It's important to care about politics. It's even more important not to care deeply. As Gutenberg College professor Charles Dewberry notes, "If politics can fix a problem, then Christianity is a lie."

Christianity isn't about politics. It's about a miracle. "Rejoice! Rejoice!" the Christmas carol declares. "Emmanuel shall come to thee, O captive Israel."

Hmm ... when do people rejoice? I've been to baseball games where the home team clenched the lead and held on for a slim victory; that brought sighs of relief, but not rejoicing. Rejoicing comes when the home team is behind -- a win seems out of reach -- and then a ninth-inning rally concludes with a walk-off home run and victory. That's rejoicing.

We rejoice when we recognize that we need something like a miracle -- and it comes. Christmas is about the miracle of God coming to Earth to save us from Satan's power.

Those rich in money or power or academic degrees often are reluctant to believe in Christ because it's hard to see yourself as needing a come-from-behind victory when the scoreboard says you're ahead.

J.I. Packer summarizes the Christian faith in three words: "God saves sinners." A person who sees himself as a sinner knows that he's trailing in the late innings.

Here's a story from a Christmas Eve two years ago: One fine young man I know was in despair about his inability to make emotional contact with a person both of us cared about deeply. He had tried all kinds of approaches, and so had I. Both of us had to acknowledge ruefully, "Nothing works."

Our only hope was in God's grace. And Christmas Eve was the appropriate time for this lowest of low moments because Christmas commemorates God breaking through. Continued...