Before I’m accused of vacillating let me simply say that I do not believe Christmas is a “Christ-centered” holiday. To say that it is, is to simply ignore the Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer displays and Bing Cosby’s White Christmas playing over and over. This has nothing to do with the birth of our Lord Jesus. Just because Muzak plays “Oh Little Town of Bethlehem” doesn’t make elevator music worship. And what about the people who go to church for a half hour to hear and applaud a Christmas cantata never to set foot in the church until next Christmas? Am I to believe they’re there to worship?
We spend four to five days celebrating but what exactly are we celebrating? Our time is spent putting together children toys, eating plenty (but avoiding the fruitcake), and yakking away with relatives. All of these things are fun and I’ll admit I’m a sap for this. But we’re deceiving ourselves if we think any of this brings honor or glory to God and this somehow constitutes religious festivities.
I understand where Rev. Whitfield is coming from but it was also a different time and place in history. I would hope that playing a game of cards at Christmastime with the relatives or drinking a glass of eggnog is not going to destroy your relationship to God. If you look at the article as Frumanchu suggested as over indulgences I would agree but understanding the history of the early Protestants they really did frown on such frivolity not simply over indulgences. If they could only see us now. Perhaps there is much truth-and warning-in what they said.
I love the green garlands, the music, and the festivity but one has to keep one’s perspective on the whole affair as to what this is really about. Simply measure how much time is spent in worship verse how much time is spent shopping for “the perfect gift”. It’s not so much about our Lord Jesus as it is about us. It is a man centered holiday designed to please us.
No it isn't anymore. And the problem lies with us. It is our duty to return Christ to Christmas. It is also our duty to rejoice at his birth. If the secular world wants to steal the holiday away, our emphasis should be on pointing the secular world to the true meaning of Christmas.
Luk 1:14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
Rejoice Rejoice Emanuel.
Merry Christmas
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Marlowe
If the heart is turned to worship during the Advent season, won't the Advent services that many churches have be as well attended as the Christmas Eve service? The same holds true for Easter. Are the Lenten services as well attended as the Easter morning services? What about regular evening services during the year?