Comments on: Which Christ are you trying to keep in Christmas exactly?

By: Julia Archer

Julia Archer — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:42:16 +0000

Obviously shepherds were not out minding their flocks by night in the middle of an Israeli winter. Some years ago I heard an astronomer on the radio talking about some major astronomical event which occurred in April in, I think, about 4AD. It was wonderful to listen to the description, and I only wished I’d been there to see it. As for the carry-on in malls and so on (one of the nice things about being in a country like Pakistan or Kazakhstan in December is they don’t have that) I often pray that by God’s grace the words will touch someone’s spirit so they may seek Christ.

By: COCU5B.ChristmasDay.25thDec2017 | pilgrimwr.unitingchurch.org.au

COCU5B.ChristmasDay.25thDec2017 | pilgrimwr.unitingchurch.org.au — Sat, 25 Nov 2017 05:37:13 +0000

[…] Michael Frost debunks the myths of Christmas Keeping historically inaccurate and culturally anachronistic religious displays in shopping malls isn’t a victory for the gospel at all. No A-Frame Stable Jesus wasn’t born in a little stable constructed of twigs and peat moss. Most likely, he was born in the home of Joseph’s relatives in the section of the house where animals were brought in at night. Mary was probably attended to by the female members of Joseph’s extended family, strangers to her, but nurturing and experienced in the matter of childbirth. Rather than two lone parents in an isolated stable, the holy family were probably surrounded by fussing women and awkward men. No animals and no donkey Sure, there’s that line in Away in a Manger that goes “the cattle were lowing” but none of the gospels mention any animals. If Jesus was born in the part of the house where animals were housed at night, they would obviously have been shooed out for his birth. But more concerning for nativity lovers is the news that there’s no reference to a donkey either. Say what? No cute donkey? It has been conjectured that Mary and Joseph must made their journey to Bethlehem on a donkey because it was cheaper than traveling in a caravan, the far more common and much safer option. But the Bible is silent on how exactly they got to Bethlehem. No Star I know, this is hard for some of you. But the magi don’t arrive in Bethlehem until a year or two after Jesus birth, so the star doesn’t appear until they begin their strange journey from the east. No Three Wise Kings While we’re on the magi, they would have to be the most bizarre characters in the gospels. But who were they? Why did they come? What were they doing? They were eastern holy men, astrologers who divined the stars (although that was frowned upon by the Jews), who consorted with Herod (and later betrayed him), and who arrived in time to present the toddler Jesus with exotic gifts. But there’s no reason to believe there were only three of them. There’s nothing to suggest they were kings. Their names were not Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthasar. And there’s no basis for dressing them in silk robes and strange turbans. No angel on the roof Well, there were angels, just not at the actual birth of Christ. The gospels recount that a host of angels appeared to shepherds on the hills outside Bethlehem. But there’s no mention that they schlepped into town with the terrified shepherds. So, those depictions of one or a handful of androgynous beings fluttering around the stable roof – yeah, that didn’t happen. What did happen was way more amazing. Luke’s gospel says “a multitude of the heavenly host” appeared, praising God. The Greek word for “host” is stratia which alludes to the stars in the sky. How many does that make? It’s impossible to know but it could be suggesting the night sky was filled with angels! That’s mind-boggling. No silent white-skinned, blue-eyed baby boy You know the line, “the little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes”? Yeah, again, unlikely. He could have screamed his lungs out like a banshee for all we know. And we can be pretty sure he wasn’t the porcelain-skinned cherub in those shopping mall nativity scenes either. All of which leads me to my original question: which Christ are you trying to keep in Christmas exactly? If it’s the eight pound, six ounce, newborn baby Jesus from Talladega Nights (“don’t even know a word yet, just a little infant, so cuddly, but still omnipotent”) you’re not fighting a war on Christmas. You’re championing tradition and the symbols of the ancient European nativity. Jesus came to free us from enslavement to the things of this world. Those things include the commercialism and excess so celebrated in malls, themselves great temples to materialism. For his followers, Jesus is our king, our rescuer, our friend and our hope. Why do we so vehemently defend our right to set up shrines to him that in no way resemble the actual facts of his birth? […]

By: Janet Glowicz

Janet Glowicz — Wed, 22 Nov 2017 02:09:37 +0000

During the Christmas season I like to think about how the artificial light causes difficulty when attempting to view the real light. In my city there is so much light pollution it is hard to see the stars (heavenly hosts). When I see cars with bumper stickers that say, “keep Christ in Christmas,” I want to respond, “don’t constrain Christ in Christmas!”

By: Nandi

Nandi — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 09:14:53 +0000

lol….enjoyed your article….we studied this sime years back at my church Bible study….really good eye opening study

By: Michael Frost

Michael Frost — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 08:23:03 +0000

In reply to Tim. I thought it was pretty clear I was advocating that Christians become more aware of the facts of Jesus' life including his birth. As for your question about people advocating for nativity scenes and Christmas decorations being displayed in public places, I'm not sure if you want names and numbers, but just because you haven't heard them doesn't mean it's not an annual thing.

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 06:14:47 +0000

As Jesus probably wasn’t born on December 25th are you advocating wholly returning this pagan festival to the world, recapturing it for the significance and opportunity it brings or just lamenting the unholy hybrid it has become?
And where are these ignorant masses demanding mangers a plenty anyway?

By: Sue

Sue — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 05:29:51 +0000

Thanks for this!

By: Michael Frost

Michael Frost — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 00:39:59 +0000

In reply to Alan Hirsch. Maybe you should write a guest blog here about the evils of Christmas muzak in shopping malls and other public buildings. ;)

By: Alan Hirsch

Alan Hirsch — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 00:07:35 +0000

Oh Michael, now I just love you more! Time to take the tinsel Christ out of X-mas.