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Article: The challenge of Christmas: two views. (includes authors' responses) (Cover Story)
- Article from:
- The Christian Century
- Article date:
- December 15, 1993
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1993 The Christian Century Foundation. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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WORSHIPERS HUNG the greens in the sanctuary and sang the traditional hymns of Advent. Afterwards we gathered in the fellowship hall for cider and cookies. One member of the church smiled radiantly and said to me, "I envy your work this time of year. Teaching New Testament must make you feel especially close to the meaning of Christmas. That's where I'd like to be." Just a few minutes later, my dear friend the pastor slipped in beside me and, like a fugitive on the lam, confided, "God, I'm sick of this season already, and it's just started."
Both reactions are utterly comprehensible. What can the narratives of Luke 1-2 and Matthew 1-2 offer such folk as these and ...