The Byzantines (and others of the time) building on the foundation of the creeds routinely represented the mother and Child together in artistic representation. In this way they showed two very important facts: First, the true humanity of Him who is God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, something that the various Christological heresies tried to obscure, gainsay, or explain away. Second, they showed where salvation lay, that is, in the woman’s embrace of the Child. Pretty good,belt. Perhaps you should convert to Eastern Orthodox?
Also, Chesterton's analogy is a good one because of the valid point it drives home the horrible mistake of chipping away the child Jesus-which you agreed was wrong as well
Sorry, stfassisi, being Lutheran is far better than being Orthodox ... or Roman. I get to keep all the good stuff, and wash my hands of all the icky stuff.