The Wittenburg Door is well-known for its ultra-sarcastic outlook on everything Christian, so I was surprised to find a rather insightful article on Christmas on their site yesterday.
From the article:
But most people who wanna fight about The Meaning of Christmas are Christians. And mostly they think we’re going in the wrong direction, that the true meaning is fading away, that even the name of Christmas is fading away, that it’s becoming a commercial holiday, a secular holiday, a corrupted tradition, that nobody cares about the church part of it, that all they care about is the gift-giving and the sentimental stories and the days off work, and the churches themselves are the worst, they don’t even have that many services because it conflicts with the football games, and another thing, and another thing, and another thing . . . And then there are those of us who believe that, every time Christmas becomes less Christian, there’s a victory for Christ.Thoughts?
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Before Christ you would not have had a public holiday where you were expected to pay attention to the poor, give things away, eat common meals, rest from all your cares, be as close to others as possible, put aside differences, laugh, cry, drink, toast, seek an excess of joy.
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December 14, 2007 at 15:14
Interesting point of view. I think fighting against today’s culture regarding Christmas is a fight not worth fighting. We all accept it has become commercial and greedy and many other things. However, it is due to Christmas that most people gather with their families. It is due to Christmas that many decide to give to charities. It is due to Christmas that many people use as a time of rest and relaxation. All those things pointed out in the article above.
Most families have accepted the idea that they are celebrating Christmas how it had been done for centuries. And even though we have re-invented a holiday, it has been to fill the cultural needs of a growing nation. Christ is still in the center of my Christmas, but maybe rest, family time and charity will open up the hearts of those who don’t hold Christ dear in their hearts. Maybe passing the time with them is a perfect example of living Christianity.
December 14, 2007 at 16:08
You know, he’s right. In spite of everything, it is a pretty good holiday, and it is for everyone, not just for Christians. Just like it should be. If they believe it or not, Christ was still born for everyone.
December 15, 2007 at 03:57
Interesting article. I am concerned about the secularization of Christmas. But it hadn’t occurred to me that we might come across as religious nuts. We don’t want to seem like we are “appeasing God”; we are celebrating Christ’s birth!
Maybe its a fine line. After all, a birthday celebration should focus on the one who was born—AND be fun. Let’s give to those in need, spend quality time with family, give each other gifts, and as we do so, remember Jesus—the model for our love and generosity.
If the wider world sees a pale reflection of Christ on Christmas and thinks it’s good, then all the more reason for us to stress the person of Christ and what He has done for us.
December 15, 2007 at 10:07
If Christians feel that the true meaning of Christmas is being lost in our culture, then we are the ones who need to change it. How can we show a culture of materialism and commercialism what Christmas should look like? No one can argue that most people’s spiritual radars are amped during the holidays, mostly through giving—giving to family and friends, giving to charity. It seems like the focus should shift to the virtues of Christmas—like giving, sharing, and kindness—instead of worrying about its secularization. After all, isn’t Christmas truly an issue of the heart?
December 15, 2007 at 19:40
When people worry about putting Christ back IN Christmas, we must remember that Christ has generally not been much a part of Christmas. It was a brief, solemn Mass in Roman Europe, celebrating it was prohibited by law among the Puritans of New England, it was not a recognized holiday in America until the 1840s (that is seventy years after the American Revolution), and it became a center of national life more because a committee of New York businessmen fostered it as an occasion for sales (and invented Santa Claus for the purpose) than because churches promoted it. Baptists, Presbyterians, and many branches of Methodists were none too keen on making it part of national life. Oh, speaking of The Door, check out its front cover for Christmas, also available on the web site.
December 16, 2007 at 11:10
Ever since I was lead to the timing of the birth of Jesus at the biblical autumn feast of tabernacles. (most Jews who come to Jesus know this)
I just see Christmas as a nice traditional man made holyday where people share with the poor. And because this feast comes from Rome. I simply give to Ceasar what belongs to Ceasar.(money)
And to God what belongs to God.(praise).
December 18, 2007 at 15:36
I agree with all the Christian insights.
I also liked E.V. Hill’s way of celebrating Christmas. As you remember, he was Pastor of Mt. Zion Church in Los Angeles which sponsored The Lord’s Kitchen. After he and his wife had given all they could, evangelized everyone they could and ministered to everyone they could, they went to bed on Christmas Eve and slept well. On Christmas morning they slept in and had breakfast. For dinner they didn’t bother with a whole lot. He liked a Polish sausage just fine—and they enjoyed the day with the Lord. ——just a thought. God bless you and Merry Christmas!