I have changed my profile slightly as I don't see a need for my last name on this site.
Seeing the latest postings regarding Christmas; and figuring this could be the last season we celebrate this before the return of Christ at the Rapture (if He doesn't come beforehand) I thought I would expound on some thoughts related to this time of year.
It has been mentioned the Christmas that society tolerates; which involves songs that are familiar to some that are at times related to the birth of our Savior such as Silent Night (and all the modern newfangled renditions). Now as to proper beliefs no doubt the concept of a tender child born in humble circumstances appeals to the humanist and those of other "faith traditions" as well. As to being God in the flesh which is clearly indicated in the Gospel in Luke 2:11 and stemming back to prophecy from the book of Isaiah it ain't so much embraced (not sure how many professing believers themselves believe that these days).
Perhaps a more subtle but most prescient issue related to all the decorations and holiday "cheer" is the materialism that has pervaded our culture in particular really for the last century. As bad as the bratty kids we have trained to expect "things" to magically appear by delivery from some questionable fat bearded old man down the chimney or some other innovate technique we have the lingering faux image of the whole period of time of family gathering together where women get a power trip from their kitchen creations and endless "bargains" where they can save a few bucks and family often sees other members who they don't deal with the rest of the year; etc. Men of course can get into grandiose descriptions of the latest power tool they bought or whatever sports teams are on TV.
When "good deeds" are done of course it can assuage a guilty conscience temporarily with this sort of Santa Claus mentality for adults; such as volunteering in a soup kitchen.
Seeing the latest postings regarding Christmas; and figuring this could be the last season we celebrate this before the return of Christ at the Rapture (if He doesn't come beforehand) I thought I would expound on some thoughts related to this time of year.
It has been mentioned the Christmas that society tolerates; which involves songs that are familiar to some that are at times related to the birth of our Savior such as Silent Night (and all the modern newfangled renditions). Now as to proper beliefs no doubt the concept of a tender child born in humble circumstances appeals to the humanist and those of other "faith traditions" as well. As to being God in the flesh which is clearly indicated in the Gospel in Luke 2:11 and stemming back to prophecy from the book of Isaiah it ain't so much embraced (not sure how many professing believers themselves believe that these days).
Perhaps a more subtle but most prescient issue related to all the decorations and holiday "cheer" is the materialism that has pervaded our culture in particular really for the last century. As bad as the bratty kids we have trained to expect "things" to magically appear by delivery from some questionable fat bearded old man down the chimney or some other innovate technique we have the lingering faux image of the whole period of time of family gathering together where women get a power trip from their kitchen creations and endless "bargains" where they can save a few bucks and family often sees other members who they don't deal with the rest of the year; etc. Men of course can get into grandiose descriptions of the latest power tool they bought or whatever sports teams are on TV.
When "good deeds" are done of course it can assuage a guilty conscience temporarily with this sort of Santa Claus mentality for adults; such as volunteering in a soup kitchen.
With this backdrop I'll begin part 2.
This comment thread is locked. Please enter a new comment below to start a new comment thread.
Note: Comment threads older than 2 months are automatically locked.
Do you have a Bible comment or question?
Posting comments is currently unavailable due to high demand on the server.
Please check back in an hour or more. Thank you for your patience!
Report Comment
Which best represents the problem with the comment?