What do you think Christmas is all about?  We’ve included a video of some people answering that question on the street at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ1050bLTVw

From that experience, or your own, you can probably identify some answers drive religious people crazy: Santa, gifts, Elf on the Shelf, and so on.  They will shout – it’s about Jesus!

You can also probably identify some answers religious people would love.  Jesus is the reason for the season.  A saviour was born.  God is with us.

You can see how polarizing Christmas can be!  It is a religious occasion that is solemn, deep and meaningful, and yet it is also a cultural reality with rampant consumerism, time with family, funny traditions and oddities like eggnog and mistletoe.

You might think Chiristmas shouldn’t be polarizing, and that this is a new reality.  But Christmas and its effect on the world was polarizing not just today, but 2000 years ago.  We’ll see how later this week.

Question: How much of Christmas do you think is religious, and how much is cultural?  How much Santa, how much Jesus?

Reminder: We have a great Christmas event coming December 14th, 2013: The Original Christmas Party.  Hope you’re coming!

Read the Bible in Sync Today

Ryan Sim - June 17, 2013

Monday - A New Idea - The Golden Rule

I'm sure you've seen the posters: Keep Calm and Carry On Have you seen the story of the poster & slogan? Check it out here if you haven't: https://vimeo.com/48907330 It's so popular, they say here, because it's a simple, warm-hearted line to inspire confidence in others in hard times. It's a memorable one-liner, meant to help people get through a war – a time where nothing is familiar, everything changing and dangerous. Life can still be like that – maybe why people love this poster so much. I did a Google search and found all sorts of people offering up their one liner for life. My favourite online life motto: Don't reduce your life to a sentence We'll see tomorrow how Jesus summed up his teaching in the Sermon on the Mount with a one-liner. Question: What is your guiding principle in life?

Discuss

More Messages Associated With "Law"...

Powered by Series Engine