The Virgin Birth & "The Talk"

How Dad Got It Right

It was about as nervous as I had ever seen Dad. He sat in his recliner as I slouched on the couch. Seems he never quite looked me in the eye, but he stammered forward as best he could.

As a squirrely kid, I had been dropping hints that I wanted to know about “the birds and the bees.” I’m guessing Mom and Dad played Rock, Paper, Scissors, and Dad lost out.

Heading for my bedroom after that tortured conversation, a question popped into my head: Dad, was Mary a virgin because sex is sinful?

“No,” he quickly replied.

Today as we race toward the busiest of holidays, I want to reflect briefly on the story within the Story and relate it to your ministry with victims of the Sexual Tsunami.

Matthew and Luke both begin with the story of the Virgin Birth. While the manner of his birth is historically and theologically necessary, we should never lose sight of the meta-narrative which began in the Garden of Eden and plays out until we all reach the Garden of Paradise. Cover to cover, it’s all about Jesus.

I don’t know what else you read or view on the internet. There certainly is a lot of confusion and uncertainty about the pandemic, the vaccine, the Supreme Court, and other divisive storylines. And you may also read about the overarching meta-narrative which seems to be stretching toward either tyranny or anarchy.

But don’t minimize the smaller stories around you!

The woman who, for the first time, is finally free from the haunting memories of abuse; the man finally making progress on his addiction to porn; the children in your parish finally receiving a biblical grounding in matters of sexuality—these are critical pieces of God’s meta-narrative.

Yes, let’s be informed. Let’s understand the larger perspective of what is going on in the world. But never be so swamped by the big picture that you can’t hold firmly a proper perspective for those under your care.

What you are doing matters. We can’t simply retreat and build well-stocked bunkers, awaiting the Apocalypse.

So let me encourage you and thank you for continuing to read this blog—whether you are a paid subscriber or not. What you do matters.

Did my brother and sister dropped enough hints to get a similar talk from Dad or Mom? Probably not. I’m the pesky kid brother.

But I so appreciate that Dad got it right. Not only did he know instinctively that the nature of sex had nothing to do with the Virgin Birth. But he also actually gave the talk in the first place! That was no small task in the 60’s. And I’m guessing he did a better job than I did with my own kids.

And nothing says Merry Christmas quite like my book!

OK, maybe it’s better for a New Year’s resolution!