Depends on what YOU mean by woke… 

It really did on the day!

Those who thought that being woke was simply to be someone who rose up against racism and abuses of power in society usually voted “Yes!”. Jesus was certainly against racism, saying that he had come for all people, just as he sent his followers to spread the good news of his life, death and resurrection to all people, to the ends of the earth. 

He also opposed the ruling religious class for their spiritual hypocrisy and the way they were unaccepting of other racial groups. 

Those who voted “No!” had some idea that Jesus believed, for example, in the creation of the world by God, marriage being between a man and a woman, and immorality being wrong. They felt that the current meaning of “woke” as being progressive would not tolerate such an attitude. 

What do you think?

“Idols” in the survey was taken to only mean “celebrity idols”

That was a surprise to me! What about “idols” that we make in our lives as being of the greatest importance to us personally, and as a society? Things like money and wealth. Like sex and leisure. Like sport and entertainment. The list would be enormous!

From the answers that were given by those in the market, we see that entertainers were the tops, followed by those who had overcome or done something very special. 

Right up front I will say that for me Christmas starts and finishes with Jesus. He was the reason 2,000 years ago for it to start in the first place, wasn’t he? That’s why it is called Christ-mas. The last 3 letters meaning to celebrate.

How long will it last?

However, with so little about Jesus Christ in Christmas these days, and instead “holiday season”, “festive season”, and many others, how long will the title last?

Can our society still play for years on end with the Santa story? When will reality kick in? Holidays are great, but what about something more existential and longer-term meaningful for a hurting world?

Jesus came for us hurting people in this hurting world

No other faith has God coming down and living here and identifying with us. No other has God taking our shame and punishment for our rebellion against him, so that we can be led back to him.

That’s why Jesus came (Christmas), died (Good Friday), and rose from the dead (Easter Sunday). As the Son of God, if we are willing, since he never forces, he can take us back to God, allow our wrongs to be forgiven, and have us live with him forever on the new earth of heaven.

How good is that?

Good old Saint Nick!

Historically, another explanation is that of the man Nicholas, who lived in south-western Turkey in the 4th century. He had changed his faith from the predominant Greco-Roman paganism and had become a Christian before it had become legal. He then tried to secretly give poor people in his town gifts to help them in their lack. Sometimes he would hide the gifts in clothing, like long socks hung up in front of the fire to dry. People eventually found out that he was the secret gift-giver. Some time later, he was renamed Saint Nicholas, from which many centuries later the name and story eventually morphed into Santa Claus. 

The original story is inspiring, and Jesus did say that it is better to give than to get!

In fact, nowadays, many followers of Jesus are leaving behind the consumerism and getting back to the basics, just wanting to thank God for sending Jesus. Why would we do that?

It obviously shows belief, but as well the evidence of his life 2,000 years ago, the depth and detail of descriptions about him in the Bible, and the way we claim he has dramatically changed our lives for the good, now and forever.

Why not open a Bible online and check out the first couple of chapters of the Gospel of Luke concerning the circumstances of his birth?

https://www.esv.org/Luke+1/