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A Tribute 2000 Call by Jay Gary 
The year 2000 is an appointed time for the two thousandth anniversary of the birth of Christ. Regardless of what anyone may personally think about Jesus, it is hard to dispute the fact that he has been the most important and influential person who has ever lived. On this basis alone the world should find him worthy of a historic 2,000th anniversary tribute.Malcolm Muggeridge once wrote, "The coming of Jesus into the world is the most stupendous event in human history." As we stand at the 2,000th anniversary of this occasion, we are at a unique position to weigh Christ's life, to look with new eyes at the processes he unfolded, to reassess the values and attitudes he fostered in culture, both in the West and the East. His life has inspired more art, more literature, more music and more charity than any other. His words have shaped almost every aspect of human life, touching the home, education, business and government. His triumph over suffering has brought hope to those who have had to carry their own cross. His presence has even influenced the calendar by which we mark our years. Jesus of Nazareth has clearly been the most moving figure during the past twenty centuries. Beyond confessional approaches, a Tribute 2000 Commission should to be formed to explore the ways and means to foster a unified tribute to Christ. The purpose of the Commission would be to identify, encourage and announce events to be undertaken on behalf of this historic season. As this torch of 2000 is lit, the involvement of the most humble and the contribution of the most talented will be sought and acknowledged. No effort will be too small or event too large not to be important. From 1999 to 2001, its activities could include, but would not be limited to the following: (1) to enlist distinguished world leaders in the work of the Commission, (2) to encourage the work of national bimillennium commissions in countries around the world, (3) to elicit scholarly insight on the impact of Jesus on the great ideals, events and human achievements of the last 2,000 years, (4) to promote the exchange among nations of their people and cultural heritage to enrich their millennial celebrations. Just as a stone thrown into a pond creates an ever widening circle, so the Tribute 2000 call must be that impulse which creates a great conversation among an ever widening circle of humanity. The inspiration to prepare ourselves for the third millennium must spread like a ripple to the shores of every continent. People from every country, city and community must find themselves belonging to one or more overlapping circles of commemoration. Tribute 2000 is a distinct and universal call to remember Jesus on the two thousandth anniversary of his birth. This is not a call to mark 2,000 years of church history, theology or growth. It is not an anniversary to be commercialized or trivialized. Neither should it be confused with the expectations that have been put upon A.D. 2000 by world evangelism or millennialism. By the grace of God, if we enter the third millennium, our hope is that this universal tribute to Christ would create circumstances which C.S. Lewis states once existed, where "theology, science, fiction, music, art and dancing would again all be a single activity." This proposal was first circulated in 1995 by Jay Gary, Louis Kramp and the late Richard C. Halverson, chaplain of the U.S. Senate. Read more about AD 2000 in The Star of 2000 by Jay Gary. Click here to preview the book.
Why has civilization been so captivated by Jesus of Nazareth these past 2,000 years?
Beyond millennium celebrations, how should we mark Christ's 2,000th anniversary? Click here to share your views on "Jesus at 2000" in our Forum. |
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where
millennial journeys begin™Your comments are welcome: feedback@jaygary.com Copyright © 1999 by Bimillennial Press. All rights reserved. If you find this site
helpful, please spread the word by linking to
us. URL: http://www.jaygary.com/starof2000/jesus/tribute.htm Revised: June 1, 1999
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