It’s not like Christmas is inherently Christian.

Certainly, a goodly number of believers over the years have decided that Jesus is the reason for the season, but extrabiblical covenants and traditions only bind those who feel the desire to honour them. You are, of course, welcome to keep a tradition that says the Advent is the meaning for Christmas—but there’s nothing necessary to the holiday that demands or suggests that this should be the case.

Further, ignoring for a now the fact that the church is not called to transform culture, if we were to seek the transformation of culture, the only adequate means of doing so would be the transformation of those who create the culture (i.e., all the members of the society), not the filtering of that society’s cultural produce.

So get off that high horse, Buck-o. Before you get hurt.

The Danes last blog post..20081119.ChurchLies

This is the same as what happened back in the late 50’s early 60’s when Christians decided to walk away from Hollywood and culture and let the world define everything.

We cannot just blow off the true meaning of Christmas just because the rest of the world is distorting and changing the meaning of things.

How on earth are we going to transform culture if we hide in the back of the room and ignore what’s happening? I would much rather hear people talking about how we can bring light to the old Christmas traditions, rather than dumping on the traditions because people have different perceptions of it than believers do. We should be trying to change those perceptions, rather than throwing in the towel.

Carefully chosen words, friend! I think Nick might be right…”somewhat Over-thought.”

Nick Keutzers last blog post..Erratic Thought #12

For me, the commercialism of the season doesn’t distract at all from the meaning of the season. Instead, all that hubbub only serves to heighten what I feel is the raison de la saison. This is, of course, because for me, the meaning of Christmas is the giving and giving of gifts and the celebration that surrounds such charity.

This is why I will always celebrate Christmas happily despite the fact that it has nothing to do with Christ or his advent. I won’t, however, allow myself to be distracted by those who who sham the holiday by making it about Christ (and sham the Christ in the process). I think too much both of the holiday and of my Lord to mingle the two into some two-fold diluted chimera.

For me, every week is a celebration of advent, but only December is regular a celebration of remarkable generosity.

The Danes last blog post..20081119.ChurchLies