The Keener Way

  Merry Christmas everyone! Although I generally don't make it a secret that I consider the birth of Christ to most likely be mid autumn, some time between September/October, the vast majority of people insist on observing it smack-dab in the middle of winter. Whereby, at least for the moment, my December postings take on a more Christmas-y tone.  Today, I'd like to explore a topic that was inspired my my very wonderful oldest brother. After I re-shared my last year's posts on Christmas carols, he approached me with an article on how western culture has appropriated the nativity story and taken things out of their middle eastern cultural contexts. One of the things this article suggested was that Yeshua was born in a stone feed trough in a guest room, rather than a wooden manger in a barn, a concept of renaissance Europe. In truth, it is possible that English has misinterpreted the idea of 'no room at the inn'. The Greek word is 'kataluma', which can be take...

  Here we are, yet again, with a second volume of evaluating the theological content of Christmas Carols. I know, its risky ground. Many people would join Tevye the Dairyman in crying "Tradition! Tradition!" even though hymnwriters of long ago were no more freed of theological error than song writers of the modern era. Yet others would hold some degree of prejudice toward the older carols and relish in the new and modern, which creates a completely new set of questions regarding theological content, as society tries to drift away from scripture into prosperity gospels, word of faith gospels, and other non-scriptural gospels. But it is important to note that, as Paul said in his letters, we're not here to bring legalism into the church by dictating what is right or wrong concerning holy days. Some people set apart a certain day as holy to the Lord, others regard all days alike, and each should be convinced in his own mind. And the same goes for carols as it does for the ho...

  It would seem that December is upon us. And thus Christmas season. Accompanied by all the things typically associated with Christmas. Lights, candles, trees, mistletoe, wreaths, trees, present shopping, Christmas carols, hot cocoa, fruitcake, figgy pudding, eggnog, hot cider, trees, Santa, candy canes, nativity scenes... Did I mention trees? Christmas is one of the most commercialized times of the year. Its also one of the few times some people ever grace a church pew. To which point it is in our interest to be the most theologically solid we possibly can be during this time.  A lot of the popular Christmas traditions are drawn from pagan celebrations that date to the B.C., including Germanic celebrations of Yule, and the Roman celebrations of Saturn. These traditions were copied over to the Christian holiday by the Catholic church and some by the Lutheran church, in order to make it more appealing to the pagans.  I could say a lot of things about Christmas. I could say...