The Daily Alaska empire., 1936-12-20
GODS WORD TO THE WORLD
By DEAN CHARLES E. RICE
 (Trinity CathedraD

The Word mace flesh and dwelt among :" This is the Christmas message. "Immanuel," God with in human form-this is the basis of our rejoicing in the Christmas season We may forget it. may resort to all kinds of artificial make it joyous festival without accepting the fact which the festival procaims. We may glorify Santa Claus may speak of entering into the spirit of the season.
 but on this earth spirit must have body if it is to operate exist for any appreciable time. And that body is the truth expressed by St. John.
 Each year Chrstendom observes the anniver- sary of the birth of Lord in human flesh, moved to say, Never before has the message had such vital meaning to the world as today" And it is true for life becomes complex, and it's problems complicated, the need of definite knowledge of God becomes greater. This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ Whom Thou hast sent"
 But some will say Are justified in speaking of God in terms of humanity do in the Christmas message?" We cannot do otherwise. We have no other terms, and driven by the poverty of thoughts to such terms. We justified in doing by the Bible for in it's first pages it bears witness to the significant fact that created in the image of God; and if man bears Gods image, God also bears mans image Still it is very childish and irreverent to speak or even think of God in the fashion which obtains among many good people, and for which they plead the example of passages from the Old Testament. The early revelations or God professedly rudimentary and immature They necessarily adapted to the moral and in- tellectual culture of the times in which they were given It is strange how Christians of today will consistently turn their backs upon the Christian revelation, and go hunting for their religion among the patriarchs and prophets of the Mosaic dspensa- ton. Why should descend from the lofty heights of outlook to which Christ has led the religious in- stinct and conscience of Chrisendom? Whatever the advance in secular thought, must climb those divine peaks of vision for our completeSt measure ment of man. and our final conception of God. He that hath seen Me- said Christ, hath the Father" For, T and the Father are One' It is not all of Christianity to say Christ is Godlke for know that God is Christ-ke!"
 Nor need we fear the criticism of making God toe COMMON God chose to reveal Himself in human is fit receptacle for the Divinity and it may reflec the glory of its Divine Author. While we this earth He must always exist for in coors and out lines which take from human nature This is inevitable from the limitations in which we d( thinking. Christian art has always pictured tht Angels in human form but Christ places above the Angelsl So with our conceptions of God. Ever when wisely and reverently abstain from pcturing Him to imagination, cannot think of Hin attributes of human nature We cannot conceive of anything higher; therefore God became flesh tha we might know Him Our Father" and ourselve as His children. The humanity of God and tn Divinity of man are seen in Bethleheml