God Rest Ye Merry: Why Christmas is the Foundation for Everything

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Christmas goes beyond sentiment. Jesus entered a real world of sheep manure in a cave. He humbled himself to exalt men. Tinsel and the bells and cards are all fine and dandy as long as we remember and root them in the joy that flows from Christ's humiliation for us.

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A king came to us whom we must accept or reject. So do many earthly kings today and they will regret it one day. The public square is involve Christmas is over for most.

The public square is involved in Christmas. Herod and all Jerusalem had reason to be troubled as long as they grasped power for themselves. But rulers and wisemen who bow to Him and give instead of take are joyful and blessed.

Christmas is about stuff. God the Son became a physical creature to redeem the physical world. He is on a salvage operation to restore His kingdom. If you have to have your stuff then it has to go a la Rich young ruler. Otherwise Christ means for you to have it, enjoy it and use it to serve others. Stuff and buying stuff is not the enemy.

But we need stuff a physical world to express love. These are the main themes and they are right on target. The writing and flow seem uneven throughout the book as I suspect this is a patchwork of blog posts past. Jan 08, Jerry rated it it was amazing Shelves: Really wish there were six stars.

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The bulk of this book consists of four essays working through the typical Christmas texts in atypical and delightful ways , the political ramifications of Christmas add Herod's soldiers to your manger scene , how to celebrate like a Puritan which is the opposite of what you think, and why the shopping baby shouldn't be chucked with the consumerism bathwater.

The other and final part includes thirty brief Advent meditations. Christmas is wonderful and most of u Really wish there were six stars. Christmas is wonderful and most of us can really use a book like this. Maybe not as viscerally engaging as Wilson's other works, but I found myself refocusing on the Incarnation as a reality through the observance of Advent.

Worthwhile to read devotionally perhaps more than as a primer for what Christmas is. For those unaware of Wilson's shared predilections with Tom NT Wright concerning the inherently political meanings of Advent, the book may seem a bit strange. But such strangeness is necessary to rectify the near gnostic indifference of most Evangelicals towa Maybe not as viscerally engaging as Wilson's other works, but I found myself refocusing on the Incarnation as a reality through the observance of Advent.

But such strangeness is necessary to rectify the near gnostic indifference of most Evangelicals towards what Christ coming kingdom actually portends for the future. Dec 04, Clint rated it really liked it. Read this every year starting on the first Sunday of Advent and leading up to Christmas. This will help you truly prepare you for the season, and keep you firmly impressed by the power of the Incarnation. Also, during that time, read the daily devotionals in the back of the book with your family.

This a great way for any and all Christians to focus on Christ during the rush of our consumer version of the holiday. Dec 08, Peter B. Doug Wilson does a good job giving some robustness to Christmas. Not sentimental or pietistic, but delighting in the victorious coming of King Jesus to earth to humble Herod and Caesar, confound the philosophers, defeat the powers of darkness, and save His people from endless woe.

Oh, and "you do not prepare for a real celebration of the Incarnation through thirty days of Advent Gnosticism. View all 3 comments. Dec 07, Michael Cunningham rated it really liked it. I love celebrating Christmas. I also love reading Doug Wilson. So I quite enjoyed this book! It is a great encouragement to celebrate Christmas for God's glory. May 14, Lea Lea rated it really liked it. Another great one from Douglas Wilson. He argues FOR the giving of gifts and extravagance, and teaches us just how joyful Christmas really is! Nov 06, Kyle Grindberg rated it it was amazing.

Dec 21, Jeremy rated it it was amazing Shelves: This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Kara and I started reading the Advent meditations on Nov. I finished reading the book on Christmas Day, Kirk Cameron talks with Wilson about this book here. To Gain His Everlasting Hall Wilson weaves hopeful lyrics from Christmas carols into his prose Anthony Esolen's Ironies of Faith see pp.

Tolkien and eucatastrophe Luther and "left-handed power" Satan tempts us to be "spiritual," but earthiness can be very Christian Simeon's blessing with grief mixed in Mary knew the end of the story, but the pain was still real see here God must prove His existence to me and in false-humility ways postmodernism: Irenaeus's "recapitulation," Wright's "reconstitution," and Reformed Theology's "active obedience" Lesson Two: The Politics of Christmas Dennis the Insignificant c.

Jesus' life was bookended by negative attention from political rulers Jesus shows us how to be more human, and not just a private human, but a public and political one too Christmas holidays are answers to various philosophers; the Incarnation really messes with Greek philosophy Hitchens wanted Christmas celebrations which he knew were religious to be relegated to the private sphere, arguing that the Constitution mandated the separation of church and state it doesn't, regardless of Jefferson's letter to some Baptists ; "When the constitution was ratified, nine of the thirteen colonies established state churches at the state level.

Celebrating Christmas like a Puritan Puritans opposed ecclesiastical corruption; sometimes opposing corruption makes you look like you're opposing the good parts too make sure that you're not opposing the good stuff Tyndale and Luther on metanoeiete Lewis on the Puritans—they were more Chestertonian than their Catholic adversaries Nicholas probably punched Arius at the Council of Nicea; Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and "Christmas"; -mass shouldn't concern any Protestants, because it wasn't until the Fourth Lateran Council that the Catholic Mass was codified; much of our Christmas celebrations are Victorian; look at the growth of Christ's kingdom over stretches of years—it's obviously growing Lesson Four: How Shall We Then Shop?

Daily Meditations for Advent Christian understanding of time Christmas is not just sentimental and nostalgic; Jesus came to bring a sword, although He is also the Prince of Peace Christmas is not a sanitization of a pagan celebration; Dickens's feel-good "A Christmas Carol" Wright on worldview narrative, symbol, practice ; in our Christmas celebrations, we express our worldview to the world—that the world will one day be as full as the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea Wright on how Ratzinger and Rahner have walked back the doctrine of Purgatory Christians longing for more liturgy should do so both joyfully and warily, remembering the abuses that stemmed from the doctrines of Purgatory and Penance; Jesus' work on the cross does not need supplementation Isaiah's prophecy about a virgin conceiving came true in his own day as a sign to King Ahaz; it's possible that in fulfillment of the typology that Herod died before Jesus was weaned Caesar pulled the lever to end his own rule Jesus conquers by dying, not by killing; He also taxes differently than Caesar Jul 15, Becky rated it it was amazing.

Pastor Douglas Wilson critiques false reasons for the season and false objections to it , teaches the importance of Israel in Christmastime history, explains why nativity sets should have Herod's soldiers and how Santa Claus once punched a man in the face at he repetition of Christmas traditions can appear to dull the powerful nature of the holiday.

Jan 06, Joel Griffis rated it really liked it. As usual, Wilson has a lot of good thoughts. I've heard that his books these days tend to be compilations of stuff from his blog, and I can see that here.

God Rest Ye Merry Quotes

It reads like a series of loosely-connected essays about different topics related to Christmas. Which isn't a bad thing, it's just different. This book is mulled wine on a snowy night. Dec 22, Matthew Huff rated it it was amazing. Excellent, particularly his insights on the prophecy of Balaam. Jul 06, Sarah Knox rated it really liked it. Its kinda the place I'm at, at the moment. Will read that section again.

And looking forward to Christmas so we can read the devo for each day. Dec 07, Jared Abbott rated it it was amazing Shelves: I don't always agree with Douglas Wilson, but when it comes to Christmas he and I are kindred spirits. Dec 20, Ceira rated it really liked it Shelves: Christmas has been riddled with attacks from all quarters-- from humanists offended at the thought of a King come to rule the earth, to even Christians taking issue with the celebratory spirit.

Douglas Wilson examines many complaints surrounding Christmas and her traditions, revealing just where they stem from, and gives a few of his own. But he comes through strong in his defense and description of this cherished holiday. Christmas isn't a subdued, private entertainment to be confined to each p Christmas has been riddled with attacks from all quarters-- from humanists offended at the thought of a King come to rule the earth, to even Christians taking issue with the celebratory spirit.

Christmas isn't a subdued, private entertainment to be confined to each person's preferences. It is the culmination of years of history, and the promise of eternity, the Living and Almighty God come from unending glory to be made man, so that we could know Him. So we could be saved by Him. So that we could see the Father. It's not something to just cover up with a happy holidays sticker. His coming changed the world, and it will never be the same again. The shepherds and the magi knew this-- so did King Herod. So do those today who seek to remove Christ from the holiday.

Christ is to be celebrated because He is our King born to us. He is King over the world-- over their world. And they don't like it anymore than did Herod of old. Wilson points out how sentimentalism is connected with the dreaded family squabbles and the bitter despair that often settles over people during the Christmas season. People build expectations for others with the raised feelings buoyed by the soft falling snow and sparkly decorations masking ordinary things. Strife and discord are not ended by hot chestnuts and silver bells, but by the putting on of Christ.

He gave a colorful picture of "dressing up for the holidays" as we do for parties, but instead of fussing with clothes and hair, we should "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Because Jesus was born in this material world, that's where we register our piety as well. Want to Read saving…. Want to Read Currently Reading Read. Refresh and try again. How could the eternal Word of the eternal Father take on limits?

How can infinitude and finitude marry? The doctrine of the Incarnation proclaims frankly and without embarrassment the most stupendous miracle that can be imagined.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, hail the Incarnate Deity. Why Christmas is the Foundation for Everything. First, we should focus on the gospel: But in another fundamental sense, sin is the reason for the season. We have not entered into a season of feel-goodism, where we think about soft snow and candlelight, with silver bells in the distance. Remember Ramah weeping for her children, remember our abortion mills, remember how dark this world is without Christ, and then cling in faith to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But His sacrifices are not throwaways, but always come back to Him thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.

Love is fruitful, and in imitation of Him we begin to learn that the more we give, the more we have. The work that Jesus came to do, that of throwing down all the idols, is not yet complete. Three days later, on the first Sunday of Advent, he prevented a human sacrifice and used the sacrificial knife of the Druid priest to cut fir boughs for the people to take home as a reminder of Calvary.

And for a second example, the inventor of Christmas tree lights non-electric was Martin Luther. This is because Jesus is the light of the world. With a story like this—one that has in the minds of many supplanted the story of the Christ child—we have to remember that St. Nicholas probably would have slugged somebody over it. Think again of Herod and the little boys he slaughtered. But think also about how ineffectual it was. Did he stop the morning star from rising?

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