Should Christians Celebrate Christmas?

Should Christians celebrate Christmas? Well of course, we answer. However, not everyone agrees.* Apparently the Puritans and Scottish Presbyterians traditionally didn't. Here are the results in a 2007 pole of 104 Reformed voters on Puritan Board:

• Yes: 53/104 or 50.96%


• No: 34/104 or 32.69%


• Still thinking it through: 17/104 or 16.35%

* See defense of Christians who don't celebrate Christmas. http://www.thebluebanner.com/pdf/bluebanner8-9&10.pdf

* See R.C.Sproul's defense of celebrating Christmas. http://www.ligonier.org/learn/qas/celebration-christmas-pagan-ritual/

When we moved to this neighborhood in 2001 we started a tradition that has been in different homes each year. It was our turn again this year to host the annual neighborhood Christmas party. The neighbors can't help but notice the symbolism of our home decorations--definitely not secular. At our home we prayed before the meal. If we did not have or participate in this neighborhood tradition, would our neighbors think we are not Christians now? One Catholic neighbor bought my spiritual memoir at that party. We try to take all the commercialism out of Christmas, to simplify and not overspend the budget, but want to greet friends and neighbors all throughout the year, especially to sit on the front porch them, or go have coffee, and chat about what is important in life.

Dr. William Earl Sullivan

The Elder at my church, and an administrator on this blog, has just received an Honorary Doctorate of Humanitarian Letters from Whitefield Theological Seminary in Lakeland, Florida! I think he was quite surprised, but he is most certainly deserving. Congratulations!

Twelve Days and Doctrine

This is my second year listening to The Daily Audio Bible. Of course we are in Revelation on those podcasts and recently Brian Hardin commented that the study of Revelation is a lifelong pursuit. Yep, Brian, Revelation and eschatology will be a life-long pursuit. I thought within 2009 I would have arrived at a viewpoint and it hasn't happened. Granted that my study has been interupted by other projects, lack of dialogue on this blog, but no firm conclusion as yet.

There is an interesting story of the origin of the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas". It seems that in England from 1558 to 1829 Catholics were prohibited from practicing their religion. The story goes that an Irish priest penned the song "The 12 Days of Christmas" to serve as a catechism for Catholic youngsters, with "gifts" really referring to Catholic teachings and the true love being God Himself and "me" being baptized Catholics. Here is the symbolism in the song according to this story:

• A partridge in a pear tree refers to Christ who once likened Himself to a hen wishing to shelter chicks under its wings.
  
• Two turtle doves are the Old and New Testaments.


• Three French hens are faith, hope and charity, theological virtues.


• Four calling birds are the four gospels.


• Five golden rings are the first five books of the Old Testament, the Pentateuch, which gives the history of man's fall from grace.


• Six geese a-laying are the six days of creation.


• Seven swans a-swimming are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments. (We Reformed/Evangelicals have two--communion and baptism.)


• Eight maids a-milking stands for the eight beatitudes.


• Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.


• Ten lords a-leaping are the ten commandments.


• Eleven pipers piping are the eleven faithful apostles.
  
• Twelve drummers drumming are the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed.

Meanwhile some Reformed dudes got together and made their own twelve days of doctrine, which is absolutely hilarious. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW58lVVcu4w