How well do you know the Christmas Story? I imagine most who are reading this, okay I know that will be single figures, will immediately say, “Pretty Well!” or “Very Well!” some might even say, “Off by heart” and the probability is you do know the story well and my initial question could be perceived as being one of those “SILLY QUESTIONS”.
So that being the case, here is the next question, “How did you learn the story?”
I ask this question because in this era of Political Correctness and the onslaught of trying to make Christmas less ‘religious’ or less ‘Christian’, it occurred to me that many of the objectors and or their objections are based not on the Bible Story but on the trappings we have hung around the story. Let me try and explain.
It is highly possible that many of today’s generation have learnt the Christmas Story from Christmas cards and Christmas Carols. The cynics try and dismiss the Christian Faith by arguing away Christmas cards. It is like analysing a football match by reading the programme, critiquing a play by reading the newspaper review, enjoying the English countryside by looking at Constable’s paintings or claiming you are an expert in Scottish History because you have seen the film ‘Braveheart’ countless number of times.
Dissenters laugh off Christmas simply because of the date. Yes December 25th is an invention, we do not know the exact date when Christ was born and what is more we do not claim to know the exact date so why not pick a date and make that the day of celebration? If it is good enough for the Royal Family (the Queen’s birthday is actually April but every year the Trooping of the Colour which marks the Queen’s official birthday takes place in June) then why not for Jesus?
Cynics laugh and question the idea of three kings visiting the baby. Well take another look. Nowhere in the bible is it suggested they were kings the bible described them as wise men, magi. Neither does the bible suggest a number, only three gifts are mentioned or rather three categories of gifts, ‘gold, frankincense and myrrh”
Was it in the bleak mid-winter, it might have been or it might not have been. If it was at winter it can get very cold and bleak in the hills surrounding Bethlehem, although I admit less likely that snow would fall, snow on snow, but once again the argument is with the Carol writer and not the Bible.
When all said and done most people’s objections are to the trappings of Christmas invented mainly by the Victorians. Next time you are challenged read again Luke1 & 2 and Matthew 2 and immerse yourself in the true Christmas Story.
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You will be saddened but not surprised to hear that in Rottingdean Late Night Opening last Friday I went to see a school singing Carols.
ReplyDeleteOn being given the hymn sheet, I was staggered to see that there was not a single carol on there - no mention of Jesus, angels, shepherds, God, Salvation or anything that could remotely be linked.
Instead the so called carols were all things like "The Red Red Robin" and "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree".
Gutted! I'm still tying to work out whether to say anything to the school or not...what would you advise Graham?
As you say saddened but not surprised.What to do? I am assuming, and I know that is something we should never do, that it was not St. Margarets (after all that is a church school) I would be inclned to make some comment even if it is just in the form of an observation. Christians need to start reclaiming Christmas.I am not suggesting Puritan action and following Cromwell and ban Christmas but it would have been nice if there had been ar least one carol with something of the Christian Story.
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