Christmas Reflections

Can you imagine that some Reformed Christians do not celebrate Christmas! It was a shock to me. Some thoughts have been posted HERE four years ago. One Christian man even celebrates Halloween, but not Christmas. 

One young Christian woman and I had a heated discussion on this topic last year. She and her husband have now left our church. Sad that we couldn't have agreed to disagree amicably, and I do forgive her, although I wish they would come back to our church and know we can disagree amicably and still fellowship together in Christ. 

What kind of Christmas should the Christian embrace? I think that we can say 

Merry Christmas

and not "Happy Holidays". Of course some folks think "Happy Holidays" is the best because it's politically correct. It's almost as if PC is the new religion for many. 

Of course we don't have to flaunt our tradition in the face of those who we know for certain celebrate Hanukkah and who have not embraced Jesus as the Messiah at this time. Why can't I wear the T-shirt that says "Jesus is the reason for the season"? Maybe this T-shirt is a little cheesy like the movie "Saving Christmas".

Kurt Cameron has gone to all lengths in the movie "Saving Christmas" to defend Christmas. His character compares the swaddling clothes of the manger to the grave clothes of Christ! He notes that there were trees in Genesis so why shouldn't we have a Christmas tree now! For me this exegesis is totally lacking. Somehow the character Kurt plays convinces his brother-in-law, Christian, that Christmas is about joy and that brother-in-law dances at the end of the movie. It totally misses the real joy of Christ's coming to dwell on earth.

THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS is not about gifts of course, but about the great event that happened in history. Of course we do not know that December 25th is the day the Messiah was actually born, but we do have this biblical history from the Old Testament of yearly celebrations. I am loving hearing Christmas carols and mailing greetings to friends and family. As a new widow, I appreciate all the family I do have left and plan to spend the holidays with some of them. I am writing this on some of my Christmas greetings:  

JESUS ENTERED OUR WORLD 

TO TEACH US HOW TO LIVE 

AND HOW TO DIE WITH CONFIDENCE. 

Hugs and Merry Christmas,
Carol

Christmas and Swearing in Public Schools

I substitute teach in public schools and try to leave a good example there. At the end of good classes I rap. My niece and nephew video taped me last spring, named me MC AC The Rap Lady and started MCACProductions1 on YouTube for my raps. I have been asked if I am a Christian rapper. I think I am a Christian first who happens to be a rapper. But, can you imagine going to the principal's office for saying "Christmas"! 

Good gracious gravy! After I was put on YouTube with only a commercial and one rap, I checked out other rappers. I was so horrified at the language of rappers so I wrote a rap about swearing last summer and public school students like it. At the end of each section I have middle school and high school students say "Your words need much more pizzazz." 

Pizzazz

Got the hebe jibes about your swearing

Name callin’ makes you think you’re daring

Don’t give me lip and think you’re hip

And “OMG” has so been had

Your words need much more pizzazz.

No more A-B-D-F-MF-N-or SH words
These are all you use
And you have no clue
Helps the script writers on movies or TV
But your words need much more pizzazz.

Let’s ban obscenity
Let’s ban profanity
Impaired thinking
Vocabulary stinking
Your words need much more pizzazz.

If you’re not happy
Don’t say something crappy
Or suck your teeth
Roll you eyes instead of speech
When you speak
It’s rude to be crude
Speak with modesty not obscenity
Be truthful but not offensive
Your words need much more pizzazz.

Say “Jiminy Cricket” when someone’s wicked
Say “plug nickel” when someone’s fickle
Say “dumbfounded” when you’ve been grounded
And "holy cow" and “bejesus” are sort of iffy
“Good gracious gravy” might be more nifty
Your words need much more pizzazz.

There’s a lot to do for your anger
And it’s not to use your finger
Say “cripes” for your gripes
Say “bummer” if you hit your thumber
Get you some chutzpa
Get you some respect
Deal with the issue
As precisely as you can get
Your words need much more pizzazz.

Got the hebe jibes about your swearing
Name callin’ makes you think you’re daring
Don’t give me lip and think you’re hip
And “OMG” has so been had

Your words need much more pizzazz.

What is wrong with so much swearing is not just that it takes God's name in vain (against a 10 Commandment), but also that it shows anger. See Deut. 5:11; Eph. 4; Col. 3:8; and Prov. 14:29; 15:1, 28. 

How do you deal with the poor vocabulary in your kids, their friends or in our culture? 

Favorite Christmas Lyrics

O come, Desire of nations, bind

In One the hearts of all mankind;

Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,

And be Thyself our King of Peace.

from O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Thou didst leave thy throne and thy kingly crown

When thou camest to earth for me,

But in Bethlehem's home there was found no room

For thy holy nativity,

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus:

There is room in my heart for thee! . . .

When the heav'ns shall ring and the angels sing

At thy coming to victory,

Let thy voice call me home, saying, "Yet there is room,

There is room at my side for thee."

And my heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus,

When thou comest and callest me.

from Thou Didst leave Thy Throne

Digital Nativity

Digital Nativity

The above link shows how our world has changed.

I don't like "Jingle Bells" in the background,

but then this modern version almost makes light

of the birth of Jesus.

Another Social Media Take on Christmas

This one is better and to the tune
"Oh Come, O Come, Emanuel".

I wonder if our youth only respond to Social Media now.
However the gospel is still relevant.

What is your reaction?

Christmas? Bah Humbug?

No one has suggested a topic for September, but I thought I would write about Christmas as I did last December here.

One blogger has written four posts called "Christmas and Holy Time, Seasons of Scrutiny". Calvinised Pipe The CP blogger quotes Dr. Richard P. Bucher in Christmas is Not Pagan:

The problem was not that the Galatians were observing holy days and seasons. It is that they were being taught that such observances were necessary for their salvation, a complete contradiction of the Gospel that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ. Similarly, to observe Christmas because you believe to not do so would be sinful is wrong and you would fall under Paul’s exhortation in Gal. 4 & 5. But to observe Christmas in your Christian freedom, because you choose to, not because you have to, is completely permitted before God.

A Puritan's Mind uses Regulative Principal is the proof for not celebrating Christmas, but allowing certain traditions such as "Frosty the Snowman." This is incredible to me--go secular but do not celebrate Christmas!

Pastor Todd Ruddell has a thoughtful sermon with emphasis on Exodus 32:1-8, Jeremiah 10:1-16, Colossians 2:16-23, 2 Chronicles 34:1-7 and Matthew 28:18-20.

Expense and Trouble of Christmas Giving. Some of our extended family do not give gifts anymore and I don't believe it is because they are Reformed. I prefer to give, even though we are on a strict budget. Giving gives me joy and of course I can do that all year long. The wise men brought gifts to Jesus. I have learned to not expect gifts from people anyway. I like phone calls and face-to-face conversations the best. I no longer want my husband to put lights up on the house--he has fallen off a ladder once, and the joy of the season doesn't have to mean elaborate decorations.

My husband and my pastors have NOT spoken against celebrating Christmas, but we don't make it a part of worship at all.  I also see in Romans 14:5 that everyone must be convinced in his own mind.  Colossians 2 says to not let anyone judge you in respect to festivals, or meat or drink.

I am thinking that it might be a stumbling block to our neighbors were we not to observe Christmas.  We started an annual neighborhood Christmas party when we moved to this house in 2001 and I enjoy having decorations for the real meaning of Christ’s birth in our home when others have been over. Except for the new Social Media, Christmas cards are almost the only way many friends and extended family all over the country keep in touch these days. We send out an annual letter and I think we can do this in November this year and thereby not offend those who do not celebrate the tradition of Christmas.  Romans 14 also talks about the principles of peace, joy, mutual upbuilding and faith. 

Cultish for a Christian to not celebrate Christmas? Is this the same logic as Jehovah Witnesses who do not pledge allegience to the flag of America? How far should we take this? Not use pictures of Calvin and Luther in case that has reverberations? What do you think, gentle reader?

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.