Christmas and Popular Culture

Christmas and Popular Culture

      I love Christmas! It's my favorite time of the year and brings so many beautiful and lovely memories from the past—not only from the 78 Christmases God has given me to experience, but also from the more distant past of tradition and history reaching back in an unbroken time line to that glorious event in human history when God became a tiny little helpless baby in the arms of His virgin mother in a smelly, unpleasant stable in Bethlehem. No matter that we don't know the exact date on which He was born. Historically it was the Year One in the Year of Our Lord and we still measure time in the western world by Anno Domine despite the fallible calculation years later that was probably 4 years mistaken. As historians we love precision and accuracy, but here we are reminded of the reality of the actual historical event in time and space and history.

        And at the same time we are reminded of how fallible and finite we all are in trying to keep track of everything and understand the eternal significance of the most important event in human history up to that time, “Emmanuel: God with us!” Not only “with us”--as He always is in the sense of His omnipresence, but “with us” by taking on human flesh and becoming “one of us” as a tiny little helpless baby. In that great Messianic Psalm 22 the inspired Psalmist wrote, “Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God.” Psalm 22:9-10 (ESV) And so the co-equal eternal Son of God became dependent in His humanity on the Father and Holy Spirit.

          But as marvelous as these theological truths are as God's marvelous plan of Redemption unfolded (“I am come to seek and to save that which was lost,” Jesus told His disciples.) in addition to the wonderful historical reality of the Incarnation, is God's providential use of the “Christmas Season” historically even to the Present.

        Even in the myths, the feasts of celebration, and the customs associated with the season. Our son-in-law Chris sent me something yesterday that helped direct my thinking in this manner once again. A peripheral matter perhaps, but what do we learn about living or God's common grace in the stories of St. Nicholas or Santa Claus?? or in the many other customs and associations with Christmas.

        Surely we prefer the clear message of the Gospel. And it's there, too, in much of the preaching and teaching of scripture and in the marvelous old Christmas carols like “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!” Glory to Christ the Newborn King. “God and sinners reconciled!” “Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the Everlasting Lord! Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of the Virgin's womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail the Incarnate Deity, Pleased as Man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel!”

         But what about the many “Christmas stories” and myths and customs of giving and helping one another? Well, just stop to think about the many ethical and moral “values” that are communicated at Christmas time, only partially Biblical, but still with embedded truths there, too. What if we had a world without compassion and generosity, a world totally of selfishness and self-centeredness? Well, God knows that's characteristics of our fallen lives in this fallen world, but when we actually see and experience how much better goodness and love and sharing and kindness are, then we realize that those qualities really do exist! And it raises a person's desires for goodness and love and peace and kindness and a relationship of joy with God Himself. “ Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” How many people have experienced that at Christmas time?

          And remember the context of that verse, the demonstration in the lives of the apostles of a life of service and dedication to God and a willingness to give of themselves to minister to others. Paul was talking to the Ephesian elders—probably on the beach while he was preparing to embark on a ship that would eventually take him on his way to Jerusalem and eventually to Rome and imprisonment there. He reminded his brethren of the way of life he and his fellow missionaries had lived:          ”Remember that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.” Acts 20:31-38 ESV

         May Christmas be a reminder of how we must live a life of dedication to God and in service of our brethren and others in need. “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:9-10 Compassion is a gift from God. Scripture tells us NOT to “close our hearts” as we see those in need. We can't help everyone—that's a truism—but it's also true that we can help many whom the Lord places in our paths by His providence. Follow His guidance; you know how kind and generous He is. ^“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:16-18 ESV

          Share the gospel whenever people are willing to listen, but also demonstrate these character qualities that are shown so prominently in the Christmas season: love, compassion, kindness, generosity, goodness, service, sharing, empathy and sympathy, joy, peace, self-discipline, helpfulness, a sense of wonder at God's goodness and grace and His wisdom and providential control of all of life, looking to the hope or certainty of what lies ahead in Jesus. Jesus in the days of His flesh became dependent upon the Father and Holy Spirit. We are totally dependent upon Him. Let's realize it and live like it! That's the way to joy and meaning in life. Think of the infant babe on Mary's breast and realize your own total dependence on our Lord even for the breath you breathe. It is He who gives you joy and peace and love in the midst of these difficult times.

                                                                                --Pastor Burnside