In the most Christian twenty-five minutes in all of television history, everyone knows that Linus nails the Gospel. Charlie Brown, however, is wrong about more than you think.
Thank you for a new insight into the whole idea of a Christmas season.
I suppose my only reservation is something that I have felt for many years but never expressed it loudly: why do the majority of us reserve these giving activities to a few weeks of the year?
Yesterday in a Substack article I expressed some frustration, partly tongue-in-cheek, at the extra traffic induced by the "getting for giving."
Why can't we spread our spirit of giving out across the entire year, making it at least a monthly if not daily habit? I'm sad to say it has taken me over 70 years to get to a place where I actually DO more than just think about it. But now that I'm here, it's great.
Nearly everyone could do more (obviously the widow who gave her mite could not). But I think you may be being too hard on your countrymen. For just one example, American Christians give six times as much money to international missions as the rest of Christians combined, despite the fact that America is just 4% of global population. They don't just do it at Christmas.
The truth is, by every possible measure, Americans generally but American Christians specifically outgive similar people across the world. It's not even close. And the same is true in non-monetary things: the sending of missionaries, adoptions (our adoption rate is three times higher than our nearest peer), etc.
So compared to other people, we're doing pretty good.
Of course, our comparison should not be to other people but to Christ.
Still, no one can give as much as the Lord. So there's that.
Russia has kicked out US missionaries and banned US adoptions. They’re also kind of bad about invading their neighbors. It’s hard to see how any of that is our fault. And I remember very well how many of my own close friends were involved in ministry in Russia before Russia closed that off.
So while I would love to see more ministry in Russia, by Americans, it has become exceedingly difficult.
FWIW, I believe that it's all a little more nuanced. (Free market) Capitalism is not inherently evil; nor "commercialization" during the Christmas season.
There are positive and negatives that occur. For example, the beloved "A Christmas Story" movie could be criticized as promoting children focusing only on the receiving aspect of Christmas, lusting over a tangible item (though I believe that the parent's giving spirit and love is also portrayed, as he does get his "Red Ryder" BB gun).
I've seen advertisements ("commercialization") that reinforce "the Christmas spirit" (if not its faith foundation) ... and then there's the one pushing the recipient and "unsatisfied wants" (and then there's "woke").
Methinks all of us are guilt in at time getting wrapped-up in the "commercialization" side of the season. My wife and I make it a tradition sit with a glass of wine and to watch the 1938 version of "A Christmas Carol" every year - it's our way of re-grounding. (I have it on DVD to ensure that it's available to us every year).
My point is not to suggest that everyone is doing everything perfectly, much less as I would personally prefer. My point is that God has so ordered freedom that even the unbeliever is incentivized to solve other people’s problems and meet other people’s needs.
As a result, even against their will, they fulfill the Golden Rule, encourage generosity, and even proclaim Christ.
It is almost as though they were guided by an invisible hand.
(Perhaps) relatedly, I have a personal theory that a recognition of "right" vs. "wrong" can then lead to a "root cause" recognition of "good" vs. "evil." And that one's recognition of the latter must lead to a recognition of the former (God), as even some cursory thought (discernment) brings one to (eventually) realize that "science" (e.g., Darwin) cannot explain the existence of either.
At that point, it's a "binary choice" of choosing sides.
Not to bore with my own bio, but that is in part how I came to faith (albeit, I'm yet a relative novice in that journey).
Thank you for a new insight into the whole idea of a Christmas season.
I suppose my only reservation is something that I have felt for many years but never expressed it loudly: why do the majority of us reserve these giving activities to a few weeks of the year?
Yesterday in a Substack article I expressed some frustration, partly tongue-in-cheek, at the extra traffic induced by the "getting for giving."
Why can't we spread our spirit of giving out across the entire year, making it at least a monthly if not daily habit? I'm sad to say it has taken me over 70 years to get to a place where I actually DO more than just think about it. But now that I'm here, it's great.
Nearly everyone could do more (obviously the widow who gave her mite could not). But I think you may be being too hard on your countrymen. For just one example, American Christians give six times as much money to international missions as the rest of Christians combined, despite the fact that America is just 4% of global population. They don't just do it at Christmas.
The truth is, by every possible measure, Americans generally but American Christians specifically outgive similar people across the world. It's not even close. And the same is true in non-monetary things: the sending of missionaries, adoptions (our adoption rate is three times higher than our nearest peer), etc.
So compared to other people, we're doing pretty good.
Of course, our comparison should not be to other people but to Christ.
Still, no one can give as much as the Lord. So there's that.
The one exception is Russia.
If I was a missionary to Africa or South America, that would be acceptable.
But because I'm trying to bridge East and West here, and raise awareness to prevent nuclear war--that is my mission here--Christians refuse to give.
American Christians are Christian until the R-word is mentioned (Russia), and after that, you find out how Christian they are.
'I don't want to get involved.'
No, you are actively refusing to help your brother. Jesus said something about millstones.
There are going to be a lot of millstone-wearers. The comments on our YouTube channel prove that.
Russia has kicked out US missionaries and banned US adoptions. They’re also kind of bad about invading their neighbors. It’s hard to see how any of that is our fault. And I remember very well how many of my own close friends were involved in ministry in Russia before Russia closed that off.
So while I would love to see more ministry in Russia, by Americans, it has become exceedingly difficult.
Point taken.
FWIW, I believe that it's all a little more nuanced. (Free market) Capitalism is not inherently evil; nor "commercialization" during the Christmas season.
There are positive and negatives that occur. For example, the beloved "A Christmas Story" movie could be criticized as promoting children focusing only on the receiving aspect of Christmas, lusting over a tangible item (though I believe that the parent's giving spirit and love is also portrayed, as he does get his "Red Ryder" BB gun).
I've seen advertisements ("commercialization") that reinforce "the Christmas spirit" (if not its faith foundation) ... and then there's the one pushing the recipient and "unsatisfied wants" (and then there's "woke").
Methinks all of us are guilt in at time getting wrapped-up in the "commercialization" side of the season. My wife and I make it a tradition sit with a glass of wine and to watch the 1938 version of "A Christmas Carol" every year - it's our way of re-grounding. (I have it on DVD to ensure that it's available to us every year).
My point is not to suggest that everyone is doing everything perfectly, much less as I would personally prefer. My point is that God has so ordered freedom that even the unbeliever is incentivized to solve other people’s problems and meet other people’s needs.
As a result, even against their will, they fulfill the Golden Rule, encourage generosity, and even proclaim Christ.
It is almost as though they were guided by an invisible hand.
This Christmas, I have read some wonderful insights about Christmas that I had never seen or thought about. Yours included. Thank you. 🙏
Thank YOU!
Thanks for the clarification.
(Perhaps) relatedly, I have a personal theory that a recognition of "right" vs. "wrong" can then lead to a "root cause" recognition of "good" vs. "evil." And that one's recognition of the latter must lead to a recognition of the former (God), as even some cursory thought (discernment) brings one to (eventually) realize that "science" (e.g., Darwin) cannot explain the existence of either.
At that point, it's a "binary choice" of choosing sides.
Not to bore with my own bio, but that is in part how I came to faith (albeit, I'm yet a relative novice in that journey).