There is a great danger this Christmas season of missing the point. And I'm not referring simply to idolatrous consumption and materialism. I'm talking about Christmas religiosity. It is very easy around this time to set up our Nativity scenes, host our Christmas pageants and cantatas, read the Christmas story with our families, attend church every time the door is open, and insist to ourselves and others that Jesus is the reason for the season, and yet not see Jesus. With the eyes of our heart, I mean.
I suppose there is something about indulging in the religious Christmas routine that lulls us into thinking we are dwelling in Christ when we are really just set to seasonal autopilot, going through the festive and sentimental motions. Meanwhile the real person Jesus the Christ goes neglected in favor of his plastic, paper, and video representations. Don't get distracted from Jesus by "Jesus." This year, plead with the Spirit to interrupt your nice Christmas with the power of Jesus' gospel.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Being Distracted by "Jesus" This Christmas
Jared Wilson:
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7 comments:
Gifts, materialism, and the invented Santa Claus, are taking us away from Jesus. Christmas is the birth of Christ. We must turn to Jesus. God bless
seriously? is this just another overreacting (albeit, well-meaning) christian blog writer trying to make us feel bad about a 'new' sin? i'm really getting sick of this. a 'real danger'? i don't think so.
I understand what your saying.
Too much doctrine, and not enough sincerity and honesty in getting a true relationship with Christ.
Great post!
This is my take on a post like this. I would rather see a blogger write a post on Jesus and his incarnation than telling me to do something that is impossible to do on my own. Remind me about the miracle of the incarnation over and over again throughout this month. That's what moves my heart toward Jesus.
I think a greater danger might be self-righteous hyper-spiritual religion - and I have been guilty of it myself. We should all go have a cookie and thank God for all of his good gifts.
Stephen, it's not impossible to "fix our eyes on Christ," nor to plead with the Spirit to interrupt our autopilot Christmas. I agree with you only Jesus can make us love Jesus, but we aren't entirely passive. Also, you might like my recent post at Desiring God on the incarnation: http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-christmas-miracle-of-the-incarnation-of-the-omnipresent-word
Perhaps that fits what you're saying you prefer?
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Sara, I hate hyperspirituality. I am sorry you see that in my post. I was trying to say Jesus is better than routine religious. And I agree with you that cookies and gifts are common graces to be thankful for. (I've written on that this month too.)
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Zach, thanks for sharing my post, brother.
Jared, thanks for this post. I think it is a timely reminder to look beyond the routine of the religious part of Christmas.
Part of me also agrees with Mr Cruver - it is helpful that when someone encourages you to savour more about Jesus, they actually start you on that path - telling you about the incarnation, why it is important to the Gospel, and why it is such a marvellous thing. Personally, when I am in need of such an exhortation, it is probably because simultaneously, I would benefit from a helping hand in fulfilling the exhortation.
That link you posted is a great place to start - can I suggest you add it on to the end of the post for the benefit of future readers who don't want to also read through the comments?
Thanks brother, Merry Christmas :)
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