« Team Creativity: How it Works | Main | Ten Signs You Might Be Emergent »
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Christmas: Is it about Christ, or Santa?
Our guest writer today is someone that many of you know... as a matter of fact; if you've been around the blog here for long, you're bound to know Bernie. Today... Bernie writes about Christmas... see what you think. Bernie writes:
Many public and private groups are removing the name “Christmas” from the holidays. For example, rather than “Merry Christmas,” we are hearing “Happy Holidays.” This is to reflect our diverse religious beliefs and to include the Jewish Hanukkah celebrations. This is upsetting to many Christians, who feel that their faith is under attack. It’s interesting to note that the Puritan’s (known for their pious faith) actually outlawed Christmas at one time:
Wikipedia notes:
The Pilgrims, a group of Puritanical English separatists who came to North America in 1620, also disapproved of Christmas, and as a result it was not a holiday in New England. The celebration of Christmas was actually outlawed from 1659 to 1681 in Boston, a prohibition enforced with a fine of five shillings.
Christmas is an opportunity for Christians to share and celebrate their faith because of Christ’s birth. Non-Christians celebrate Christmas for the purpose of friendly gatherings, gift-giving, and youthful story-telling of all the secular Christmas characters.
For Discussion:
How did your family celebrate Christmas when you were a child? What percentage of your celebration had religious meaning, and what percentage was about Santa, Frosty, Rudolph, etc. My childhood was spent as a Roman Catholic, and I’d say it was 99% non-religious. The part that was about God would be going to midnight mass on Christmas Eve before opening our presents.
Bio:
Bernie Dehler is the volunteer Director of FreeGoodNews.com . He lives in Beaverton Oregon and works full time at Intel Corp. in the chip design group. He is enrolled in the Masters of Ministry degree program at Luther Rice Seminary (www.lrs.edu). You can visit Bernie's new blog here.
Pass this post on to a friend now...
Subscribe to RSS Feed | Get Email Notifications on New Posts
December 1, 2005 in Current Affairs | Permalink
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451dafb69e200d83498aed069e2
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Christmas: Is it about Christ, or Santa?:
Comments
By the way, the graphic was taken from an actual Christmas greeting card: http://www.evolvefish.com/fish/product337.html
How would you like to get that in the mail?
Posted by: Bernie Dehler | Dec 1, 2005 2:09:40 PM
The early childhood memories of Christmas for me were like from the movie "Christmas Vacation" with Chevy Chase.
Lot's of food and family. Fun and games, rudolf and frosty on tv and opening lots of toys and getting lots of presents and money.
In my later Christmas memories I realized there was allot of bickering and fighting that took place as well.
As a result, it's been almost a decade since we've gathered as a complete family (aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters, g/g ma/pa, etc.).
I don't remember too much of it revolving around Christianity in my early years (because I too was raised Catholic) but later, it was all about Christ.
Today, as a family we celebrate Christmas through Christ and teach our children that the bunny rabbit, tooth fairy and santa are all fairy tales to help children understand some human values. But I teach my children how human values don't always equate to Godly values and hopefully one day, they'll all know more about who God Is rather than be concerned with the number of toys they get or didn't get (which is a PREVAILING mindset amoung most children and propogated through television and peer pressure).
Some good things from the early (Catholic) church that I use to help teach my Children are both the Heidleberg Catachism and Westminister Confession (spelling may be wrong, I'm cold and want to get out of the basement... lol). I wish I had learned these when I was a child.
Posted by: BeHim | Dec 1, 2005 2:30:28 PM
I also grew up in a Catholic family, but interestingly enough, our celebration was always pretty Christ-based, even from the beginning, despite the huge number of gifts. (There were 8 kids in my family - still are...)
I have to say that all that "religion" actually made a positive impact on me, too! Because when I was in High School and had my first REAL opportunity to actually put my faith in Christ, I did! My early "spiritual formation" had actually been quite positive in that regard. I didn't spend years messing around with stuff.
Thanks for making me remember that today, Bernie. I have a warm feeling inside for loved ones who are in some cases not here anymore. Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Peter Hamm | Dec 1, 2005 2:36:59 PM
I have a real problem with this. I do not like the picture at all, this in it's self is a desecration to the Lord.
Posted by: Evangelist Jeff | Dec 1, 2005 3:01:24 PM
Is that the Lord? Is that how He looked for sure? Is that how Santa looks for sure?
Come on. It's just a picture.
Praise God we don't have an actual photo of Christ, we'd go around worshipping the photo.
Use this photo as an opportunity to share the Gospel... "Hey, have you seen this pic?"
"I can't tell you much about the red suit but I can tell you about the blood and thorns"
Sorry Jeff, you may be young in the Lord, a new Believer but it's not sacrilege. We don't worship the Cross, the rocks the blood fell on or the dirt that soaked it up, we Worship Him, The True and LIVING God.
God love you for the zeal but it may not even be Him??? ;-)
Posted by: BeHim | Dec 1, 2005 3:34:06 PM
BeHim: I have been a Christian for 30 yrs. brother. I am still learning like everyone else. The picture is sacrilege.
Posted by: Evangelist Jeff | Dec 1, 2005 3:57:10 PM
Evangelist Jeff says:
"The picture is sacrilege."
Think of what the picture represents. Do we do this in our churches? Is it the same thing as singing "Jingle Bells" in church? How about at home... put a manger scene under the tree, and that's the extent to the meaning of Christmas? How many Christians are "living" a sacrilege?
The picture is quite gross. Even more gross is the practice of mixing our faith with worldliness.
When we demand that Walmart and Target keep "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays," are we trying to stuff Jesus into the Santa suit? Something to consider...
E.J., good point about looking out for the sanctity of God's name and using it in reverance.
...Bernie
Posted by: Bernie Dehler | Dec 1, 2005 4:22:34 PM
The topic (question) is "Christmas: Is it about Christ or Santa?" For Christians it should be about Jesus Christ. That should be a no-brainer for any Christian who's walked with Jesus for a least a year! For the world it is about Santa, Christmas angels, elves, presents, the North Pole, snowmen, and more. I grew up celebrating Santa Claus. And then one day (at a very young age) I discovered there was no Santa Claus. I was awakened late one Christmas Eve night by a friend of the family having a little too much fun (and probably too much to drink) bringing in all the gifts for us children. It really didin't bother me that there was no Santa Claus because somehow I knew the gifts would keep on coming year after year!
When my wife and I got saved as young parents in the late 70's we did the Santa thing a year or so. But as we grew in the Lord, we learned that the whole thing is about Jesus! We learned that the whole spirit of Christmas lies in the fact that God so loved the world that He gave the greatest gift - Jesus. From that point we began to teach our 4 children (who don't even remember ever doing Santa) the real meaning of Christmas. The problem comes in when we Christians let the hooplah of the other stuff cloud our focus on Jesus Himself. When we get caught up in the wrong spirit, we look like the wrong thing - the world. The truth is Jesus wasn't born on Dec. 25th, (which is really not that important because we should worship and honor Him every day of the year). But He was born! He did come as a baby! And the Christmas season is one of the best times to stand up and demonstrate to the world that it's all about Jesus! I really love Christmas. It's a very special time for our family to gather and focus on Him and all that He gave. It also enables us to give gifts in honor of Him. We still decorate our home (excluding all the Santa stuff), and we have one theme - Jesus! Our daughter who is now 27, married, and has one granddaughter has been criticized by her in-laws for influencing her new husband to not do the Santa thing. Instead they all 3 lift up Jesus, and how He provides and blesses as we obey Him.
Even though the anti-christ himself has not yet been revealed, the Apostle John said about 2,000 years ago, "every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard of that it is coming, and now it is already in the world." It is the spirit of the anti-christ that is making every effort to erase any and everything to do with Jesus. This spirit is of the world and works in many, many ways.
Posted by: Steve | Dec 1, 2005 5:04:42 PM
Steve wrote:
"Our daughter who is now 27, married, and has one granddaughter has been criticized by her in-laws for influencing her new husband to not do the Santa thing. Instead they all 3 lift up Jesus, and how He provides and blesses as we obey Him."
Is that one-sided or extreme? Sounds good to me!
Posted by: Bernie Dehler | Dec 1, 2005 5:14:23 PM
"How would you like to get that in the mail?"
I would rather not have to see something like that picture at all, it's in poor taste.
Posted by: Ian | Dec 1, 2005 5:26:49 PM
I suppose I look at it also from the perspective of what I'm training my children when it comes to Santa. I really want them to always have confidence that what I tell them is the Truth.
If I tell my kids there's a Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, etc. then there comes the day when they find out I wasn't telling them the truth, I don't want them being skeptical of my honesty when I tell them about Jesus.
It may get difficult when the subject comes up with their friends or cousins who are taught Santa is real. I'm not quite sure how I'll handle that one yet.
Posted by: Kent | Dec 1, 2005 5:42:49 PM
Interesting comments about the picture I didn't foresee. I starting thinking...
Picture of Jesus alone: no problem.
Picture of Santa alone: no problem.
Mix them: big problem.
Why? It's a visual of syncretism:
defined: http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=syncretism
The two clearly don't mix. It's basically an editorial cartoon-- to show graphically and figuratively how sick the situation is when the both are mixed in practice.
By the way. If a happy & smiling Jesus face were used rather than a bloody Jesus, would that have been different?
Posted by: Bernie Dehler | Dec 1, 2005 5:47:48 PM
Bernie,
Thanks for the "lesson" using the visual arts, there was a guy that dipped a cross in urine too, is that you?
Posted by: Ian | Dec 1, 2005 9:27:59 PM
Do we worship and follow symbols or The True and Living God.
Ian... do we worship the cross?
Thousands of men died on a cross (maybe millions)... we worship the one who hung on a cross and rose from the grave.
Holding a cross, crown of thorns, picture of Jesus or any other "statue" is still Idolotry.
Come on friends... were willing to go over blows of a photo while at the same time, wipe away thousands of years of doctrine with no willingness to even discuss it openly.
I wish there were such a zeal for the care of those who teach the Word.
BTW. I assume (possibly incorrectly) this is an unbeliever that created this image... what do you expect from enemies of God? Before we were Christians, did we do worse???
How should we expect the unbeliever to act?
Now, if it's a pastor who did this, that's a completely different thing and guess what we would start with... "what do you believe?"
I don't believe ANYONE in this blog would ever create an image like this or dip a cross in urine either BUT I don't think (or at least hope) none of us are willing to bow and worship a cross, photo or crown.
Posted by: BeHim | Dec 1, 2005 10:01:03 PM
Jeff:
"I do not like the picture at all, this in it's self is a desecration to the Lord."
It's no more a "descration" than what today's "church" has made of the Body of Christ.
Get over it.
Posted by: Ricky | Dec 1, 2005 10:06:13 PM
Quote:
"The picture is quite gross. Even more gross is the practice of mixing our faith with worldliness."
Bingo!
Posted by: Ricky | Dec 1, 2005 10:07:47 PM
Behimm,
A guess here is that you didn't see the Passion of Christ?
Posted by: Ian | Dec 1, 2005 10:27:26 PM
Sure I saw the Passion of the Christ. Does this movie teach us to hold the Cross in high value or The Man who Sacrificed Himself on the Cross?
Even better, does Scripture teach us to hold the cross as sacred or the One Who hung on a cross for us?
Does the Bible teach us to worship symbols and images?
Symbolism and even mysticism is rooted deep in Catholicism so I'm guessing that you may be Catholic?
Posted by: BeHim | Dec 2, 2005 12:27:14 AM
Christmas is a mixed bag for me. It has become deeply bitter-sweet because during 4 of the last 6 Christmas seasons we've lost either a parent or grandparent.
None occured in a sudden, shocking manner but over a period of weeks filled with the ups & downs of slow decines and struggles.
Cancer, age and some we still don't know the true cause of.
The driving and flying thousands of miles. Marveling at our children and how they handled it and praising God for them. Sleeping at relatives homes and on hospital waiting room floors. Laughing, crying, remembering and praying.
Add to that being a worship leader in the middle of the busiest time of the year with all the responsibilities. Just a little extra stress there!
So when I see, hear or read the fuss over Santa Claus or Christ or whether it's "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays,"
(or see what I would simply describe as krass (sp?) and tasteless picture) it's just petty junk. It's background noise that I overlook. At least I try to.
Please understand that I do not mean that as a shot at anyone here, it's just that Christmas, for me, now carries a lot of pain and loss.
Have I lost my heart for Christmas or my joy in it's spirit or purpose. No. It's Christ and not Santa. And with that, I have no problem in letting my kids be excited and have fun with the whole Santa thing.
They know what it's really about and we make sure of that.
My favorite time is Christmas Eve. I go outside and find a quite place and thank God and praise Him!
During those tough Christmas', one thought did always comfort me. The pain and suffering was over and really, can you imagine actually spending your first Christmas WITH JESUS CHRIST!?! Pretty cool!
Merry Christmas to you all!
Ben E.
Posted by: Ben E | Dec 2, 2005 12:51:10 AM
Ian said:
"Thanks for the "lesson" using the visual arts, there was a guy that dipped a cross in urine too, is that you?"
No, wasn't me. Reminds me of when I was in Catholic grade school, a nun said not to swing the rosary around. You know how they have a cross and a little figure of Jesus on it. She said it's like swinging Jesus around. That really stuck with me as a 3rd grader-- even then I knew about centrifugel forces. Bad enough to be hung on a cross, then add centrifugel forces to it... ouch! Of course later I realized, as Behim says, it wasn't really Jesus being swung around.
But I do realize the concern,,,
By the way, I saw the "Passion of the Christ," and I don't see the connection... you'd have to spell it out...
And Ian, a serious question: would the picture bother you and would you complain if it was a happy and smiley Jesus rather than a tortured one?
Posted by: bernie dehler | Dec 2, 2005 1:30:54 AM
TO: Ricky
From: Evangelist Jeff
Get over It!
Do you know what I have to say to you dear brother?
Thank you. I Love you.
Posted by: Evangelist Jeff | Dec 2, 2005 8:06:42 AM
About the picture -- I, too, reacted with distaste! Then I realized that the placement of Christ's face (the "real" image or not)into the Santa suit unsettled me exactly as thinking/reading about the commercialization of Christmas should have all along.
I spent a number of adult years on the Santa-side(such is the lure of the world)after a childhood which emphasized Christ without excluding Santa. I was blessed with a church-going family and a Christ-centered church, so we never forgot the reason for the season, but we did include the secular celebrations (Santa always showed up in the church's fellowship hall during some December gathering). At home, the manger scene (displayed in a special spot)went up first, followed by the Christmas tree and assorted secular decorations.
Side note: Thanks for all I learn from you folks!
Posted by: DD | Dec 2, 2005 9:15:44 AM
To weigh in on the picture - which seems to have generated more discussion than the original question - I don't have any problem seeing it as an editorial illustration. The reactions to how innappropriate it is - well, that's what the intent of the picture was as far as I can see. I don't think anyone is going to be hanging the image up in their home for decoration!
The original question - how we spent our Christmas growing up?
I grew up Catholic also, but don't agree that all of the non-religious items are without meaning. We visited different parts of our family on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, usually going to midnight mass and then driving through (my brother and I sleeping on top of the bags and stuff in the back of a station wagon, pre-seat belt era) to Grandma's house in another state to arrive in time for unpacking and presents, and usually going to a Methodist christmas service with them later that morning. In later years, I remember our youth group helping to construct the manger in front of the church each year, advent prayers, and caroling around neighborhoods. We collect Santas today. Yes, I'm in children's ministry. But to me, from growing up, all the secular things of Christmas do communicate a meaning. It is a time of year that our entire culture focuses on giving (and receiving, but those go together inseperably) and on relationships. Santa, frosty, and all the lot make it festive and broad enough, but they help to create an atmosphere of warmth, joy, family, neighborliness, and more. I think God uses all that to create an open-ness in the hearts of those around us to the real Christmas message. All the hurry and bustle, well that opens the heart to desiring a peace that the world can't offer. I think that's why we see more people at this time of year come through the doors of the church - seeking not only a savior, but something real and warm. Is that the friendships they find in the church? Not when all they hear the church do this time of year is complain about what everyone else is doing for the holidays. Doesn't holidays come from "holy-days"? What's so bad about that? If we avoid all the fictional characters (not that anyone doesn't let their kids watch Bob the Builder - many kids think he's real too), well I think we are taking away from them the sense of wonder and the sense that something great and purposeful can really exist outside of our seen reality. That's what the spiritual is. It is real. When we told our kids as they got older, we didn't say Santa never existed. Of course he exists, if only in spirit.
Posted by: Tim Ritter | Dec 2, 2005 11:11:22 AM
Ok, Ok, I have to confess here. I got everyone on a tangent about the photo instead of talking about the subject at hand. I was just trying to show some how they over react sometimes..
Anyway... The most special Christmas I can remember is this one. Funny thing is it is not about my family. It took place at Ft. Stewart, Ga. I was a wayward Christian, (you know the type, building up a testimony) Well anyway.There was Flores, Kennedy, and myself who could not take leave during the holidays. So we stayed back to work special details.
During Christmas Eve day they gave us half a day off. So I started the festivies by myself, but ended up getting depressed, homesick and listening to Hank Williams. Next thing I know Flores came to the room and rescued me. So me, him and Kennedy stayed in their room drinking and watching movies. We ran out so we went to get more. During this time Kennedy and myself picked up a Christmas Tree and ran off with it. When we arrived to his room we made a paper chain, placed a Moose head carton around it, and a beer can on top for a star. Then we set there watched more movies then we talked about the times we went to church with our families and watched plays about the Christmas story. That morning Sgt. White came by the room and got us took us to his house fixed cornish hens, corn on the cob, green beans, mashed potatoes and gravey. The point I am trying to make here is this. Flores was hispanic, kennedy was Aftrican American and so was Sgt White. I am a white man. It made me bubble over with joy in my heart and soul that we all were able to celebrate Christmas with each other like that. That was my first family away from home... I had/have/ and still wish that we as Christians could do the same as well as the rest of the year. WE WERE A FAMILY THAT DAY.
Posted by: Evangelist Jeff | Dec 2, 2005 11:38:29 AM
EJ
AWESOME story!
Posted by: Peter Hamm | Dec 2, 2005 12:10:01 PM
