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Posted on December 15,
2006
Introduction and resources provided by
Leadership
University
'Tis
the Season
It's that time of year again: Christmas and New
Year's, the busiest time, perhaps the most
materialistic time, on the American calendar. This
year, new controversies have erupted: can airports
put up a Christmas tree without a menorah? How
dangerous is it to wait in line for a PlayStation
3?
Everyone's goal this time of year seems to be to
"get it all done." We must rush to the mall, to
parties, and to events for the sake of being
"finished." Many of us are sick of Christmas before
December 25th even arrives. The Christmas
retailers, who stand to gain a third of their
yearly revenue in a few weeks, know how to appeal
to many desires in us, even legitimate ones. But at
some point it goes too far. Have we come to
believe, albeit unwittingly, that materialism
wrapped in sentiment is the spirit of
Christmas?
Thankfully, signs of the true meaning of
Christmas still abound. A new movie, The
Nativity Story, has opened in theaters to good
reviews (read Christianity
Today's review). The movie reminds us, once
again, that Christmas is a celebration of the
Incarnation: the fact that God became man and dwelt
among us. May we find time, during this busy
season, to ponder the mystery of the birth of the
Savior.
Classics on
Christmas
Is
Christmas Necessary?, by Jerry Solomon: What do
you think of when you hear the word "Christmas"?
Frantic shopping? Family traditions? A
commemoration of the birth of Jesus? Or a
combination of all these responses and more?
The
Drama of the Christmas Story, by Jack L. Walker,
Jr.: Directing his childrens' Christmas play
reminds the author of the true significance of the
Nativity.The story of the birth of Christ is really
an introduction to the rest of Christ's life: his
passion and resurrection.
The
Star of Bethlehem, by Ray Bohlin: What explains
the strange phenomenon of the star of Bethlehem
that led the Magi to the newborn Christ, an
astronomical event or the Shekinah Glory,
manifesting God's presence among men?
The
Theology of Christmas Music, by Robert A. Pyne:
Most radio stations play some type of Christmas
music during the holiday season, but many of the
songs have become so familiar to us that we no
longer consider their content.
America's
Messiah, by Michael Linton: The reason for the
popularity of Handel's Messiah in America,
particularly during the Christmas season, says more
about Americans than it does about its famous
composer.
Christmas
on Mars Hill, by Peter Hiett: "Incarnation is
the stuff from which the kingdom of God is
constructed. It's the real beauty of Christmas, the
kind of Christmas that should go with us everywhere
we go (Athens, the jungle, your teen's high school,
the mall, the office). Christmas was never meant to
happen just once a year."
Mere
Christianity, by Edward H. Pauley: As any
reputable historian can attest, movements and
institutions have a way of changing over time,
sometimes within one generation, so that they are
almost unrecognizable to later observers. Historic,
orthodox Christianity, on the other hand, has
maintained an identity and continuity at its core
for nearly two thousand years. Why is this so?
Is the
War Against Christmas Worth Fighting?, by Patrick
Rist: Rist wonders, "Is fighting the culture
war for legality of the phrase 'Merry Christmas'
rather than 'Season's Greetings' really worth all
the effort?" This is a blog entry from Antecedents,
a blog about Christian thought and university
culture.
On
Not Permitting the Other to Be Other, by Richard
John Neuhaus: The editor-in-chief of First
Things Journal takes another swipe at the book,
Please Don't Wish Me a Merry Christmas: A
Critical History of the Separation of Church and
State (New York University Press). This is the
main portion of his weekly review of the
culture.
Related Articles:
New Year's
Starting
Over, by James Nuechterlein: Starting over--the
idea appeals to all of us, and not only in our
jobs. This explains the otherwise (to me)
inexplicable appeal of the New Year's holiday. New
year, new possibility. This time I'll get it
right.
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