Comments on: Kill-joys at the Yuletide http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2009/12/kill-joys-at-the-yuletide/ A First Things Blog Tue, 06 Nov 2012 13:35:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Not that kind of girl anymore » Evangel | A First Things Blog http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2009/12/kill-joys-at-the-yuletide/#comment-4347 Not that kind of girl anymore » Evangel | A First Things Blog Thu, 24 Dec 2009 05:54:35 +0000 http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/?p=1828#comment-4347 [...] God’s wrath is coming, and Jesus — whose birth we celebrate at Christmas — is the savior from that wrath. It’s a point a lot of people got because that’s what a savior is — and [...] [...] God’s wrath is coming, and Jesus — whose birth we celebrate at Christmas — is the savior from that wrath. It’s a point a lot of people got because that’s what a savior is — and [...]

]]> By: With Interest » Evangel | A First Things Blog http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2009/12/kill-joys-at-the-yuletide/#comment-3215 With Interest » Evangel | A First Things Blog Sun, 06 Dec 2009 15:13:13 +0000 http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/?p=1828#comment-3215 [...] at Christmas happens exactly because we don’t deserve a break. What we deserve is, frankly, the wrath of God. That’s why Malachi gave that warning when he was closing up the Prophetic shop of the Old [...] [...] at Christmas happens exactly because we don’t deserve a break. What we deserve is, frankly, the wrath of God. That’s why Malachi gave that warning when he was closing up the Prophetic shop of the Old [...]

]]> By: Frank Turk http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2009/12/kill-joys-at-the-yuletide/#comment-3161 Frank Turk Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:45:17 +0000 http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/?p=1828#comment-3161 Nate: It's a series. Stick with me. Nate: It’s a series. Stick with me.

]]> By: David Paul Regier http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2009/12/kill-joys-at-the-yuletide/#comment-3158 David Paul Regier Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:57:07 +0000 http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/?p=1828#comment-3158 Nate, did you miss the 2nd and 3rd paragraphs? Seriously. Frank's not making it up. I heard it this season when a youth leader spoke at a fundraiser about telling kids about Jesus so they'd have those "warm Christmas fuzzies that help them through the year." How great our joy, indeed. Nate, did you miss the 2nd and 3rd paragraphs?

Seriously. Frank’s not making it up. I heard it this season when a youth leader spoke at a fundraiser about telling kids about Jesus so they’d have those “warm Christmas fuzzies that help them through the year.”

How great our joy, indeed.

]]> By: Paul D. http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2009/12/kill-joys-at-the-yuletide/#comment-3156 Paul D. Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:49:51 +0000 http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/?p=1828#comment-3156 Nate T: <i>Some of us would prefer to focus on the joy that God became man, that we could become more like Him.</i> Why did God become man? What happens if there is no incarnation? Nate T: Some of us would prefer to focus on the joy that God became man, that we could become more like Him.

Why did God become man?
What happens if there is no incarnation?

]]> By: Nate T http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2009/12/kill-joys-at-the-yuletide/#comment-3152 Nate T Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:13:44 +0000 http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/?p=1828#comment-3152 <i>"If there is no wrath of God – if God is, Himself, (if you will excuse me for saying it) a jolly fat man with a sack of goodies He brings in a sort of random and sentimental way – then why ought we to have joy at Christmas?"</i> So you're going to create a theoretical Santa Claus God who giggles like the Pillsbury Doughboy to counter your theoretical wrathful God with ascribed human passions? I like how you create Santa God to suggest that the mere existence of the love of God, or the nature of God, or being in communion with God as being not things worthy of being joyful for in comparison to being thankful for not getting a good smiting. If that's what you want to fixate in regards to the miracle and awesomeness of the Incarnation, knock yourself out. Some of us would prefer to focus on the joy that God became man, that we could become more like Him. “If there is no wrath of God – if God is, Himself, (if you will excuse me for saying it) a jolly fat man with a sack of goodies He brings in a sort of random and sentimental way – then why ought we to have joy at Christmas?”

So you’re going to create a theoretical Santa Claus God who giggles like the Pillsbury Doughboy to counter your theoretical wrathful God with ascribed human passions?

I like how you create Santa God to suggest that the mere existence of the love of God, or the nature of God, or being in communion with God as being not things worthy of being joyful for in comparison to being thankful for not getting a good smiting.

If that’s what you want to fixate in regards to the miracle and awesomeness of the Incarnation, knock yourself out. Some of us would prefer to focus on the joy that God became man, that we could become more like Him.

]]> By: Paul D. http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2009/12/kill-joys-at-the-yuletide/#comment-3144 Paul D. Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:47:21 +0000 http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/?p=1828#comment-3144 <i>If there is no wrath of God..then why ought we to have joy at Christmas?</i> Really great post Frank - it all makes perfect sense, but I can tell you I've never thought about Christmas this way. This will make for some good reflection in the coming weeks. Thanks. If there is no wrath of God..then why ought we to have joy at Christmas?

Really great post Frank – it all makes perfect sense, but I can tell you I’ve never thought about Christmas this way. This will make for some good reflection in the coming weeks. Thanks.

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