellowship, can flood our senses and be overwhelming. It is easy to get confused about what we are celebrating at Christmas.    But the angels help to clarify the matter. In announcing to the shepherds that “to you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord,” we read, “there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased” (Luke 2:14, RSV).   Even here, however, there can be confusion if we are not clear about the order of “things.” Karl Barth writes, “It is no accident that in the song of the Christmas angels (Lk. 214) the ‘Glory to God in the Highest’ comes first, and the ‘Peace on earth to the men of the (divine) good pleasure’ only second” (Church Dogmatics IV/1:212).   Perhaps the most important and salutary feature of Reformed theology throughout the last five centuries has been its effort to highlight the priority of God’s glory. God’s glory, majesty, and honor come first. Everything else follows.   This is not to say that maintaining the priority of God’s glory has been easy. Even when confessing that “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever,” we have often confused the subject and the predicate and put more emphasis on ourselves than on God, on our enjoyment of God than on God and his glory.   To be sure, “The glory of God is man fully alive,” as Irenaeus said. And there is much to be said about human flourishing, as there is said today from almost every corner. But let us not forget the order.   Let us remember that peace on earth, good will, and human flourishing begin with God and giving “Glory to God in the highest.” Let us remember that true human flourishing has made possible by the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, the One eternally begotten Son of the Father. And so may we rejoice!   Merry Christmas! Richard E. Burnett, Managing Editor Theology Matters Visit our website here: Theology Matters Register here for our Theology Conference 2023, "Spirituality Old & New: Testing the Spirits Today, Yesterday, and Tomorrow" Give to Theology Matters here: Give to Theology Matters   ‌  ‌

Theology Matters | P.O. Box 50026, Greenwood, SC 29649