For the last few years, many conservative Christians have been concerned with the secularization of Christmas. Following the lead of Bill O'Reilly and others, they've spent a lot of energy protecting their right to say "Merry Christmas" and perform other public acts of sectarian merry-making.
There is much to lament in this particular front of the culture war, especially since the brouhaha distracts us from combating the real threat to Christmas. But for now, I just want to point out the irony of Christian attempts at protecting our right to make merry:
The short season leading to Christmas--that is, Advent--is a penitential season, not unlike Lent. In keeping with Christian tradition, we should be reflecting on our longing and need for the Messiah, not defending our right to a public Nativity scene.
As I've explained previously, I'm a newcomer to liturgical traditions. But I welcome these corrections to my sense of the holiday. Our December should be marked by humility, not cultural defensiveness. Let's not reflect on the need of others to acknowledge our privileged status in this pluralist democracy; rather, let's reflect on our own need for hope, for a visible inbreaking of God, for salvation.
An old post by Calvin College's Jamie Smith prompted this reflection. Like him, I value the wisdom of the gorgeous Advent hymn "O Come, O Come Emmanuel," which sums up what should be our true holiday spirit in the days before the 12 Days of Christmas:
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
O come, thou Wisdom from on high,
who orderest all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.
O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free
thine own from Satan's tyranny;
from depths of hell thy people save,
and give them victory over the grave.
O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
our spirits by thine advent here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death's dark shadows put to flight.
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
O come, thou Wisdom from on high,
who orderest all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.
O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free
thine own from Satan's tyranny;
from depths of hell thy people save,
and give them victory over the grave.
O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
our spirits by thine advent here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death's dark shadows put to flight.
Add to Del.icio.us
Add to Technorati
Add to Digg
Add to Newsvine
Add to Facebook
Add to StumbleUpon
Over the Centuries, we as Christians have worshiped and celebrated Dec. 25th as the Birth of our Lord and Savior; for whatever the reason. When the day comes that historians can pinpoint the EXACT DATE, then we will move to that date, but as it is now: I will always celebrate Dec. 25th for what it means to us.
christmas december 25th is the birhtday of mithra not jesus christ. the apostles never celebrated this so called "christian" "holy day".
so why are christians doing this which is in direct violation of God's word.
You are of course right. The Jewish calandar was different, the climate unprobible,and why would the citizens go "back" to be counted and taxes. Seems like the city they inhabited would want the count not to speak of the taxes.BUT IT DID HAPPEN, DISPITE THE PETTY,VULCHAR ATTITUDE. God made Adam for companionship with His creation. The creation with "free will" messed up. Sin and God are like oil and water. when mixxed they refuse to combine. Even disdaining each other at touching.God made the provision, the remedy. Men-folk can't possible understand the bound love for her child. But there again, GOD the father so loved what He had created...mankind...that he gave His ONLY SON(the one that was there in the beginning(the Word), for the brutality of mankind-not necessarily the Jews, (they were only His People), that WHO-SO-EVER believed by faith- BELIEVE- in Him would live eternallly. So Presidents Day is grouped together,celebrated on one day (not the day) to remember that this child, given made God Ache just to give. Jesus is a gift from God, the beginning and birth for our hope for salvation.If He had'nt been given, He would'nt have laid down his life to offer the final sacrifice, the blood of the Lamb of God. Now I am allowed to run to the Mercy SEAT because he owns me, His sheep know His Voice. What does it matter what day we celebrate, but that we set aside all earthly things,and with our hearts as offering, worship each day now the infant King-HIS LOVE IS BORN THIS NIGHT.
cINDIE
I love the Lord with all my heart, and I try never to lean to my own understanding. I respect the day that was given to observe the birth our our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. However, what does the Bible say? The Word of God to said to remember His death, not His birth. We are told to remember His death through communion: We observe Communion because the Lord told us to. We are to obey His commands: And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 1 Corinthians 11:24 (NIV) In observing Communion we are remembering Christ and all that He has done for us in his life, death and resurrection: And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 1 Corinthians 11:24 (NIV) When observing Communion we take time to examine ourselves: A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 1 Corinthians 11:28 (NIV) In observing Communion we are proclaiming His death until He comes. It is, then, a statement of faith: For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 1 Corinthians 11:26 (NIV) When we observe Communion we show our participation in the body of Christ. His life becomes our life and we become members of each other: Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 (NIV)
(Best spoken by About.comChristianity)
Christ death was the most important event throughout Christianity.
Jesus died that we might live, that's what He wants us to NEVER forget. If we do as the Word of God says, we can never go wrong. Peace and Blessings
Thanks for a wonderful article on the term "Merry Christmas." I am including a recent article I wrote on the meaning of Christmas. Something I learned about 38 years ago in seminary.
Atheists in Washington State Provide a True Meaning of Christmas Story
The anti-religious placard placed in the State Capital in Washington State along side a Christmas tree and a manger scene have inadvertently served to point out the true meaning of Christmas. How is that so?
The Freedom from Religion Foundation based in Madison Wisconsin placed a placard next to the manger scene in the Washington State Capital in early December 2008 that has a clearly anti-Christian message. In part it says “There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.”
Each year America is inundated with “true meaning of Christmas” specials on the television and in films and books. As the commercial aspect of Christmas swells each year like a behemoth on growth hormones these specials mean less and less year by year. Close behind the “true meaning of Christmas” crowd comes the atheists with their question of “why are you wasting your time?”
It is said that the minute you try to consciously become different than everyone else that effort makes you just the same. It is this reasoning that causes many Americans to see the atheistic movement as just another religion. The fervor with which the atheists are now actively attacking religion today certainly lends credence to the adage. Atheists who actually confront religious people or displays can be thought of as evangelists for their cause. Looks religious to me!
It is where the atheists don’t put up signs and carry on protests that points to the true meaning of Christmas. Although un-intended their conspicuous absence in the commercial side of the advent speaks voluminously to the real meaning of Christmas. Let’s see.
Of the millions of television ads about the “perfect gift” no one has ever seen an ad on the box about not buying a gift for anyone in the “natural” world. Would the advertisers make such a commercial for the atheists? The answer to that may be dependant on the merchants who make between one quarter and one third of their annual income during the Christmas season. No, would be the safest answer to this question.
Would the cash cow fed by Christmas television specials and films be willing to produce a major movie or TV special on why we should all stay home on Christmas without family and friends and enjoy the “natural” world around us? Even atheists may not want to be called “Scrooge” by the public or the Grinch. It would be easier to scale Mt Everest than to climb that mountain of public disdain. Obviously atheists don’t go there.
Are the atheist found at the uncountable office parties around the nation and the globe with pamphlets explaining the “natural” world and their Godless views? Do they offer an alternative gathering where there are no gifts, decorations or mention of Christmas? Who and about how many would attend these gatherings? During the Christmas season attendance may be just ever so slightly above zero.
Would the atheists be willing to parade carrying their anti-Christmas placards in front of say Neiman Marcus or Macy’s stores? How long would they be welcomed by those businesses if they did?
Most atheistic groups only show up to protest religious scenes like the manger or the Star of Bethlehem which indicates that even they know the true meaning of Christmas. They know it isn’t about gifts, parties or commercial activity. It is and always will be about a babe in the manger who was sent to die for the sins of the world.
An old seminary professor once told me that not even the babe in the manger is the best picture of the true meaning of Christmas. He said that to truly understand Christmas or the incarnation you had to ponder something far more wonderful than a babe in the manger which is; God in a baby.
When this universally important fact is understood something begins to happen in a man or a woman that is the exact opposite of the message placed in the Washington Capital building. Instead of being but a “myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds” it becomes the “truth that softens the heart and frees the mind.”
The Angel Gabriel that appeared to the prophet Daniel over seven hundred years before the birth of Christ came to Mary the mother of Jesus and said “…behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”
Although she was a holy women who loved God and was dedicated to serving him she could hardly understand the message she was given. But when her child grew and certain men were chosen to walk with him for three years and witness the dead being raised and the blind given sight and much more then it became easier to see what Mary was told. The greatest explanation of the incarnation and the manger scene was later penned by the Apostle Paul in this single statement.
“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself …” (2 Corinthians 5:19) After this saying there remains only one thing left to say and that is…Merry Christmas
http://www.americanprophet.org
Post a Comment
By submitting these comments, I agree to the beliefnet.com terms of service, rules of conduct and privacy policy (the "agreements"). I understand and agree that any content I post is licensed to beliefnet.com and may be used by beliefnet.com in accordance with the agreements.