“Chron doesn’t know the story of Mary & Joseph. They weren’t 'refugees' (look up definition)
Read Luke 2:1-10 They were ordered by the govt to go to Bethlehem to register for the census.
Nice distortion. Doing Devil’s work.”
Wow! “Devil’s work!” Strong words from a mass-going Catholic and scion of the Christian Right, who, evidently, needed to recheck the Bible. Reinforcing his ridicule, Abbott added 3 emoji of faces laughing themselves to tears.
Did Abbott Read All of the Gospels?
But Abbott did not do his research. For the Holy Family’s refugee story is found, not in the Gospel of Luke, as Abbott imagined, but in the Gospel of Matthew. That is, traveling among Nazareth, Jerusalem, and Bethlehem, as described in Luke, did not make Jesus and his family refugees. According to Matthew’s gospel, however, they escaped their country and fled to Egypt to escape political persecution from King Herod. That is what made them refugees, but that story is not found in the Gospel of Luke! There are two stories of the birth of Jesus Christ in the Gospel, and Christians know to read both.
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So, in the second chapter of Matthew (so you don’t need to read very far), we read the story of the Wise Men (or Magi). The Magi came from the east, following a star. (Surely Abbott has heard about the Star of Bethlehem? But, then, maybe not). The Magi told King Herod that:
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The Magi, of course, were priests of the Zoroastrian faith.
As the reader can see, the different accounts of Jesus’ birth are, well, different, and I will let theologians argue about whether they are, or are not consistent, as well as whether they do, or do not, possess any verifiable historical accuracy. Anyway, today (December 30) is the traditional fifth day of Christmas (the count starts on December 26 for some traditional reason), so, maybe, if you are lucky, your true love will give you five golden rings today. One can always hope!
The Chronicle gave a polite, well-argued response to Abbott’s attack.
My wife, Dr. Elaine Clanton Harpine, bough the pictured lovely, hand-carved nativity scene while she was still in school.
So, in the second chapter of Matthew (so you don’t need to read very far), we read the story of the Wise Men (or Magi). The Magi came from the east, following a star. (Surely Abbott has heard about the Star of Bethlehem? But, then, maybe not). The Magi told King Herod that:
“And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.” (Matthew 2:6 KJV)This disturbed Herod, who figured that he, not some upstart from Bethlehem, was governor of Judea. So, forging a crafty plan, Herod told the Magi:
“And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.” (Matthew 2:8 KJV)The Magi found Jesus and gave him gifts of “gold, and frankincense, and myrrh” (Matthew 2:11 KJV). However, being warned in a dream, the Magi did not return to Herod and took another road home. Enraged, malicious, and fearful (like most dictators), Herod ordered that all boys under the age of two should be put to the sword (Matthew 2:16). This would, he figured, ensure that the future upstart governor would meet his end.
Escaping to Egypt to Avoid Political Execution
The Holy Family foiled Herod’s plot, however, for Jesus, Mary, and Joseph became political refugees. Having been warned in a dream, Joseph collected his family and fled to Egypt to avoid Herod’s slaughter. They remained there, safe from political persecution, until the king died:
The Holy Family foiled Herod’s plot, however, for Jesus, Mary, and Joseph became political refugees. Having been warned in a dream, Joseph collected his family and fled to Egypt to avoid Herod’s slaughter. They remained there, safe from political persecution, until the king died:
“And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
“When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.” (Matthew 2:13-14 KJV).After Herod’s death, Joseph received another dream (many dreams in this story) that Herod had died. Joseph took his family to Nazareth, and the gospel narrative continued.
Research Is Important
So, let the reader recognize Governor Abbott's astonishing arrogance. Not only did he fail to make even the most minimal effort to look at the biblical accounts of Jesus’ birth, but he snarked at the Houston Chronicle’s writers, who obviously had read the Bible. Abbot said:
It is, on the one hand, bizarre that Governor Abbott, who loves to appeal to conservative Christian voters, did not know the familiar story. After all, almost every Christmas creche scene features the Magi (Gospel of Matthew) visiting the baby Jesus, lying in a manger (Gospel of Luke), right next to the shepherds (Gospel of Luke) who also paid a call. Still, on the other hand, Abbot’s mistake reminds us of the object lesson: that we should check our facts before we speak.
The sad part is that Abbott’s obviously cruel, inaccurate account of the Bible story might gain him votes from the Christian Right.
So, let the reader recognize Governor Abbott's astonishing arrogance. Not only did he fail to make even the most minimal effort to look at the biblical accounts of Jesus’ birth, but he snarked at the Houston Chronicle’s writers, who obviously had read the Bible. Abbot said:
“Nice distortion. Doing Devil’s work.”Just as speakers need research, so do politicians who post on social media.
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| Nativity Scene, Shepherds on Left, Magi on the Right |
It is, on the one hand, bizarre that Governor Abbott, who loves to appeal to conservative Christian voters, did not know the familiar story. After all, almost every Christmas creche scene features the Magi (Gospel of Matthew) visiting the baby Jesus, lying in a manger (Gospel of Luke), right next to the shepherds (Gospel of Luke) who also paid a call. Still, on the other hand, Abbot’s mistake reminds us of the object lesson: that we should check our facts before we speak.
The sad part is that Abbott’s obviously cruel, inaccurate account of the Bible story might gain him votes from the Christian Right.
______________________
P.S. The underlying complexity, of course, arises because a narrative of Jesus’ birth only appears in two places in the Bible. In Matthew, we encounter the Star of Bethlehem, the Magi (or Wise Men), the flight to Egypt, and the slaughter of the innocents. In Luke, we read the Magnificat. We then find (still in Luke) that Jesus was laid in a manger and was visited by shepherds, following which the family traveled peacefully to Jerusalem and Nazareth. Abbott is aware, obviously, that the Gospel of Luke does not feature any political refugees. If only Abbott had also read Matthew, the very first book of the New Testament!
P.S. The underlying complexity, of course, arises because a narrative of Jesus’ birth only appears in two places in the Bible. In Matthew, we encounter the Star of Bethlehem, the Magi (or Wise Men), the flight to Egypt, and the slaughter of the innocents. In Luke, we read the Magnificat. We then find (still in Luke) that Jesus was laid in a manger and was visited by shepherds, following which the family traveled peacefully to Jerusalem and Nazareth. Abbott is aware, obviously, that the Gospel of Luke does not feature any political refugees. If only Abbott had also read Matthew, the very first book of the New Testament!
The Magi, of course, were priests of the Zoroastrian faith.
As the reader can see, the different accounts of Jesus’ birth are, well, different, and I will let theologians argue about whether they are, or are not consistent, as well as whether they do, or do not, possess any verifiable historical accuracy. Anyway, today (December 30) is the traditional fifth day of Christmas (the count starts on December 26 for some traditional reason), so, maybe, if you are lucky, your true love will give you five golden rings today. One can always hope!
The Chronicle gave a polite, well-argued response to Abbott’s attack.
by William D. Harpine
Copyright © 2023 William D. Harpine
Nativity Scene Image: William D. Harpine, © 2023
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