These Ruminations posts are where I just randomly reflect on something. I generally leave them up for a few hours and then bury them somewhere in past posts....not deleted.....but there if I ever want to go back to them. Today's is on the American holiday of Christmas.
Well it's over....just about anyway. The visits have been made....and all the gifts exchanged. The decorations and outside lights will stay up for about two weeks....and then I will cart everything downstairs....making about a dozen trips.
This was one of those particularly difficult Christmases because it fell on a Sunday....the Lord's Day. Twelve Christmases of my life were spent in Buffalo.....oh how I remember those Buffalo winters....about ten as either a teen or in college....two in Vietnam....about six as a married man but unsaved.....about fifteen as a Christian with a 'normal' view of Christmas....and the rest as a Christian that at least tries to keep Christmas in its proper place....enjoying the beautiful hymns....and the giving of gifts....but keeping never far from my mind that we have incorporated too much of the world's culture into the day. One in seven of those years were spent in celebrating Christmas on Christmas Eve....keeping the Lord's Day....as best I can....as God commands us to keep it. This does not always go over well with extended family.
A hundred and fifty years ago....I would have been in the majority in the church....today I often seem really alone. The churches that we attend do not mix Christmas in with the worship service....but even here I presume that they celebrate the day at home.
John Murray....(1898-1975)....is an esteemed theologian in the Reformed tradition. At this time of year I'm usually reminded of a story told me by a wonderful Christian college professor....(who long-since has gone to be with His Lord)....who as a child grew up with John Murray around his house. That story is that Murray once visited a student of his at Westminster Theological Seminary at Christmastime.....where in the corner was a Christmas tree....John Murray merely walked by it uttering...."Pagan bush."
I am comfortable with my conviction. We have our own beautiful pagan bush in the living room....with a creche under it. We watched It's A Wonderful Life last evening....for probably the fortieth time....like most everyone else....and I still get a little teary-eyed when George hugs his family at the end....and how at least Christ's name is magnified in the Christmas hymn....but it is still a film with a works salvation message. An angel can indeed appear as one who looks like Clarence....if it is in God's purpose....but we would not know it's an angel....for if one should ever appear to us....and we do know that it is an angel....then prepare to fall on your face as dead....in the presence of one of the heavenly host!
So yes Christmas is over....and I have a little over a hundred days....(Lord willing....should I still be here)....until I have to explain my way around not making a fuss over explicit Easter symbols of new life....in bunnies and colored eggs.
