My wife loves Christmas time. She decorates all the time in various seasons, but this one is the mother of all decorations. She loves Christmas movies and Christmas songs. I try to hold her back a little. "Can we at least wait until after Thanksgiving?" So on December 1st, she fired up the Christmas music. "It's legal now," she said. And it has been on since. It's interesting to me the variety of people singing Christmas music. Obviously there are Christian artists, but all manner of secular artists do, too. I mean, Barbra Streisand, Jewish, has a Christmas album (at least one). Frank Sinatra, whose life in many way epitomized the anti-Christian lifestyle, has Christmas albums. Modern rappers and rockers have Christmas albums. The Pentatonix sing Silent Night on their last Christmas album, for pity sake. It seems like every major artist has at least one Christmas album with at least one, honest-to-goodness praise song of Christ who came. What's up with that? So many whose lives oppose anything like Christ sing praises to Christ at Christmas when you'd think they'd prefer to not even acknowledge Christmas at all. What's that all about?
It is, I believe, the story of eternity. Since the beginning -- Adam and Eve in the garden -- mankind has been at war with God. It has been said, in fact, that the most offensive verse in the Bible is "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Gen 1:1). Paul says, "For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened" (Rom 1:21). So Scripture says, "For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot" (Rom 8:7). And, yet, God is not dead. Why? Well, I think the problem is not God. It's His authority. It's His Sovereignty. We do not want to be told what to do. Like recalcitrant children, we shake our fists in His face and yell, "You're not the boss of me!" And, yet ... we desperately want what He has to offer. So we hang up plaques that say, "So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love" (1 Cor 13:13) and "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace ..." (Gal 5:22). Because, who doesn't want love, joy, peace? Who doesn't want hope? So, even as sinful beings, we don't want God, but we sure want what He has to offer.
I think Christmas appeals to the secular world because the secular world, deep down, wants the peace and love and joy that God offers. They don't want it on His terms, but they want it. So they'll sing Christmas songs about peace and joy and love and overlook the claims of Christ as redeemer because, well, they want what He offers. At times it bothers me. "That's not yours. Give it back." But I finally settle on Paul's approach. "What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice" (Php 1:18). These dupes find themselves singing incredible truths, perhaps for a buck or for their wish for what God has to offer without the God who offers it. But they're singing truths, and God is able to use that. All truth is God's truth, so I will rejoice even if it comes from the mouth of a pagan ... or even a rapper.
23 comments:
Clearly our wives have similar ideas about both decorating and Christmas music.
I've noted your quandary as well. It seems strange to hear artists singing about a person and belief system that they explicitly reject, and doing so because it's an easy way to make some money (in many cases).
Yet, I've often wondered if artists can sing about or act out Christian theology and behavior (the church going/praying family in Blue Bloods comes to mind) without being affected in some small way by what they are doing?
Ultimately I tend to agree with you that the proclamation of the Truth of Christ to a world is desperate need of Him, isn't a bad thing. Whether it's Sinatra singing a Christmas carol or Osteen preaching a Christmas sermon. The Truth of The Gospel is more powerful than anyone who might communicate it. I could make the same argument about myself as I stand in front of a congratulation leading Christmas music. Am I really any more qualified to sing or play this music than anyone else? Isn't every single person who shares the Christmas story in every church this season in the same position?
I can't remember which famous British atheist it was, but he said that he regrets the decline of Christianity in England. He admitted that he'd rather live in a predominately Christian nation, even though he rejects it's teachings.
David, you might be thinking of Richard Dawkins (there is one discussion along those lines at Stan’s post dated 04/05/24, “If the World Hates You”).
It was Dawkins.
Stan, I agree with you when you wrote, “I think Christmas appeals to the secular world because the secular world, deep down, wants the peace and love and joy that God offers.” (And I also think it is laudable to adopt Paul’s attitude in Phil. 1:18, even as we recognize that many secular musicians sing Christmas music mostly for personal financial gain.) Thinking beyond Christmas music, however, I think that the secular world loves Christmas mostly for two other reasons: (1) Because they like the aspects of merriment, festivity, sociability, consumption, and indulgence that “the holiday season” freely offers them. Through all the parties, shopping, Christmas decoration “wars,” eating & drinking, family gatherings, time off from work, etc., there are enough fun preoccupations to distract many from any thoughts of God and His rightful place in our hearts and lives. The season keeps everyone very busy (just as Satan likes us). (2) Also, as they participate in this glut of activity, even those that give no true submission to God can boast a quasi-spirituality. “See, I believe in Jesus, I’m a Christian--look how much I love Christmas!” But it’s the trappings of “the season” that they love--not God or the Savior.
They certainly like the revelry -- the fun -- and businesses certainly love the income. It just seems to me that celebrating Christmas which is, by definition, Christian when they thoroughly reject Christ is disingenuous ... like me celebrating Hanukkah.
I believe it’s thoroughly disingenuous, but it’s not at all surprising to me that it occurs. And the fact that those who admittedly reject Christ can still enjoy Christmas--to excess--with nary a qualm is very significant, in my mind, as it speaks to the highly secular nature of the holiday in our culture.
Regarding “celebrating Hanukkah”--If you were in a mixed-faith marriage, would you not observe your spouse’s holiday along with your own? That would be disingenuous in some ways but still very commonly done. It strikes me that this might be the spirit in which many non-Christians celebrate Christmas.
I can't be sure, but I don't think I could celebrate pagan holidays with my spouse. I wouldn't force her to celebrate mine either. Celebrating other religion's holidays indicates to me that one views them as equally valid. The Bible speaks often of not performing the religious rites of other religions.
Lorna,
You're right about the financial gain. Recording a Christmas album is a great way for an artist to accomplish several things with little effort. It allows them to fulfill contractual obligations (which gives the record company product for Q3/4), make a record without writing songs or paying someone else to write them, most Christmas music is public domain so no royalties, it's guaranteed to sell, and it's a great way to stay relevant.
I think you're spot on about both the celebratory aspects as well as the busyness aspect.
I mostly agree, but given the unique nature of Judaism I think that there are Jewish holidays that could be celebrated or participated in. Passover comes immediately to mind.
I don’t think I could be that “open-minded” either, David. Thankfully, I am not "unequally yoked" and needing to sort out the inevitable conflicts that would create. (I don’t see Hanukkah as “pagan,” however, since it’s based on an actual historical event in Jewish history; it’s not part of my faith practice, of course.)
It's hard not to be caught up in the spirit of the season, especially having been raised in a culture which puts so much importance upon the season. People are generally in the "spirit" during Christmas season. And while I do believe in many cases there is a profit motive in doing Christmas albums, I also think that by and large most people in the western world simply like Christmas music, because it's just so "Christmas-y" and it makes them feel good and nostalgic as well.
Craig, my observation about the musicians’ financial gain was mostly a hunch, but your explanation offers the perfect support for my suspicions!
Hanukkah is Jewish, but it isn't based on any biblical instigation. Maybe Feast of Booths or ones that Jesus would have celebrated. And I said pagan because I would hardly call Judaism today anything like biblical Judaism. They are more concerned with the Rabbinic teachings on Scripture over Scripture.
Lorna, happy to help.
I heard the song "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" the other day. After reading this, I actually thought about the lyrics. Obviously, celebrating the birth of Christ is and should be the "Most Wonderful Time...", but just as obviously that celebration shouldn't be limited to one day or season. But the song celebrates all of the other stuff that makes Christmas attractive to pagans. Not that any of that is necessarily bad, but it's all secondary to Christ. Essentially society has just layered a second, secular/pagan celebration over the top of the Christian holiday.
“Essentially society has just layered a second, secular/pagan celebration over the top of the Christian holiday.”
This is a true observation, and this began centuries ago! (It’s why the celebration of “Christmas” was forbidden by the Puritans, etc.) I think we all concur that even nonbelievers love the trappings of this holiday and will happily join in the celebration. Personally, I believe “Christmas” is relegated to a “season” in part because many aspects of it are a pretense that the world can’t maintain all year (especially the being really nice to other people, especially strangers!). True biblical believers, however, know that the coming of the Savior--and the full story of His perfect life, His substitutional death, and His glorious resurrection--is a blessed reality every day of the year. Living in full compliance of that fact does mean that much of the holiday conventions would be forsaken out of necessity, but in my mind, that’s a good thing (and I have personally done that).
Lorna, I completely agree that the extension of Christmas to a season and the adding of Kwanzaa to that season are all about minimizing the focus on Christ. What's interesting is that, had the culture come up with the secular celebration of these good things and held in in February, I don't think we'd have much of an objection. I think that it's possible to partake in some of the conventions, but to do so while still focusing on Christ.
Hey, Craig, just to clarify (I suspect I was unclear in my last comment): I meant that if one celebrates the coming of the Savior all year, rather than for just a day or a season (as I said that I favor doing), then “much of the holiday conventions would be forsaken out of necessity”--since one would probably not do all the “Christmas stuff” year-round. I wasn’t lamenting the extension of Christmas past a day to a full “season” but actually the opposite: i.e. restricting the “celebration” of the Savior’s coming to just a day or even a season.
My comment exchange above with Craig was prompted by his mention of a particular secular “Christmas song” sung by Andy Williams, which instantly brought to my mind other songs with that theme, including some with lyrics along the lines of “why can’t Christmas last all year long?” Whenever I hear a song asking that kind of question, I always reply, “It does--for true believers in Christ!”
Interestingly, when I asked Google, “Why can’t Christmas last all year?” (I was searching for song lyrics, actually), I was given this reply by AI Overview:
Christmas can't last all year because it's meant to be a special, limited time of celebration that holds its significance due to its seasonal nature, focusing on the birth of Jesus Christ during the winter months; if it were year-round, the unique joy and anticipation associated with the holiday would diminish, and the core message of giving and goodwill might lose its impact if not experienced as a distinct season.
And asking “Why can't we have Christmas all year long?” gave me this slightly different explanation:
While there's no inherent reason why we "can't" have Christmas all year long, the main reason people don't is because the special meaning and joy of Christmas stems from its seasonal nature, with the anticipation leading up to the day and the unique winter atmosphere contributing to the overall experience; essentially, if Christmas was always happening, it wouldn't feel as special or significant.
This might be the opinion of Google AI Overview--and perhaps even many Christians--but it is not mine!
Lorna, I got that out of your comment. I was referring to the cultural extension of the singular day celebrating a singular event (the birth of Christ) to a "season" which now includes things like Kwanzaa and NYE and dilutes what should be the focus. I agree that we should celebrate Jesus all year.
Totally off topic, but an example of a particularly horrible line in an alleged Christmas song is when Bono (an alleged Christian) emotes "Tonight thank God it's them instead of you." in Do They Know it's Christmas.
Lorna, I get your point and don't disagree. However, I also resonate with the answer you got about Christmas being a "special, limited time, celebration...". I think it's fine to celebrate Christ's birth at Christmas and His death at Easter, and His life and work in the rest of the year.
I understand that is a common view among believers (and certainly with the “Christmas and Easter Only” crowd). Several years ago, I felt led to no longer make those deliberate distinctions of “limited time…celebration” regarding the significant events those holidays highlight. Since I know that my salvation was gained through the entire sequence of Christ’s birth, life, death, and resurrection, I strive to be mindful of the full Gospel every day of the year (not favoring any particular calendar day over another). It seems more authentic of me personally to live and practice my faith that way (and I believe I have benefitted from opting out of most “Christmas season” trappings). Of course, it is a case of Christian liberty, as the Lord leads (Rom. 14:5-6).
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