Christmas spirit IS the problem!

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Christmas Spirit, Grinch, Scrooge

For the holidays, I’m “pausing” my blog. Between now and the end of the year I am posting popular posts from the past. This is reposted from December 12, 2007. It was originally titled “Death to Civility”

Among all the concerns raised every year about the lack of “Christmas Spirit”, I too have a complaint. I was sitting in a Wal-Mart parking lot when it came to me.

I had been trying for nearly 30 minutes to move from one end of the lot to the other. My wife had walked to the bookstore, and I was supposed to pick her up. Moments turned into minutes, and minutes seemed like hours. Eventually, time started going backward.

Unchristian thoughts entered my head. I began to contemplate how much damage it would do to my van if I ran over one of the pedestrians instead of letting them across. I mean, with so many shoppers, who would miss one or two?

My blood pressure was rising. My Christmas spirit was shrinking. I was quickly transforming into an alter ego I like to call “Scrinch”. Part Scrooge, part Grinch, he appears unannounced at least once or twice every December.

That’s when it hit me. No, not the tailgater behind me. The reason for all this madness. The problem is, there is TOO MUCH Christmas spirit. The reason it was taking me thirty minutes to drive the distance I could walk in two was because somewhere ahead in that great unknown, somebody felt it necessary to let another car go ahead of him. In fact, the guy in front of me (that I let into line) was letting two or three cars at a time pull in front of him.

And why? Just to make themselves feel better. If I let someone in front, I MUST have the holiday spirit, or so the reasoning goes. What kind of motivation is that? All that act helped was one person. In exchange for an espresso-powered shot of “feel good about myself”, dozens of others are forced to sit, stew, and simmer.

It really doesn’t even help the person that much. They’ve been allowed into a line where they too will have to sit and wait for an indeterminable period of time. All you’ve actually done is destroy their Christmas joy.

So I say “Death to Civility”. Go ahead and tailgate. Don’t let that bum in line. Feel good about being a Scrinch. Throw in a “Bah! Humbug!” as you pass them by. The people behind you will thank you. Even your victim will thank you. They may not appreciate it now, but in the long run it’s better for everyone. Who knows? Maybe eventually they too will come to their senses and understand what a favor you did them.

“Holiday” Trees: The Trunks, the Twigs, and the Twits

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Christmas, happy holidays, war on Christmas

During the Christmas holidays I’m taking a break by sharing top posts from the past. This is reposted from December 13, 2007.

Over the past few years there’s been great concern about the “war on Christmas”.  Everyone has been up in arms over “holiday” trees, saying “happy holidays,” and various other ambiguous terminology.  Political correctness has run amuck, they say. 

I’ll admit it bothers me too.  In fact, some of the extremes the PC go to are downright ridiculous.  I mean, are we going to carry these changes across the board?  What about Santa Claus?  That’s a Christian term.  Are we going to start calling the Menorah a “holiday candelabra”?  Jesus Christ the “holiday infant”?  What about the word holiday itself? I mean, “HOLY” day?  There seems to be no end to the idiocy.

But let’s be honest.  We’ve been headed here for years.  The “war” on Christmas is indicative of the direction our society has been slowly progressing. This is the fruit of a deeper root problem.

I recall seeing some time ago, an informal street poll asking children what Christmas meant to them.  Nearly every one immediately said, “Santa” or “Gifts”.  Now before you write me of as a “Santa = Satan” nut, you have to admit that the trend is disturbing. 

The secularization of Christmas is nothing new.  That’s why I have mixed emotions about the backlash against it.  I’m glad the envelope finally got pushed far enough that people realized the situation. Maybe now something productive can be done about the root problem.

At the same time, there are a fair share of twits on the other side of the battle. I am disturbed that some people think they have included Christ simply by singing Silent Night, decorating a Christmas tree, or putting out a Nativity scene.  I recently heard of a family that wanted to make sure they “stayed focused on the real meaning of Christmas.”  They decided to have Santa bring the children ONLY 3 gifts this year, in honor of the 3 wisemen. Wow!  That’ll teach ‘em! This kind of stuff is just as ridiculous as the people who try to ignore Him.

Now, the word is that the “war on Christmas has been won.” But has it really? If you want to get rid of a tree, you don’t rake the leaves, you chop the trunk. The external issues are just symptomatic of a much deeper problem, and these roots still run deep.

According to a legend Satan and his demons were having a Christmas party.  As the demonic guests were departing, one grinned and said to Satan, “Merry Christmas, your majesty.”  At that, Satan replied with a growl, “Yes, keep it merry.  If they ever get serious about it, we’ll all be in trouble.”

The real problem is that even when we call it a Christmas tree, sing Christmas carols, give Christmas cards, and eat Christmas candy, we still may not be serious about Christmas.  It is the birth of the SON OF GOD.  It is “God and sinner reconciled.”  It is the hope of salvation.

This task falls to those who put their faith in Christ.  Can we honestly expect the retailers to do it?  No.  Their job is to make money.  How can we then fault them for catering to the material appetites of their customers?  Can we expect the children?  No, not on their own.  Any child (and most adults)  will be more excited about unwrapping their new Wii than the soteriological impact of the incarnation.  We certainly cannot and should not expect those of other faiths to do so.

It’s time we take the responsibility to make Christmas about the Gospel once again.  After all, the “good news” the angels sang of was the “gospel.”  Let’s get serious about it.  Let’s chop on the trunk rather than pulling off a few twigs.  The real Spirit of Christmas must be in our hearts before it will be in our actions.

Nephos 9

Tags

Christmas tree, Christopher Hitchens, Martin Luther, skateboarding, So what?, Steve Horwitz

Over the Christmas holidays I will be taking a break from new posts. Family, holidays, and travel will be taking up my time, and – world-changing and imminently important as blogging is – I plan to invest every spare moment in them.

Through the rest of the year, however, I will be re-posting some of the top posts from this past year. That way, if you missed them or are new to my blog, you will have a chance to check them out.

I hope everyone enjoys this holiday season and has a Merry Christmas! With that, here is this week’s Nine:

1. The best article on the death of renowned atheist, Christopher Hitchens’ I’ve read yet. Russell Moore says Christopher Hitchens might be in heaven.

2. Professor Steve Horwitz asks . . .

3. Photbotos is a cool site for those who like beautiful photos. My favorite:

Check them out for plenty more!

4. Matt muses about mathematics and Imago Dei.

5. Now this is my kind of Christmas decoration! (totht) 22 Words

6. A wise wife and God’s Funeral.

7. So you’ve preached a sermon, blogged a post, or written a book. Barnabas asks, So What?

8. Owen Strachan comments on the amazing story of a Mother stirring her “dead” baby to life by skin-to-skin contact.

9. An amazing video from 22 Words demonstrates why skateboarding is 1,000 times more impressive in slow motion.

Carol in a Cathedral

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Belfast Cathedral, Christmas, Wexford Carol

Over the past few years the “Wexford Carol” has become my Christmas favorite. I usually share the Allison Krauss/Yo Yo Ma version, but this one is excellent also. I especially love the acoustics of the old cathedral!

Nephos 9

Tags

9 Marks, Albert Pujols, Michael Hyatt, Tim Ellsworth, Tim Tebow, Yoda

1. Awesome book giveaway by Blogging Theologically: I’m Giving You a Library for Christmas!

2. Tim Tebow Uses Words At All Time addresses Tim Tebow’s boldness in speaking for Christ.

3. Michael Hyatt has an enlightening infographic that explains Why Sitting is Killing You.

4. Another good post by Michael Hyatt on The Difference Between Trying and Doing.

Which brings this interesting graphic to mind . . .

5.

6. Aaron Earls at The Wardrobe Door evaluates the intolerant tolerance at the University of Buffalo.

7. Tim Ellsworth is the co-author of Pujols: More Than a Game. He gives a superb assessment of Pujols departure from St. Louis to Anaheim in The better Angels of Pujols’ nature.

8. If you’ve ever been to a Sunday School Christmas party, you’ve participated in a gift-exchange game of some sort. You’ll also relate to the Top 5 Gift-Exchange Gifts Everybody Brings, But Nobody Wants. Been there . . . and got the chocolate covered cherries to prove it!

9. And . . . as a public service more holiday deals! Christmas specials on resources from 9 Marks ministries.

Update: Just caught an incorrect link in #6 above. My apologies, and here is the bonus link – the feel good movie of the year! Jaws! (Disneyfied)

Messiah done right

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choir, Choir of King's College, Christmas music, Handel's Messiah

I’ve seen several videos lately that tried to demonstrate why some choirs should not do the Messiah.  They all use off-key/butchered/generally-disastrous examples to prove their point.  I think this video provides a much stronger argument.

Hallelujah Chorus – Choir of King’s College

It’s well worth four of your minutes to watch!

totht: Denny Burk

Nephos 9

Tags

Arminianism, Calvinism, Johnny and Chachi, perception vs. reality, Spectrum of Evangelicalism, Winston Churchill

1. It’s all about your perception . . .

via Doghouse

2. 5 Mistakes From Both Arminians and Calvinists.

3. Good stuff from Jon Acuff on eating out on Sundays: Dear Atheists, Chick-fil-A & Waiters.

4. Pianist Greg Howlett offers his music at a tremendous holiday blowout sale. If you enjoy instrumental music, Greg’s is some of the best you’ll find.

5. And still further proof of my theory that the funniest things happen in church:

 

6. At Kingdom People Travin Wax provides a summary of the new book Four Views on the Spectrum of Evangelicalism:

What is an Evangelical? 1: The Fundamentalist View

What is an Evangelical? 2: The Confessional Evangelical View

What is an Evangelical? 3: The Generic Evangelical View

What is an Evangelical? 4: The Postconservative View

Since I plan to read this book, I look forward to reading his Wax’s summaries.

7. Thought provoking article by Bobby Gilles on abstract worship songs.

8. I like good quotes, and Kansas Bob has a delightful collection of Churchill Wit.

9.  If you prefer your Christmas carols in “small doses” then you’ll love Johnny and Chachi's Christmas Medley