I was reading Jackie's Christmas blog this morning and I have been thinking about it. I was going to comment but it turned into the world's longest comment so now it is a blog. I have to start with a disclaimer though. I love the church. I really do. So here are my views on the whole Christmas thing. It may get me kicked me out of the church but I'm pretty sure that you will still love me.
Who cares if people are celebrating Christ's birth? If the whole world wants to stop for one day and one night to actually think about God...Go for it! I don't think He will mind. Why do we have to be the only ones that kick Jesus out of the holiday? I find it ironic that the church refuses to make one day any more significant that the rest when we do it so passively every year. Think about it…By trying so hard not to acknowledge it, aren't we actually acknowledging it and making it stand out? You know – don’t read that scripture about Christ being born today! That might make this day more important than the rest! Make sure that everyone knows we don’t celebrate the birth of Christ today but every day of the year! And those beautiful carols! We refuse to sing them at Christmas time but we don't sing them any other time of the year either. If we truly celebrate the birth of Christ on everyday, let's sing “Joy to the World” or “Oh Holy Night” in May. Oh...wait...we can't do that either! It might make people uncomfortable! If our minds are really supposed to be set on things above, I think that Christmas counts too. I don’t hold it more holy that any other but why not give it a better focus than the commercialism that consumes our society. After all, the whole family and loves ones side is usually a direct gift from God through Christ. It’s a shame that we can acknowledge it 364 days a year but not the one day that we could actually use it the most to evangelize. Oh...wait…make that 363 days…don’t forget about Easter…
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3 comments:
wow dana, that was powerful and i feel the same way! can't wait to see you!!
Amen!! There are only two things that would be wrong related to observing Christmas. First, telling people that it's the ACTUAL anniversary of Christ's birth. All the evidence says differently. Second, making its observance or non-observance a matter of faith (i.e. Catholicism on one end and some COC on the other).
To reflect on and celebrate the birth of Christ on Dec. 25 is not only permissible, but it can be a tremendous blessing. After all, what has been made into a materialistic and superficial holiday can be given meaning in our hearts by making it about Jesus! The fact that legalists have made people AFRAID to think about ANY aspect of Jesus' life on ANY day is a testament to how far off the mark much of our fellowship has become.
Wow. That was long. Maybe I should just start my own blog! Love you. Merry CHRISTmas!!
sure people think of God once a year, isn't that a good thing? But I've felt it was like throwing God a bone - man, He's lucky we give Him that much attention. - hence, my aborrance toward anything regilously Christmas.
But as I age I see things different. You make EXCELLENT points. Maybe if we stop treating it as if it were the plague, we could open up some dialogue.
And, MAN, I miss the music.
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