Monday, December 04, 2006
The Grinch who (wishes he could) steal "commercial christmas".
My heart must need to grow a few sizes if you're using the remedy set down by that classic film about another grinch. I don't like christmas lights, christmas trees, or christmas cards. I abhor christmas films, (secular) christmas music, Santa Claus and seasons greetings. It has nothing to do with what christmas is actually about. It's just another sick case of North American commercialism. Traditions are made into advertisements, and the mystery of God becoming a man is eclipsed by chubbiness of an old man in a red suit. For these reasons, the "Christmas Season" that most people really get into doesn't really thrill me all that much anymore-in fact, it's pretty sad.
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29 comments:
so you don't like the commercail asspect of Christmas?? have you been watching charlie brown??
it isn't allways commercial, decorating a christmas tree is just a tradition that started before flippin commercialissm.(very sure on that one) giving gifts is based on the wisemen giving gifts to jesus(not too sure about that one).
santa does bite...
but, i don't think that all (christmas)traditons are quite as commercial as you think...
/silver bells/
/do-do-dooooo
/silver bells/
/do-do-doooooo
/It's christmas tiiiime in North America/here joel sing/ come on joel siiiiiing/ soon it will be the dreaded daaaaaaaaaay/
MERRY CHRISTMAS MR. SCROOGE!!
Um, so, don't listen to (secular) Christmas music, and don't go visit Santa Clause. Think about Easter... just cause there's a bunny doesn't mean that's what Easter means to us. It means much more. Just because this world is throwing a loop doesnt' mean we shouldn't like something that celebrates Christ!
And many traditions (at least in my case) draw my family together in a special way. It's kind of like 'no, we can't do anythign today... we do stuff with family'. It's great!
And Christmas music (non secular) makes it that much more memorable! Also, many of the Christian Christmas music often has us focus on what Christmas is really about... God became man, born to die for our sins!
Hey Joe,
Everyone's getting on your case. I understand where you're coming from and it is good to remind ourselves not to get caught up in the worldly viewpoint and to focus on the real meaning. That said, your reaction is almost like "throwing the baby out with the bath water" (pardon the pun). Have you seen Aly's blog?
I have to say im kinda with joseph, I think that companys have hijacked Christmas and have made a very secular holiday. Even trying to buy christmas cards is becoming difficult, all i seem to see halmark coming out with is "happy holidays" or "Seasons Greetings" its become all about being politically correct...but i have to say that im not one to talk, I often find myself getting caught up in the secular traditions and things that arnt even really about the true meaning of christmas. I guess im kinda in the middle. because some things arnt totaly commercialized. read matthew 2:13-17....i dont think jesus was a big fan of mixing commercialism and christianity
hhhmmm. i understand where you're coming from. it's true, maybe alot of christians do lose sight of WHY we celebrate christmas with all the commercialism. and yeah, there's alot about it that annoys me, there are way cheesy and pointless christmas songs on all the radios, and stores refuse to say merry christmas.
but i've never focused on the commercialism. i think it's cause my parents always made christmas so magical while i was kid. not with a million decorations or alot of gifts; but by keeping the focus on a celebration of the birth of Christ-because it's the beginning the gospel story.
anyway, there's my thoughts.
i'm not trying to change your mind or argue with you...after all, i know christians who think celebrating christmas at all is wrong. (although i wonder how hard it must be to ignore it when the world is shut down!)
i haven't read other comments yet except for the first like three cause i really did comment earlier. my momma can prove it.h ahaa
anywho. i conquer, joel patrick.
i strongly encourage all of you go research what the origins of things like the xmas tree[sherlock!!!] and other things. please. then go read jeremiah 10:1-5 at least.
hi,Kara. I know the scripture you reference and have heard those arguments against having Christmas trees. Indeed we took them into consideration. The bottom line is it is a matter of conscience. If to you the Christmas tree is a symbol of pagan worship then you must follow you conscience. And we must respect your views according to Romans 14. We are not commanded nor restricted from celebrating Christmas in scripture. It is therefore a disputable matter. I think Romans 5-6 is helpful here. It is important that as Christians we do not allow disputable matters to be divisive and thus divide the church and her effectiveness in the world. Christmas is just a day. It is what is in our own hearts that makes a difference. For my part the Christmas tree in my house reminds me of precious times with my family. In my mind it is a symbol of the light(Jesus) coming into the darkness. So, wether you like the things of Christmas or not, celebrate the day or not; do all things as unto the Lord and live the 25th for Him.
i didn't read any comments.
you all have WAY too much time to think.
shouldn't you be working or doing school or something?
"hi.
my name is josh.
my friends call me yaesh.
i like peanut butter. apples. cookies. and tea.
i live in escondido. my favourite colour is green. .."
thats enough of that. just pretend you laughed.
correction....that would be Romans 14:5-6 on the long winded comment.
some of us do have to work.
some of us did have to work, but as the results of having thier cars smashed by big trucks find that they now have too much time on their hands.
but we're certianly not thinking with it! heaven forbid...
haha.
Christmas isn't the issue. It is the Culture that's the issue.
There are many, many disputable issues that affect us 365 days/year. Most all of them are "tainted" with Western Culture's Commercialism. And we all participate in these issues (experiences) to varying degrees.
Disputable issues are often "Cultural" issues. Our Lord is most concerned with the motives of our hearts and how we deal with such issues. Specifically, the way in which we live/relate/experience the culture He has placed us in.
So what does the scripture say to each of us on the following issues?
Food
Clothing
Transportation
Entertainment: Music/Video/Film
Housing
Vocation...
What would our Lord say to each of us tomorrow morning if we allowed him to search our hearts on these matters?
What would His opinion be?
anyhoo,
"hi my name is josiah.
my friends call me mojo jojo.
i like pizza. and milkshakes. and double or triple stack extra bacon cheeseburgers.
i live in toledo ohio. my favorite color is blue.
josh if your gonna live in the states you have to spell color right.
thank you mr wells.
um...i dont know what to say about all this...it seems as if everbody has said everything already. But i do want to say that if Joel was just trying to start some big Christmas discussion/argument on his blog it wroked pretty good. good job joel, i salute you!
girl:"today my name is jezebel..."
linus:"jezebel was a wicked queen in the bible who was thrown out of a window and eating by dogs..."
girl:"today my name is tiffany"
hmm...
joel you shouldnt see deck the halls. you would hate it. its all about the stuff you hate about Christmas. it was filmed in cloverdale. we watched it in kelowna. it was pretty stupid. we wouldnt have watched it if it wasnt filmed where it was. i dont recommend it.
a complete waste of time it is.
wow we need a new post joel.
yes i agree
everybody has probably seen this a million times but, if anyone cares i now have a blog. this is the link.
http://colt35.blogspot.com/
dude.
do a new post.
yes, a new post is in order...
yeah, new post. i think it should be lighthearted or funny. or good and deep. but not deep and lame, or light and lame.
hahaha.
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