Category Archives: Christmas

Who lay down his sweet head?

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‘Fury as primary school tells pupils to say “Baby Boy Jesus” instead of “Lord Jesus” while singing Away In A Manger so that pupils of all faiths can join in.’ (Daily Mail)

‘School slammed by Christians after changing “Lord Jesus” lyric in Away in a Manger.’ (Daily Star)

‘Parents Outraged as London School Downgrades Jesus from “Lord” in “Away in a Manger”‘ (CBN News)

These were some of the headlines a few weeks ago, when it was learned that children at Whitehall Primary School in Chingford, Essex, had been told by their head teacher to not to sing ‘little Lord Jesus’, but rather, ‘baby boy Jesus’.…

Should we rewrite the Nativity script?

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As I like to point out to anyone who will listen, a number of features in the ‘traditional’ story of Jesus’ birth cannot substantiated from the Bible, and may actually be misleading.

There is, for example…

  • no donkey
  • no ‘three kings’ (they were ‘magi’, and their number is unknown)
  • no inn-keeper who turns Joseph and Mary away
  • no inn
  • no stable

…and so on.

But with such features so deeply ingrained in our story-telling, how can we take people with us as we seek to be more faithful to the text?…

Luke 2:7 – ‘No place in the inn’

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Luke 2:7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

So translated by AV, ESV, NASB, RSV, NRSV, God’s Word, Good News.

NIV – ‘…because there was no guest room available for them.’

New Living Translation – ‘…because there was no lodging available for them.’

Unravelling fact and fancy

The traditional translation (‘No room at the inn’) has become engraved in the popular mind and, along with an unfriendly inn-keeper, in many a nativity scene.…

The blessings of Immanuel

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According to Matthew 1:22-23, Jesus received the name ‘Immanuel’ (‘God with us’) in fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14.

Wonderful blessings are associated with the name – and character – of ‘Immanuel’.  Gerald Bilkes offers the following outline:-

1. He is God-with-us to reconcile sinners to God. Man is born alienated from God, and God can have no fellowship with him because of sin. But Immanuel came to save His people from their sins (Matt. 1:21). He gave His life as an offering for sin so that sinners can be brought back into fellowship with God (1 John 1:3).

…

‘Do not be afraid’

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Bible commentator William Hendriksen, while expressing some sympathy for artistic representations of biblical scenes, rightly asks if some images of the angels announcing the birth of Jesus to the shepherds (Luke 2:8-20) give the correct impression.

Take, as an example, ‘Good Tidings’ by the artist William Plockhurst.

‘The sheep are huddled together in some kind of pen. Right near them are a few shepherds. Leaning against one of these sturdy men is the faithful shepherd’s dog.…

The man who invented Christmas

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It was the 31-year-old Charles Dickens, of course, who invented the modern Christmas.  Giving himself just six weeks to come up with Christmas ghost story that would be released in time for the holiday, he came up with A Christmas Carol.

Starring Dan Stevens as Dickens himself, and Christopher Plummer as Scrooge, The Man Who Invented Christmas tells the story of the writing of A Christmas Carol, with characters from the story interacting with the author himself and so revealing insights into both the writer’s life and his story. …

Preach this Christmas

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Ian Paul has commented on the thoughts of David Walker, Bishop of Manchester, about the distinctive needs of occasional church attenders (i.e. those who might attend an annual carol service, but not much else).

In addition to some sensible, if unremarkable, suggestions (stick to traditional words of carols, mention other events coming up in your calendar, and so on) David Walker offers the following advice:-

If there is to be a sermon (and at carol services, it really is not a good idea)…

Ian Paul rightly asks, Why?…

How (not) to preach a Christmas sermon

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At Christmas, fact and fiction, truth and legend, are mixed so thoroughly that even preachers include what they should have left out, and leave out what they should have included.

The late Dick France wrote:-

‘Most people’s awareness of the Christmas story is derived mainly from school nativity plays, in which Luke’s tea-toweled shepherds rub shoulders with Matthew’s magi (promoted to royal status), and a surly innkeeper and his wife are surrounded by infant angels with tinsel halos.

…

Top ten Christmas conversation starters

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To the seasonally tongue-tied among us, Donald Whitney suggests that the following could get a meaningful conversation going in almost any Christmas situation.  It will be noticed that the later questions in the list would help in moving the conversation to a deeper level:-

  1. What’s the best thing that’s happened to you since last Christmas?
  2. What was your best Christmas ever? Why?
  3. What’s the most meaningful Christmas gift you’ve ever received?
  4. What was the most appreciated Christmas gift you’ve ever given?
…

What Christmas is really all about

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And there were in the same country children keeping watch over their stockings by the fireplace.

And Lo! Father Christmas came upon them; and they were sore afraid.

And Father Christmas said unto them: “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people who can afford them.  For unto you will be given great feasts of turkey, pudding and cake; and many presents, wrapped in bright paper, lying beneath a tree adorned with tinsel, coloured balls and lights.…