Nothing like the Book of Matthew exists in any other theology, anywhere in the world. There is no question that the BoM is the seminal document which underlays much of Western culture, legal concepts and social strictures. It is a main, and obvious reason why Christian Europe was able to discover the modern world and reason through faith. The only comparable theology to Christianity might be Zen Buddhism which has some tenets around the Christian ideals of the Golden rule, tolerance, and charity but it completely lacks demands for humans to embrace rationality, reason, and individual responsibility. Zen Buddhism like all Oriental systems of social organization, is at its core, mystical, irrational, meditative, and does not contain an anthropomorphic divine essence, a unity of belief, or demands that faith be achieved with reason and knowledge. Only Christianity developed social ethics, morality, science, rationality, and the division of church and state and only Christianity promoted humanity, individual worth, natural law rights and reason. No other construct in human philosophy or theology can make this claim. None.

The BoM is the crux of Christianity, at least of the true Christian spirit which animated the post-Roman European world to embark on a 1100 year journey which culminated in the improbable creation of our modern world. For Western Churches to become relevant again, the BoM related to everyday concerns needs to be their focus. Far too many Western Churches are simply Marxist-Communist-Socialist mouthpieces, broadcasting the usual array of illiterate 'progressive' ideas including GlobaloneyWarming, the worship of the Arab-Black O-Messiah; Islam-is-Peace; Israel is an occupying power; America and all Whites are racist and bad; markets and capitalism are evil, not to mention that 'Native Indians' and 'oppressed' non-White people are purer and superior than European and North American Whites. None of these statist-Multicult programs laced as they are with racism, ignorance, and bigotry, are remotely connected to Christianity's purpose; the teachings of Christ, the BoM; or Christianity's long and important career in reforming human morality, society and outlooks. In fact the output of progressive ideals is diametrically opposed to what the Church should and can stand for. The Christian Churches in other words, are now part of the problem, not the solution.

Back to the BoM. This document lays out the revolutionary Christian and Jewish concepts which helped free the human. A religion must by the definition of the very word, free the human. A true spiritual faith will free the human's mind, his spirit, his ability to reason, and his body. A religious theology denies slavery, the physical abuse of women; the denigration of the powerless, sick and poor; and allows the human to pursue – using the Golden Rule – his own ideas, beliefs, and spiritual program. A real religion disavows control, centralization, totalitarianism, hatred, and calls for war and Jihad. A true spiritual program enforces ethics, parameters and constraints. Without boundaries there is no morality.

The BoM therefore must be read in light of the above. Supernaturality is thus not the main idea of the Christian program. In fact it was an addition created by Paul to spur Jewish conversion to his Church. The more important aspect of Christianity is its real world application. This is what the Western Churches need to focus on – take the BoM and relate it to our world and our great legacy. Instead of disparaging our society, why not help to keep it strong and vibrant ? This would include not only poor relief and helping those with a variety of sundry problems, [the Church and its collective is the largest Charity giver in the world by a long shot]; but more importantly the restoration of culture and pride in Western ideals.

In no other theology can you read the following which is only a very small sample of what you find in the BoM: [a great online BoM resource is here]

The Golden Rule: Chapter 7

12: Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Hate: BoM; Chapter 5

43: Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

44: But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45: That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Charity: BoM Chapter 6

2: Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Live in the current: BoM Chapter 6

34: Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Don't Judge: BoM Chapter 7

1: Judge not, that ye be not judged.

Inquire, use your brain: BoM Chapter 7

7: Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Goodness multiplies: BoM Chapter 7

17: Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Character: BoM Chapter 8

17: Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

BoM Chapter 12

35: A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Good deeds: BoM Chapter 16

25: For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

26: For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Power of Faith: BoM Chapter 17

20: And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Help the wayward: BoM Chapter 18

12: How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 

13: And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray

The Commandments: BoM Chapter 19

17: And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

18: He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

19: Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself

This is just a small sample from the 28 chapters which comprise the BoM. It is quite a document. It demands that a true follower of a divine power's ethical program, use reason, give to charity, pray and give to the poor privately, perform good deeds, follow the 10 commandments, live in the current moment, deny personal greed and immoral narcissism and treat other people the way that they themselves would like to be treated. This is a challenging set of obligations. It is of course the basis in every sphere of endeavour of our own society. The great pity is that the Church has strayed from the path of the BoM and now crusades for 'progressive' causes, few of which are intelligent or remotely progressive. Unless the Churches reconnect with the 28 chapters of the BoM, they will collectively become irrelevant.

It is a sad truism that most people do not equate the true meaning of Christ's Mass with Matthew's seminal work.  The BoM is certainly the fulcrum of Christianity and Christmas, not presents, not oblations, not pious platitudes or the irrelevant proclamations broadcast by most of our Churches. We as a culture, need to go back to basics.  This is the real nature and purpose of Christmas - not pop culture psychosis and 'progressive' posturing and gibberish.