The Burr in the Burgh

You know your church is messed up when even CNN (sometimes affectionately known as Christ-hater News Network) knows you are doing something wrong.

The network is reporting about a number of well-known so-called mega-churches that are cancelling services on Christmas Day, even though it falls on a Sunday this year. First, keep in mind that most of these churches never have services on Christmas morning, only Christmas Eve. But it is highly irregular for a Christian Church to cancel a Sunday service. And, oh boy, just you wait until I tell you the reason these churches are cancelling their services on December 25th.

First, why do Christians worship on Sundays to begin with? Because that is the day of the week on which our Lord rose from the dead. So the first Christians, beginning with the apostles themselves, began worshipping on the first day of the week, which they also began to call the "Lord's Day." They did this so that each week begins with a little Easter.

And why do Christians traditionally worship on Christmas Day? Because that is the day when the ancient church chose to commemorate the birth of our Savior. It is a holy day for Christians the world over and there is no better way to observe it than by coming to God's House to receive His gifts through Word and Sacrament.

Do you want to know why these Mc-Churches are cancelling their Sunday services on X-mas? Because they say . . . are you ready for this . . . "Christmas is a family day." Now isn't that preposterous??!! That is the most pious sounding impiety I've heard in a while.

So do they mean that the way you strengthen your family is by NOT going to church? And all this time I have been operating under the delusion that Christmas was about paying homage to the one eternal Son of God who became man, the son of Mary, to bear away my sins and iniquities. Where in the world did I get that insane idea? I must have missed something. So now I get it. Christmas is about family. I guess those congregations don't have any single people in them. Or any childless widows. Or anyone who might be painfully estranged from their families. I suppose Christmas is not for people like that.

Anyone that says that "Jesus is the Reason for the Season," but then intentionally makes the choice to stay at home with his family instead of going to hear the gospel and receive the Body and Blood of Christ is a loud clanging gong and a hypocrite.

I'd say I'm speechless except for the fact that I can't seem to stop ranting about it. Maybe I should calm down now. Read it for yourself here.

And further thoughts from other bloggers:

Bunnie Diehl

Get Religion

Ales Rarus

See this related Burr post.

And thanks to The Southern Conservative for a great post and the picture I snatched, hoping he doesn't mind.

Post-Script: Listen, I am not pouring out a blanket condemnation on all Christians who make a decision to go to church on Christmas Eve and maybe not on Christmas Day. But I am condemning pastors and churches that see no need to offer the Divine Service on this high festival day, especially when it falls on the anniversay of our Lord's Resurrection from the dead. The irony is skull-crushing. Christians who complain about how secular the holiday has become should take note that is people like this who are most to blame.

Everyone who knows me will tell you that my favorite fourth century Turkish saint to commemorate on December 6th is none other than Nicholas, Bishop of Myra. We always exchange gifts on this day in our household in remembrance of the good bishop's fabled kindness and generosity.

I've long known that St. Nicholas attended the First Council of Nicea (A.D. 325) , from which came the Nicene Creed. That's been one of the coolest things about him in my view.

But I'd never heard this juicy tidbit until today. According to Pr. Petersen, Nicholas got so frustrated with the heretic Arius that he went up to him and slapped him.

Of course, clergy are not allowed to hit people. And Nicholas had to say he was sorry (even though that cad Arius had it coming). And though I do not approve of violence in the church or at church councils, I do surely wish I'd have been there to see it.

Do you believe in Santa Claus? I don't and as far as I can recall, I never have. Now the troubling thing is that some of you will think I had a deprived childhood for not experiencing the "magic" of Santa. Well, it gets even worse. We never taught our son anything about Santa Claus, other than that he is make-believe (gasp!). But don't worry, I won't spoil it by wearing my "Santa is Dead" t-shirt to church on Christmas Eve.

I never used to have a problem with Santa. I always thought of him as a fun and harmless goofy thing to do at Christmastime with the kids. But more and more these days I am beginning to really hate the big guy in the red suit. Now I hesitate to say anything because I know that I will offend some very pious and excellent Christian parents who do enjoy the whole Santa thing. I'm not throwing stones at you or saying you're a bad parent or anything like that. But I am suggesting you reconsider the whole Santa business.

You see, I think that 50 years ago - or even 20 years ago - Santa Claus was indeed fun and harmless. But today, I'm not so sure. Fun, yes. But harmless?

Well, let's put it to a test. Go grab ten random 5-year-olds and ask them if they know who this man is. Ask them to tell you who he is AND why he comes. Write down their answers.













Next, have the same ten random 5-year-olds tell you who this is. Who is the person in the center of this picture? Ask them that AND ask them why he came. I am convinced that unless you grabbed all ten of these kids straight out of a truly superlative Sunday school program (such as ours), fewer than half would be able to answer the first question correctly and not one will be able to answer the second question. Oh, if you repeated this test a dozen times, you might find a nano-percentage of children who actually know what you're talking about, but most simply will not.

Then again, maybe you'll prove me wrong. I could be full of beans. But I suspect that today's children know a whole lot more about Santa Claus than they do about Jesus Christ.

And if I'm right, then Santa Claus is not harmless fun. He has supplanted Jesus as the reason for the Christmas celebration in the minds of most children, even Christian children. And if that is the case, then Santa Claus is a false god, an idol, the anti-christ, and anything but harmless.

Last night, I was in a video store looking for something to pass the evening and the store was playing the recent film Polar Express. Admittedly, I only saw/heard about 20 minutes of it, but what I witnessed disturbed me. And I mean "disturbed" in the sense of watching baby harp seals being clubbed to death. All this stuff about Christmas is about believing - believing in what? Santa. Santa this. Santa that. And at the end, the movie makes him into a Titan demi-god who grants wishes and makes children's dreams come true. Some folks have a word for that. It's called a religion. And this business that Christmas is about nostalgia, friendship, being nice - that's a false American 20th century religion invented by Macy's, Coca-Cola and Frank Capra.

Do yourselves a favor and commemorate the birth of Christ and that alone this Christmas.

Every Advent for that last several years, I have read a book by St. Athanasius called On the Incarnation. It's short enough, only around 100 pages, that it can easily be read over the four weeks leading up to Christmas. It would also be suitable for a Christmastide devotional.

St. Athanasius, as you know, confronted the Arian heresy at the Council of Nicea in A.D. 325. One of my favorite factoids about the Council of Nicea is that the real St. Nicholas was there as the Bishop of Myra.

The version of On the Incarnation which I possess has a delightful foreward written by C.S. Lewis, but I have not been able to find that one still in print. One of the recommendations Lewis makes is that for every new (last 100 years) book you read, you should read an old one. Or if that is too demanding, at least for every 3 new books, one old one. I could not agree more. Maybe you can find this edition with Lewis's foreward at a used book dealer.

The edition I am linking you to is from St. Vladimir's press and I have no doubt it is quite good as well.

The world is trying to change Christmas into something else, something it’s not. The world says that Christmas is a time for decorations and large meals, a time for family and children, a time for presents and the Charlie Brown Christmas special on TV. And while all those things are nice, the only one that has anything to do with Christmas is the Charlie Brown show. The world has done such a good job of hijacking Christmas that most Christians haven’t even noticed. Opening presents has become more important than coming to church. Let Christmas be about Christ or forget about it altogether.

The managers at Wal-Mart now tell their employees not to wish anyone a “Merry Christmas” in case it might offend someone. What offends me is when non-Christians celebrate Christmas, to tell the truth. I don’t celebrate Yom Kippur. Do you know why? Because I am not a Jew. I don’t celebrate Ramadan because I am not a Muslim. I don’t celebrate the Summer Solstice because I am not a witch. Why should anyone celebrate the birth of Jesus who does not recognize Him as the Son of God - which He Himself claimed to be - who came to redeem sinners?

Clearly, we live in a world that in some ways is hostile to Christianity. We have it pretty easy in America. No one is going to put you into jail or shoot you in the back of the head because you brought your children to Sunday School. But what is happening here in America is almost worse than in China or the Sudan. Here Christianity is permitted, but it is being slowly drained of all its meaning.

If the world wants to have their holiday with the decorations and gifts and office parties, then let it do so, but I wish they’d call it something else. A number of years ago, there was a famous episode of Seinfeld, a popular television sitcom in the 1990s. And the joke in this one particular episode was that the characters wanted to invent their own December holiday and they called it Festivus. Now that actually makes sense to me. A Christmas without Jesus Christ is not Christmas. Call it something else because it is something else.

We in the church can still have our presents and decorations but we will gather to worship the Christ child. And that’s because we know the true identity of that little stranger wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.

He is no mere prophet, no new-fangled Buddha offering nothing more than a set of wise teachings. He is, in reality, the incarnation of the one true God. God, in Christ, has come to dwell with man. And to bring real light into the world, a light that can never be snuffed away.


[Side note: Since I referenced the Charlie Brown Christmas Special above, I want to direct you to Gene Veith's blog here, where he gives an excellent appraisal of the annual Christmas television specials.

Maybe you've noticed that there's a bit of a controversy brewing these days about whether people should say, "Merry Christmas." My take on it is this: If someone says to me, "Happy holidays," I will respond, "What are you talking about? There is nothing called "holidays." What exactly do you mean?" I intend to do so with a completely straight face until they give me a response. I don't care if it makes the elderly greeter at WalMart feel uncomfortable.

You see, if I were an employee at a store like that, no one would be able to tell me that I am not permitted to wish someone a Merry Christmas. This is something I'd be willing to lose a job over. Of course, that is very easy for me to say since, in my profession, that is not likely to happen anytime soon.

But listen. Recently, I was asked to do the swearing in of newly elected borough officials and offer a benediction. I told the fellow that I'd be very happy to participate in this civic event and say a prayer, but only so long as there would be no restrictions on the wording of my prayer. I will pray in the name of Jesus Christ and will mention the Holy Trinity and all that stuff. He said, "Go for it." And I will.

It's a good thing that I don't live in that secularist Shangri-la of the state of Indiana, because there a federal judge has decreed that no Christian ministers who pray at state legislative meetings may mention the name of Jesus. See here. Some people are getting their shorts in a knot over that but it's not unusual. . . if you live in Saudi Arabia.

Here is what I tell people when they ask me to pray in public. "I am a Christian and the minister of a Lutheran church. I would be happy to pray (in most circumstances), but I will pray a Christian prayer. If that makes you uncomfortable, then please ask someone else. I will not be offended. However, if you still want me to pray, you know what I will say." It's that simple. I'm not trying to be offensive, but neither will I cloud my identity as a Christian so the Rastafarians in the audience won't jump and holler.

Back to the Merry Christmas controversy. In some ways, I see this as a tempest in a teacup. I don't really care if people are allowed to say Merry Christmas. In that regard, I'd just do what I want and let the rest fly a kite.

And by the way, why do non-Christians want to celebrate Christmas in the first place, as so many do. That offends me. This is a celebration of the birth of Jesus, not a gift-fest with Santa and booze soaked office parties. I truly and very sincerely believe that the U.S. government should repeal December 25th as a federal holiday. Let's see what happens then.

By the way, here is a hilarious ad from Virgin mobile phones spoofing the blending of religions this time of year to appease everyone. It's funny, though I liked last year's version better. I can't find it anywhere. If you have a link to the 2004 version of this ad, please send it to me.

And MERRY ADVENT (Christmas doesn't even start for another 23 days).

Why is it that the so many of the greatest 20th century American authors were Roman Catholics? One of my favorites happens to be Flannery O'Connor, who died much too early in 1964 from lupus. She wrote a number of short stories including the classic A Good Man is Hard to Find. Her novels include Wise Blood and The Violent Bear It Away.

Several years ago, I also enjoyed a volume of her Collected Works which contained a number of her letters and essays. And it was by reading her correspondence that I discovered a woman of sorrows and familiar with grief. The specter of her Christian faith seeps through her fiction, but it is in her non-fiction where it is made most explicit. You have to admire any person who uses the Summa Theologica of St. Thomas Aquinas as bedtime reading. This woman understood the crushing weight of sin and the corruption it has had on human nature. But she understood just as well the redemptive character of the incarnation of God's eternal Son in the man Jesus.

A lot of Christians hear that Flannery O'Connor was a devout believer and they read her works expecting to be edified. And I suspect many of the pious put her books away half-read. They are not happy stories. They are not pretty. In fact, some of the most shocking ugliness ever put on paper can be found in the horror writings of this petite Georgian maiden.

Some Christians think that "Christian writing" should always be uplifting and cheerful. They may even try to use Scripture to support this assertion. "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things (Phil. 4:8)." They'll say, "you see, God's Word tells us we should be concentrating on positive things, whatever is lovely and whatever is pure." But I'd respond as I believe Miss O'Connor would have done by saying, "Yes, but notice what the apostle mentions first. Whatever is true." And let's face it, not every true thing is lovely or inspiring. Some true things are quite grim. And many of these truths need to be told as well. And that is where the fiction of Flannery O'Connor serves its highest purpose. She wrote the kind of material she did because she understood that it needed to be said and said in such a way as to be heard.

I'll conclude with this quote from O'Connor herself which, I think, sums up one of the tasks of every Christian artist as well as every preacher.

'The novelist with Christian concerns will find in modern life distortions which are repugnant to him, and his problem will be to make these appear as distortions to an audience which is used to seeing them as natural;....to the hard of hearing you shout, and for the almost-blind you draw large and startling figures.'

If you have been reading Anne Rice's novel, Christ the Lord : Out of Egypt or if you have been reading about it, you might also be interested to discover that she has a website. Go here.

I don't share Ms. Rice's political views. And since she is Roman Catholic, I'm sure we'd disagree in certain areas of religious dogma. But I am listing reasons below that she and her writings are important for you to know about:

• She is a huge force in American pop culture. She has millions of fans. She's written dozens of best-selling horror novels, selling close to 100 million copies. Several of her books have been made into blockbuster movies and plays.


• She is a popular author because she is a skilled writer and storyteller. We must not underestimate the power which storytellers wield over a society.


• She has undergone a very publicized re-commitent to the Roman Catholic Church. Many of the fans of her horror books and the erotica she's penned are unhappy about this.


• Now she has written a book about the childhood of Jesus Christ. This was a bold undertaking since the canon of Christian scripture says next to nothing about this period of the Savior's life.
  


• Undaunted by the risks, Ms. Rice has produced what I consider to be a vivid portrait of the life and ways of first-century Palestinian Judaism, a background which greatly illuminates the Gospels.


• I would have made some different choices were I the author of Christ the Lord, but Ms. Rice has written a book that is orthodox, entertaining, and insightful.


• Think of the millions of people who would perhaps never ever pick up to read a book about Jesus who will now read this, simply because of the author's fame. I believe that many people who are otherwise religiously indifferent could become captivated by the figure of Jesus and possibly, oh please, recieve a new or renewed faith.
  

If you've visited here before, you may notice that I'm tinkering with my template. Right now, it looks fine to me, but please alert me if anything does not appear right on your browser.

Let me draw your attention to a new feature. In the left side-bar, scrolling down about half way, you'll see a section of links called "Classic Burr." There I will regularly rotate old posts of mine that I personally like and want to sort of resurrect.

I have been reading the new novel by Vampire Chronicler Anne Rice. Newly re-committed to her Roman Catholic faith, Ms. Rice has written an intriguing book told in the first person by a 7 year old Jesus. She has clearly done her research and presents her subject in a remarkably reverent, orthodox and interesting way. It is an enjoyable read. And believe me, I approached this with great skepticism.

Rather than writing a full review, I recommend you read what Dr. Gene Veith has written here at his Cranach Blog. He nails it on the head. He points out the perils inherent in trying to novelize the childhood of Christ the Lord.

My remaining criticism of the book is that Rice borrows slightly from ancient non-canonical tales of Jesus' youth. But as Veith points out, she does de-gnosticize them. Still, she does have Jesus performing occasional miracles.

It says in John 2:11, after the water-into-wine episode: "This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee." My understanding of that passage is that Jesus performed no miracles prior to the wedding of Cana.

I do recommend Anne Rice's book.

Joel Osteen is pastor of the fast-growing Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. He promotes a prosperity gospel which is no gospel at all. His is the gospel of self-esteem. The Christian Research Journal published a helpful article, which you can find here, about his latest book. To sum it up, Osteen is a false prophet who fails to preach Christ crucified.

The letters in the above picture lapel pin stand for "I Watch Joel Osteen." To be fair, it should be stated that this pin is not being sold by Pastor Osteen or his church, but by a misguided devotee.

The fish symbol has been used since ancient times by Christians to identify themselves to one another. This is how it works. The Greek word for fish is ichthus. Ancient believers used each letter of the Greek word for fish as the beginning of another word spelling out this early confession of faith: Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.










The makers of the Joel Osteen fish pin claim that they are trying to help people share their faith. Supposedly if someone asks you about the IWJO, you get to tell them about Joel Osteen and then they'll watch him too and get saved. But honestly, if the goal is to share one's faith, why not stick with the original so that instead of telling your friend about Osteen, you'll be talking about the Savior Himself?

It is offensive and possibly blasphemous for someone to take a universally recognized Christian symbol and remove the name of Jesus, replacing it with the name of a mere man. Now this would be bad enough, but it adds injury to insult (intended) when the man whose name you substitute doesn't even preach the correct message.

Hat Tip: Orthodixie