People admired the Sistine Chapel for centuries in spite of its dingy appearance. Some were so enthralled with the smoky, dull ceiling that entire philosophies of art defended Michelangelo’s artistic genius for wanting it to look that way. But once the layers of greasy dust and smoky residue had been carefully removed, a new generation is now getting to enjoy the true genius of Michelangelo. (Click here to see before and after pictures.)

I believe the same thing needs to happen to the birth of Christ. It has become so hackneyed, tired, and overly-sentimentalized by generations of waxy traditions, we think our established rituals are the truth. Sadly, on the flip-side, skeptics accuse the birth of Christ of being a made-up story because some of the traditions surrounding the birth of Christ sound like a fairy-tale. And yet, likewise, some Christians want the Bible to be true so badly that they will defend some of these false traditions as if they were true, which also diminishes the true beauty of the birth of Christ. Both approaches end up in the same place: not seeing the truth. 

The birth of Christ is not made up nor is it a myth! 500 Year Journey seeks to revitalize the birth of Christ and to give a new generation the chance to be amazed at an old story—an old story that has become so obscured by tradition that it has lost its original resplendence. And in order to see the birth of Christ clearly, I am willing to throw away any tradition or interpretation if it seems to interfere with the raw, earthy event that actually happened. I am not opposed to tradition, but I will not worship it either, and if a study of history and the word of God reveals something contrary to the accepted traditions, I have no problem with discarding the traditions. Some traditions may be true, but they are not necessarily true simply because they are traditions. We need to see afresh the emotional wonder of God’s masterful work of art restored to its original glory, in its true colors. 

In 500 Year Journey I defend the essentials of our faith: the Word of God is reliable and trustworthy, Jesus is the Word become flesh, and his life, death, resurrection, and ascension are real, historical events. Furthermore, his continuing work in the hearts of humanity to repent through the power of the Spirit are ever present and transformative for those who believe. It is real.

In regards to this topic about when he was born, though, I have come to believe that the historical reality of his birth undergirds all of these essential doctrines and the miracle is that God chose to become a man on a specifically chosen date, according to a carefully orchestrated plan, at the perfect moment in history. I believe your faith in Christ will be strengthened, your confidence in the Word of God will grow, and your understanding of who Jesus is and how perfectly timed his first coming was will blow you away. 

Please join me on this journey.

Also, please SUBSCRIBE so you can get a FREE SHIPPING PROMO CODE and pre-order 500 Year Journey by August 31 to get a signed copy. There is a limited supply.

The release date is September 12 and will be available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop, and more. Ask your favorite local bookstore to order copies. Blessings.