Black
As sleep overtakes me I struggle to type this out, but I know if I don't write now this will never get done. While sojourning to San Marcos, Michael threw a question into the gust of wind that plagued Highway 290: Can people can truly know a person through his or her writing? As I sit here, I know that someone reading this blog alone could by no means know me, mostly because this site has become the proverbial soap box. My lighter, joking side would be completely missed. That being said, I want to lodge a brief complaint against American culture's treatment of Christmas.
It is incredibly sad that Christmas is being advertised a full week before Thanksgiving. Some find it comforting and nostalgic as the lights and music bring back memories from a childhood long ago. Although there is nothing wrong with this in and of itself, the historical significant of the holiday must be remembered; i.e. the birth of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately (unless you're a corporation) this is lost on the majority of the populace. No longer is this a season of celebration of the arrival of the Savior who came to free us from our sins, but a season of shameful materialism. The day after Thanksgiving is now know as Black Friday because of the plethora of sales, with shoppers to match. People are not loving their neighbor as themselves, as Christ taught, but instead the Holy Spirit is grieved by brawling and anger and rage (Eph 4:30-31) as people trample each other in efforts to be the first to buy the most trendy gift. When we should be celebrating God's glory and goodness and the freedom He has purchased for us, we have become slaves to rampant materialism.
What do I want for Christmas? I'm not sure, but I think supporting a missionary half-way across the world, a brother or sister in Christ with true needs, will echo across eternity in ways the X-Box 360 cannot.
posted by Dan Reiter @ 12:00 AM
3 comments
3 Comments:
very true...but if your reasonings are geared toward the true meaning and significance of christmas, ie chirst's birth, then there should be no real problem with people worrying about christmas long before thanksgiving. thanksgiving is a nice time to give thanks to the lord and that may get overlooked, but why should anyone limit themselves to thanksgiving to give thanks for something. that's both retarded and naive thinking of the world around us and what god would have us do with our lives. In which case, singing carols and thinking of christmas before thanksgiving really isn't that big of a deal. especially since that holiday has become COMPLETELY about food, maybe slightly family, but mainly food. which is just as bad. So, in my opinion, i like to skip straight to christmas, not for the presents but for me the carols. most of which are really praises in disguise. that's my opinion anyway.
Good point, but the commercialism/ materialism is exactly my problem. The majority of people aren't excited about the historical birth of Jesus, they're just looking to buy more stuff for each other. The holiday spirit is no longer one of thankfulness, but of greed.
Dan, you are out of your mind, but not as much so a pierre, who has absolutely lost it. I love you both though.
Post a Comment
<< Home