In the Christian conservative circles I like to hang around in, there are some who look askance upon Christmas. Isn't it pagan in origin? The world has taken it with Santa and greedy kids grubbing for presents, haven't they?
Well, no. Check this out for a good response. Excerpt below.
"A certain man once thought it good to pour used dishwater into the wine set aside for a feast. The master of the feast saw this and threw out the wine. He was then accused of ruining the feast. Much has been made of the Puritan opposition to Christmas, but more than a little of the problem was caused by how Christmas used to be celebrated.... One of the central reasons Puritans were opposed to it was because of all the immorality that was going on in the name of Jesus."
And he isn't just talking today's commercialization. Think more like Mardi Gras. Did you know it is actually a religious run-up to Lent? That is the corruption the Puritans were dealing with...
I don't have any strong issues with the church year as people will construct their time one way or another and the church year is far preferable to the football, baseball, hockey, etc season.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, I still find things like Advent Wreaths and the lighting of Advent Candles to be problematic in light of the regulative principle, and I do not find Wilson's argument compelling in that particular area.
Right. Wilson isn't addressing that kind of thing.
ReplyDeleteI'm not so much against the wreaths on regulative principle grounds, as I think there must be better ways to celebrate the advent of our Lord in public worship, beyond certain texts and songs. Still looking for it, though...