musings
CHRIST EVACUATED FROM CHRISTMAS? Apparently so, because the Barna Research Group conducted a poll for the Lutheran Hour Ministries that found the following:
Only 37% of adults in the national survey (88% of whom identified themselves as Christian) said the birth of Jesus is the most important aspect of Christmas. More than 75% of evangelical Christians placed Jesus' birth as of first importance on Christmas.
Only 32% of those who identified themselves as fundamentalists gave that answer.
Only 29% of Catholics placed Jesus' birth first and 24% of theological liberals said the birth of Christ made Christmas important for them.
Wait a minute! What's going on here? Well here's a clue: 44% of the total respondents said that FAMILY TIME is the most important part of Christmas. Only 3% said presents or parties were the most important part of Christmas. The same percentage said the best thing about Christmas was getting a paid holiday.
"I guess it demonstrates what preachers have been wringing their hands over for some time: Christ has been evacuated from Christmas," said the Rev. William Willimon, a theologian and Duke University chaplain. "It's good to know where we are. Christmas has become a co-opted holiday."
George Barna concluded, "Americans are more likely to correctly recall the significance of April 15 than they are to connect Christmas with the birth of Jesus. As America becomes increasingly anesthetized to Christian principles and practices, it seems only fitting that we have contracted acute amnesia regarding the spiritual signifcance of December 25."
Barna goes on to say, "Even with all that I know about how secularized our culture has become, I would have thought that more people would say Christmas is all about the birth of Jesus."
Don't they get it? CHRISTmas! A Christless Christmas is a gloomy alternative. Without Him there is no lasting peace, joy, and fulfillment. What say you?
CHRIST EVACUATED FROM CHRISTMAS? Apparently so, because the Barna Research Group conducted a poll for the Lutheran Hour Ministries that found the following:
Only 37% of adults in the national survey (88% of whom identified themselves as Christian) said the birth of Jesus is the most important aspect of Christmas. More than 75% of evangelical Christians placed Jesus' birth as of first importance on Christmas.
Only 32% of those who identified themselves as fundamentalists gave that answer.
Only 29% of Catholics placed Jesus' birth first and 24% of theological liberals said the birth of Christ made Christmas important for them.
Wait a minute! What's going on here? Well here's a clue: 44% of the total respondents said that FAMILY TIME is the most important part of Christmas. Only 3% said presents or parties were the most important part of Christmas. The same percentage said the best thing about Christmas was getting a paid holiday.
"I guess it demonstrates what preachers have been wringing their hands over for some time: Christ has been evacuated from Christmas," said the Rev. William Willimon, a theologian and Duke University chaplain. "It's good to know where we are. Christmas has become a co-opted holiday."
George Barna concluded, "Americans are more likely to correctly recall the significance of April 15 than they are to connect Christmas with the birth of Jesus. As America becomes increasingly anesthetized to Christian principles and practices, it seems only fitting that we have contracted acute amnesia regarding the spiritual signifcance of December 25."
Barna goes on to say, "Even with all that I know about how secularized our culture has become, I would have thought that more people would say Christmas is all about the birth of Jesus."
Don't they get it? CHRISTmas! A Christless Christmas is a gloomy alternative. Without Him there is no lasting peace, joy, and fulfillment. What say you?
posted by kazookid | 9:04 AM
2 Comments:
I say that Ho Ho Ho, has led to Ba Hum Bug, the financial stress of buying all the gifts and giving Santa Claus the credit for them has led us down the road of dispair.
Our children hope for gifts while trying to agree with us that it's all about the birth of Jesus, and that the gifts are to help remind us of God's gift to us.
Here I turn to the example of myself as a kid:
as a kid, I was focused on the gifts, the tree and it's ornaments, the food, Mom's fruitcake, and the time off from school! And most of all, the gifts! For those gifts I gladly went along with the idea that it's about Jesus' birth.
I faked my feelings about the importance of Jesus' birth to the world in regards to the 'Saviour' aspect of it, but I agreed in total that Jesus' birth resulted in my receiving these GIFTS! Yes! by golly! because of his birth, I, along with all of the other kids in the world, well at least the good kids, got presents, gifts!
Santa could even thank Jesus for his own part in this gift giving craze! And families do get together for the 'holiday.' Everyone loves time off with great food, fun, and family. We have a lot to be thankful to God for here.
It is all because of Jesus' birth.
The world loves to celebrate! Just give 'em something to celebrate about and we'll have another holiday!
It sure is easy to go astray.
The Wise men brought their gifts to present to Jesus didn't they. What if we changed the rules here, and gave ourselves to God as our gifts to him. What if we took away the glitz and glammer of the gift giving to each other, and honored Christ at Christmas.
It would be a culture shock, and a commercial-economic disaster. Why we'd put some of us right out of our jobs.
Ba Hum Bug!
I have shared my feelings about the commercialization of Christmas, but I put up trees and buy presents and sing the Christmas songs just like everyone else that I know. I have kids and a wife that want to open presents and I gladly bless my loved ones with gifts because I love them.
Just so no one things of me as a Scrooge! :) the truth be known...
thinks, it was supposed to be the word: thinks (not 'things') oh well, at least we know that I can spell the word. :)
just an amendment to my previous comment.
Fred
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