Comments on: Christmas http://blog.kingsdivinity.org/2009/12/christmas/ (formerly Midlands Bible College blog). Comment and blogs by King's faculty. Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:55:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Chris Lazenby http://blog.kingsdivinity.org/2009/12/christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-2934 Chris Lazenby Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:06:18 +0000 http://collegeblog.midbible.ac.uk/?p=935#comment-2934 Ollie Thanks for your kind comments. Yes, the shock factor! I have to admit to once or twice, particularly early on in my faith (when I took a much more liberal stance than I do now) falling in with this kind of thing; I guess in the hope that it would make the hearers think... 'this guy is okay; not stuck up or trying to shove his religion down our throats etc'. Nowadays, I'd be more likely to let them to think whatever they like; just so long as any offence which may be taken is at the 'foolishness' of the gospel and not a dislike of the way I'm living it or communicating it! Blessings to you and yours also at this wonderful time of celebration. Chris Blessings Ollie
Thanks for your kind comments.

Yes, the shock factor! I have to admit to once or twice, particularly early on in my faith (when I took a much more liberal stance than I do now) falling in with this kind of thing; I guess in the hope that it would make the hearers think… ‘this guy is okay; not stuck up or trying to shove his religion down our throats etc’. Nowadays, I’d be more likely to let them to think whatever they like; just so long as any offence which may be taken is at the ‘foolishness’ of the gospel and not a dislike of the way I’m living it or communicating it!

Blessings to you and yours also at this wonderful time of celebration.

Chris

Blessings

]]> By: Ollie Keenan http://blog.kingsdivinity.org/2009/12/christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-2927 Ollie Keenan Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:14:37 +0000 http://collegeblog.midbible.ac.uk/?p=935#comment-2927 Chris, thank you very much for your comments, and for the great work you do at KEDS. I hope that you, along with all staff and students have a blessed and peaceful holiday season, filled with the peace that the world cannot give... This year I too have been aware of the mocking of comedians and others. I have to say that whilst in many ways I have been blessed with the gift of a self-deprecating humour, I do not find much of this so-called humour terribly amusing. There is of course the 'shock factor', but I wonder whether such outrageous mocking of other religions would be tolerated, let alone promoted, by our broadcasting agencies... But then, I'm not sure that the Christian community can lay the blame at the feet of anybody except ourselves. I am sure you have seen the articles about the billboard outside a NZ Anglican Church displaying a crude "bedroom scene" involving Mary and Joseph. That may be one instance, but I think it belies a more widespread tendency among some groups of Christians to sacrifice the sacredness of something in order to 'provoke discussion'. Anyway, these issues aside... MERRY CHRISTMAS. Thank God for a blessed 2009 and best wishes for 2010. Chris, thank you very much for your comments, and for the great work you do at KEDS. I hope that you, along with all staff and students have a blessed and peaceful holiday season, filled with the peace that the world cannot give…

This year I too have been aware of the mocking of comedians and others. I have to say that whilst in many ways I have been blessed with the gift of a self-deprecating humour, I do not find much of this so-called humour terribly amusing. There is of course the ‘shock factor’, but I wonder whether such outrageous mocking of other religions would be tolerated, let alone promoted, by our broadcasting agencies…

But then, I’m not sure that the Christian community can lay the blame at the feet of anybody except ourselves. I am sure you have seen the articles about the billboard outside a NZ Anglican Church displaying a crude “bedroom scene” involving Mary and Joseph. That may be one instance, but I think it belies a more widespread tendency among some groups of Christians to sacrifice the sacredness of something in order to ‘provoke discussion’.

Anyway, these issues aside… MERRY CHRISTMAS. Thank God for a blessed 2009 and best wishes for 2010.

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