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Repost – ‘That’s What Christmas is All About Charlie Brown’ …Take 2

December 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

In the classic scene from Merry Christmas Charlie Brown, Linus takes centre stage and delivers a most eloquent defense of the true meaning of Christmas.

Reciting from Luke’s gospel, Linus reminds the Peanuts gang, and all of us, that at its core, Christmas is about the birth of Christ.

If Charles Shultz were ever to have re-visited that scene, I would have loved to see Linus carry on by quoting the New Testament passage that, I believe, charlie browntells us how Jesus’ birth should impact our lives today, and every day…

“Lights please…This is how God showed his love among us; He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so love us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” (1 John 4: 9-12)

And THAT’S what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

Merry Christmas to all.

Filed Under: Christmas, Joy Tagged With: , , ,

3 Things That Irritate Christians About Christmas (and what we should do about it)

December 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

For many Christ followers, few things are more irritating than the way the world has “messed up” Christmas.

There are at least three distinct ways that many Christians are irritated by Christmas these days. Here’s what I believe they are, and how I believe we should respond.

Charlie BbrownIrritation #1: The Way the World MISPREPRESENTS the Sacred in Christmas

Sometimes the world tries to incorporate elements of our faith into their observance of Christmas, and often they just don’t get it.

Think It’s a Wonderful Life. So, are we to believe that part of the Christmas narrative is that angels need to perform good deeds in order to earn their wings? And when they succeed a bell rings? On a Christmas tree?

For many Christ followers this is exceedingly irritating.

Irritation #2: The Way the World HIJACKS the Sacred in Christmas

This irritation is typically found in the world’s commercialization of Christmas.

The other day I was listening to a radio commercial for a local muffler shop. They were pitching their “Annual Christmas Muffler Sale”, and the background music for their commercial was O Holy Night.

Again, for many a most irritating trend.

Irritation #3: The Way the World INGORES the Sacred in Christmas

Oooooh, this one really gets under the skin of many Christians.

First, “Christmas” became “X-Mas”…Then our nativity scenes started disappearing from city parks and town halls. Then “Merry Christmas” became “Happy Holidays”.

Where will the madness end?

How Christians have responded thus far.

Increasingly, Christians are responding to these irritations with angry letters to the editors, by jamming the phone lines on local talk radio shows and by threatening to boycott places of business who don’t say “Merry Christmas”.

May I suggest an alternative?

How should we respond?

Instead of protesting against culture, learn to engage the culture.

Look, even though our culture has indeed messed up much of the “holy” in Christmas, this is one of the rare times in the year that we’re all singing the same songs. We’re attending the same neighbourhood and office parties.

Never compromise on what we believe, but seize this wonderful season as an opportunity to engage the world in real, meaningful conversation about the true hope that Christmas represents.

Who knows? We may even turn a few “Happy Holidays” back into “Merry Christmases”!

How to you engage the culture during Christmas?

Filed Under: Christmas, Community Tagged With: , ,

The 5 Myths of Church Christmas Craziness

December 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Brace yourself.

If you’re a leader in a local church you know that the wave of ministry overload is about to hit you and your team, if it hasn’t already.

To survive, it is vital that you as a church christmasleader provide clarity to your team as to why you are hosting 5 Christmas concerts, 14 Christmas Eve Services, 4 Christmas Day services, and a couple of Christmas banquets.

 

Without that clarity you can easily fall prey to the 5 Myths of Church Christmas Craziness.

MYTH #1: CHRISTMAS PROGRAMS LEAD TO AN ATTENDANCE SPIKE IN JANUARY

This rarely happens. Unchurched people from the community may, indeed, attend your Christmas concert, but rarely do they arrive en masse to weekend services in the New Year.

MYTH #2: CHRISTMAS PROGRAM TRADITIONS ARE SACRED

No, they’re not.

Don’t drop a tradition on a whim, but be very clear why you are about to present The Christmas Handbell Choir Concert for the 93rd consecutive year.

MYTH #3: IF WE DROP OUR CONCERT EVERYONE WILL GO TO THAT OTHER CHURCH’S CONCERT INSTEAD

Indeed they might.

Take a deep breath.

Get over it.

MYTH #4: CHRISTMAS CONCERTS ARE MISSIONAL

A Christmas concert can indeed lead to missional activity, but it is not in and of itself missional.

A friend of mine used to invite upwards of 20 co-workers to our church’s annual Christmas event, and afterwards would bring them all back to his home for a Christmas party where they could discuss their experience at the church.

That’s missional.

MYTH #5: A CHRISTMAS EVENT GIVES PEOPLE A TASTE OF WHAT OUR CHURCH IS LIKE

Beware the temptation to bait and switch.

Many churches present Star Wars-like production in their Christmas program, with the unspoken promise that “this is what our church is really like”. Better to convey genuine authenticity than a promise of a weekly Cirque du Soleil production.

 

My wish for you this Christmas is that all that you do as a church will truly impact your congregation and community in a profound way.

Just remember, that without providing crystal clarity as to why you’re doing all you’re doing, you can easily be blind-sided by Church Christmas Craziness.

What myths have you learned with respect to Christmas programs?

Filed Under: Church, Seasonal Tagged With: , , , ,