Something Worth Reading at Christmas by Matt Kaufman on 12/23/2009 at 9:11 AM

A lot of what we read at Christmas is rather soft, sentimental stuff. Nothing wrong with that -- so long as it's not all we read. But there's a rich body of solid, meaty Christian literature that's been produced over the last couple thousand years, and it'd be a shame if we let it be forgotten. Much of this writing appeals not only to the heart (like, say, The Christmas Shoes), but also to the mind. As a result, it can stick with us, nourishing us in a deeper, longer-lasting way than material which focuses on our feelings and fades away when our moods change.

We tend to neglect these older readings, partly because it's intimidating (those ancients don't talk like us) and partly because we simply never think about it. That's all the more reason I'd like to call attention to some of it.

Every once in a while I like to re-read On the Incarnationby St. Athanasius, one of the greatest figures in the history of the Christian church. It's not terribly long: My copy's 120 pages, counting an introduction by C.S. Lewis. And I find that if I'm willing to do the work of adapting to the writing style (it's not all thathard), I'm always rewarded. Here's a taste of how Athanasius talks about what he calls "the Divine Dilemma":

Man, who was created in God's image and in his possession of reason reflected the very Word Himself, was disappearing, and the work of God was being undone. The law of death, which followed from the Transgression, prevailed upon us, and from it there was no escape. The thing that was happening was in truth both monstrous and unfitting.

It would, of course, have been unthinkable that God should go back upon His word and that man, having transgressed, should not die; but it was equally monstrous that beings which once had shared the nature of the Word should perish and turn back again into non-existence through corruption. It was unworthy of the goodness of God that creatures made by Him should be brought to nothing through the deceit wrought upon man by the devil; and it was supremely unfitting that the work of God in mankind should disappear, either through their own negligence or through the deceit of evil spirits. ... what then was God, being Good, to do?

I don't know about you, but I find that dramatic and powerful: It really brings home the realities God faced and the immensity of the Divine Dilemma. It also sets the stage for God's solution .. when,

...pitying our race, moved with compassion for our limitation, unable to endure that death should have the mastery, rather than that His creatures should perish and the work of His Father for us men come to nought, He took to Himself a body, a human body even as our own. ...liable to the corruption of death.

There's much more where that came from and it's all worth reading. So if you're up to the challenge, think about giving yourself the gift of Athanasius.

Here endeth the plug. Have a blessed Christmas!

Something Worth Reading at Christmas by Matt Kaufman on 12/23/2009 at 9:11 AM

A lot of what we read at Christmas is rather soft, sentimental stuff. Nothing wrong with that -- so long as it's not all we read. But there's a rich body of solid, meaty Christian literature that's been produced over the last couple thousand years, and it'd be a shame if we let it be forgotten. Much of this writing appeals not only to the heart (like, say, The Christmas Shoes), but also to the mind. As a result, it can stick with us, nourishing us in a deeper, longer-lasting way than material which focuses on our feelings and fades away when our moods change.

We tend to neglect these older readings, partly because it's intimidating (those ancients don't talk like us) and partly because we simply never think about it. That's all the more reason I'd like to call attention to some of it.

Every once in a while I like to re-read On the Incarnationby St. Athanasius, one of the greatest figures in the history of the Christian church. It's not terribly long: My copy's 120 pages, counting an introduction by C.S. Lewis. And I find that if I'm willing to do the work of adapting to the writing style (it's not all thathard), I'm always rewarded. Here's a taste of how Athanasius talks about what he calls "the Divine Dilemma":

Man, who was created in God's image and in his possession of reason reflected the very Word Himself, was disappearing, and the work of God was being undone. The law of death, which followed from the Transgression, prevailed upon us, and from it there was no escape. The thing that was happening was in truth both monstrous and unfitting.

It would, of course, have been unthinkable that God should go back upon His word and that man, having transgressed, should not die; but it was equally monstrous that beings which once had shared the nature of the Word should perish and turn back again into non-existence through corruption. It was unworthy of the goodness of God that creatures made by Him should be brought to nothing through the deceit wrought upon man by the devil; and it was supremely unfitting that the work of God in mankind should disappear, either through their own negligence or through the deceit of evil spirits. ... what then was God, being Good, to do?

I don't know about you, but I find that dramatic and powerful: It really brings home the realities God faced and the immensity of the Divine Dilemma. It also sets the stage for God's solution .. when,

...pitying our race, moved with compassion for our limitation, unable to endure that death should have the mastery, rather than that His creatures should perish and the work of His Father for us men come to nought, He took to Himself a body, a human body even as our own. ...liable to the corruption of death.

There's much more where that came from and it's all worth reading. So if you're up to the challenge, think about giving yourself the gift of Athanasius.

Here endeth the plug. Have a blessed Christmas!

Comments

[1. EKB said the following at 9:39 AM on Dec 23:]

1

Awesome post; thank you so much for bringing this issue to light! I was just thinking last night how unfortunate it is that so many Christians ignore our rich 2000 year history and instead only read modern Christian works, so many of which are little more than pop-psychology. Meanwhile patristic writings, despite their incredible depth and historical importance, are virtually ignored by all but theologians.

These thoughts were inspired by a trip to the Christian bookstore where I found multiple aisles on Christian dating advice, self help, and fiction. I was looking for theology books, but other than Bibles themselves, there was only one tiny shelf of real theological weight labeled "Classics." I must say it was disturbing to see more space devoted to a certain televangelist than Chesterton and Augustine combined. There wasn't even much C.S. Lewis!

I don't really blame the bookstore; it's a business and what they put on display reflects demand. I wish more people would push themselves to read writers like Athanasius; I think they would be pleasantly surprised!

[2. BI said the following at 10:53 AM on Dec 23:]

2

When we read such Christian works coming from different times and cultures on the redemptive work of our Lord in our hearts, minds and lives, it is very inspiriting. All the petty issues and fashions of the times, ages and cultures, especially of our own age and culture, start to fade away and our focus is brought yet again to the most important one – Jesus Christ. Moreover, we can see how these people have fought with their own contemporaries and the fashions of the time by employing their own interpretation of the current important political and socio-economic issues seen through the lenses of the Bible. Works by C.S. Lewis, Augustine, the founding fathers of America, Martin Luther King, even T.C. Elliot, and many, many others can show us the different passion and love of many great men and women of God who wanted to grow in their faith and use all their abilities to apply the Scripture properly according to the Spirit of truth and love to the contemporary issues of the time. I also find very inspiring intellectual and theological works from long-time missionaries such as Lesslie Newbigin as they provide a different perspective on our own culture and challenge us on our assumptions and prejudices about what is right and wrong. Thus, they challenge our complacency in “knowing” the Bible and make sure that our faith does not become stale as faith similar to a plant that does not grow, eventually diminishes and fades away. All of us are more or less are brain-washed by the mass media and the local culture that we live in; however, works of great men and women of God can stir our minds and our hearts in order to find a deeper wisdom and knowledge in the Biblical text so we can grow to be more mature when we face the tide of secularism, selfishness and faithlessness. Thanks to these Christian authors, we can have better understanding of how to separate the chaff from the wheat and how to discern the truth amid the lies. Of course, most of all we need the Spirit of God in us. I think that such Christian works of different times and cultures can purge us from the idols of our own day and time while bringing our attention yet back again with a renewed passion and fervor on the deeper treasures of the Biblical text.

[3. Novagirl in DC said the following at 4:15 PM on Dec 23:]

3

Speaking of reading, I will be off all next week from work and looking for some things to read. Can anyone recommend anything?

[4. DannieA said the following at 4:59 PM on Dec 23:]

4

Actually I love the annual Christmas collection book "Christmas in my heart" true many of them bring tears to eyes in sentimental ways but there are many turn of the century stories and stuff that make for good Christmas stories.

[5. Katie said the following at 10:15 PM on Dec 23:]

5

I would love to see a list of recommended older and "ancient" Christian authors, both for fiction and non-fiction. I've just recently started reading C.S. Lewis. I had been putting it off, but I'm now delving into his works thanks to advertising for Focus' audio-drama of the Screwtape Letters.

I've been looking into Chesterton, Amy Carmichael, Augustine... but they're surprisingly hard to find amongst the contemporary deluge at bookstores. And finding them at my local library? HAH! Forget it.

[6. Julia said the following at 3:02 AM on Dec 24:]

6

Haha oh those Christmas Shoes. I am not one who enjoys emotional fluff like that, and every time the song comes on the radio I groan.

I certainly will have to check out Athanasius, thanks for the recommendation!

It seems to me that the men I know read and love to discuss the deeper Christian writings out there, but most of the women are stuck in the emotional fluff section, which is a bit frustrating. I was stuck there for a while and have only in the last five years or so broken out and discovered a taste of the richness that is out there, and it is like going from stale Hershey's to a fresh, fine, dark chocolate. Fantastic. I keep hoping my female friends will want to do the same.

Something to read...Well one of my favorites that isn't very long is C. S. Lewis' "Till We Have Faces." It is not Christmasy, and it is fiction, but I think it is wonderful.

[7. DannieA said the following at 9:05 AM on Dec 24:]

7

Aw Julia, come on now....Christmas time is time for sentimentality, spirituality, kindness, Miracles, etc.

Speaking as a person who LOVES to read, I'll do the deeper stuff all year round..(I can't stand romance novels) but Christmastime is unlike all other months of the year. Nothing quite does it like reading "a candle in the forest" or "The littlest Orphan" or "The Christmas doll" or "A Christmas tree for Ben"

After all Christmas bring joy, hope, and reminds us of all feelings that are around...happiness, lonliness, depression....and the wonders that happen during Christmas time.

Ok off my Christmas soapbox now. I don't care about the presents...I care more about the Spirit of the Holiday and the fact that most people are more open to kindness and to the possibilities of miracles during this time of the year....maybe that's why sentimental stories do well this time of year....

[8. Julia said the following at 4:01 AM on Dec 26:]

8

Oh I certainly am not against the "Spirit of Christmas" or anything. I really, really love the joy, the decor, the extra smiles, the Christmas cookies, the time spent with family, etc that Christmas brings (at least, for myself), and I especially love the extra reminders of the miracle of Christ, and the incredible love he has that he would humble himself and become human and walk among us.

I just am more of a Handel's Messiah, Christmas hymns (O Holy Night, Joy to the World, O Come All Ye Faithful, etc) type of girl. But throw in a healthy dose of Winter Wonderland, A Christmas Story, cheesy sweater parties, The Nutcracker, White Christmas, and yes, a taste of those heartwarming family Christmas stories to complete the warm, cozy Christmas feeling.

But just a taste, and nothing from the Hallmark channel. Not that others shouldn't enjoy Hallmark or anything, I just have honestly given a few of their specials a try and it really isn't my style.

[9. Julia said the following at 4:12 AM on Dec 26:]

9

Oh, and upon rereading what I originally wrote, I hope I don't sound too judgmental of those who do read lighter books, or of my own sex. I certainly read lighter books from time to time (one of my favorites is "Christy" by Catherine Marshall), and I certainly do know a bunch of women that read and enjoy books by Lewis, Chesterton, Augustine, etc, they just tend to all be my mother's age or so (one of them happens to be my mother). I just get a little bit frustrated sometimes when girls in the group I am in talk about books they like to read, and don't get much past things by Lori Wick, or Ted Dekker (both of whom have good books, and I have read many of their works, they just aren't very intellectually stimulating). Oh well. At least I have my mom!

[10. Rachel said the following at 11:35 PM on Dec 26:]

10

If you're looking for a good "book list" you might try "Book Lover's Guide to Great Reading: A Guided Tour of Classic and Contemporary Literature" by Terry W. Glaspey. It is, quite literally, a book about good books to add to your reading list. And it focuses on the Christian tradition, books that are both classic and contemporary and will deepen your faith and knowledge of our faith! My New Year's resolution this year includes getting started on the books listed in this book -- no matter how intimidating some of them might, at first, appear.

[11. lm said the following at 11:57 PM on Dec 26:]

11

Thanks for the reminder, its been a few years since reading Athanasius. Great book! The intro by C.S. Lewis gives great inspiration for continued reading of the classics.

[1. EKB said the following at 9:39 AM on Dec 23:]

1

Awesome post; thank you so much for bringing this issue to light! I was just thinking last night how unfortunate it is that so many Christians ignore our rich 2000 year history and instead only read modern Christian works, so many of which are little more than pop-psychology. Meanwhile patristic writings, despite their incredible depth and historical importance, are virtually ignored by all but theologians.

These thoughts were inspired by a trip to the Christian bookstore where I found multiple aisles on Christian dating advice, self help, and fiction. I was looking for theology books, but other than Bibles themselves, there was only one tiny shelf of real theological weight labeled "Classics." I must say it was disturbing to see more space devoted to a certain televangelist than Chesterton and Augustine combined. There wasn't even much C.S. Lewis!

I don't really blame the bookstore; it's a business and what they put on display reflects demand. I wish more people would push themselves to read writers like Athanasius; I think they would be pleasantly surprised!

[2. BI said the following at 10:53 AM on Dec 23:]

2

When we read such Christian works coming from different times and cultures on the redemptive work of our Lord in our hearts, minds and lives, it is very inspiriting. All the petty issues and fashions of the times, ages and cultures, especially of our own age and culture, start to fade away and our focus is brought yet again to the most important one – Jesus Christ. Moreover, we can see how these people have fought with their own contemporaries and the fashions of the time by employing their own interpretation of the current important political and socio-economic issues seen through the lenses of the Bible. Works by C.S. Lewis, Augustine, the founding fathers of America, Martin Luther King, even T.C. Elliot, and many, many others can show us the different passion and love of many great men and women of God who wanted to grow in their faith and use all their abilities to apply the Scripture properly according to the Spirit of truth and love to the contemporary issues of the time. I also find very inspiring intellectual and theological works from long-time missionaries such as Lesslie Newbigin as they provide a different perspective on our own culture and challenge us on our assumptions and prejudices about what is right and wrong. Thus, they challenge our complacency in “knowing” the Bible and make sure that our faith does not become stale as faith similar to a plant that does not grow, eventually diminishes and fades away. All of us are more or less are brain-washed by the mass media and the local culture that we live in; however, works of great men and women of God can stir our minds and our hearts in order to find a deeper wisdom and knowledge in the Biblical text so we can grow to be more mature when we face the tide of secularism, selfishness and faithlessness. Thanks to these Christian authors, we can have better understanding of how to separate the chaff from the wheat and how to discern the truth amid the lies. Of course, most of all we need the Spirit of God in us. I think that such Christian works of different times and cultures can purge us from the idols of our own day and time while bringing our attention yet back again with a renewed passion and fervor on the deeper treasures of the Biblical text.

[3. Novagirl in DC said the following at 4:15 PM on Dec 23:]

3

Speaking of reading, I will be off all next week from work and looking for some things to read. Can anyone recommend anything?

[4. DannieA said the following at 4:59 PM on Dec 23:]

4

Actually I love the annual Christmas collection book "Christmas in my heart" true many of them bring tears to eyes in sentimental ways but there are many turn of the century stories and stuff that make for good Christmas stories.

[5. Katie said the following at 10:15 PM on Dec 23:]

5

I would love to see a list of recommended older and "ancient" Christian authors, both for fiction and non-fiction. I've just recently started reading C.S. Lewis. I had been putting it off, but I'm now delving into his works thanks to advertising for Focus' audio-drama of the Screwtape Letters.

I've been looking into Chesterton, Amy Carmichael, Augustine... but they're surprisingly hard to find amongst the contemporary deluge at bookstores. And finding them at my local library? HAH! Forget it.

[6. Julia said the following at 3:02 AM on Dec 24:]

6

Haha oh those Christmas Shoes. I am not one who enjoys emotional fluff like that, and every time the song comes on the radio I groan.

I certainly will have to check out Athanasius, thanks for the recommendation!

It seems to me that the men I know read and love to discuss the deeper Christian writings out there, but most of the women are stuck in the emotional fluff section, which is a bit frustrating. I was stuck there for a while and have only in the last five years or so broken out and discovered a taste of the richness that is out there, and it is like going from stale Hershey's to a fresh, fine, dark chocolate. Fantastic. I keep hoping my female friends will want to do the same.

Something to read...Well one of my favorites that isn't very long is C. S. Lewis' "Till We Have Faces." It is not Christmasy, and it is fiction, but I think it is wonderful.

[7. DannieA said the following at 9:05 AM on Dec 24:]

7

Aw Julia, come on now....Christmas time is time for sentimentality, spirituality, kindness, Miracles, etc.

Speaking as a person who LOVES to read, I'll do the deeper stuff all year round..(I can't stand romance novels) but Christmastime is unlike all other months of the year. Nothing quite does it like reading "a candle in the forest" or "The littlest Orphan" or "The Christmas doll" or "A Christmas tree for Ben"

After all Christmas bring joy, hope, and reminds us of all feelings that are around...happiness, lonliness, depression....and the wonders that happen during Christmas time.

Ok off my Christmas soapbox now. I don't care about the presents...I care more about the Spirit of the Holiday and the fact that most people are more open to kindness and to the possibilities of miracles during this time of the year....maybe that's why sentimental stories do well this time of year....

[8. Julia said the following at 4:01 AM on Dec 26:]

8

Oh I certainly am not against the "Spirit of Christmas" or anything. I really, really love the joy, the decor, the extra smiles, the Christmas cookies, the time spent with family, etc that Christmas brings (at least, for myself), and I especially love the extra reminders of the miracle of Christ, and the incredible love he has that he would humble himself and become human and walk among us.

I just am more of a Handel's Messiah, Christmas hymns (O Holy Night, Joy to the World, O Come All Ye Faithful, etc) type of girl. But throw in a healthy dose of Winter Wonderland, A Christmas Story, cheesy sweater parties, The Nutcracker, White Christmas, and yes, a taste of those heartwarming family Christmas stories to complete the warm, cozy Christmas feeling.

But just a taste, and nothing from the Hallmark channel. Not that others shouldn't enjoy Hallmark or anything, I just have honestly given a few of their specials a try and it really isn't my style.

[9. Julia said the following at 4:12 AM on Dec 26:]

9

Oh, and upon rereading what I originally wrote, I hope I don't sound too judgmental of those who do read lighter books, or of my own sex. I certainly read lighter books from time to time (one of my favorites is "Christy" by Catherine Marshall), and I certainly do know a bunch of women that read and enjoy books by Lewis, Chesterton, Augustine, etc, they just tend to all be my mother's age or so (one of them happens to be my mother). I just get a little bit frustrated sometimes when girls in the group I am in talk about books they like to read, and don't get much past things by Lori Wick, or Ted Dekker (both of whom have good books, and I have read many of their works, they just aren't very intellectually stimulating). Oh well. At least I have my mom!

[10. Rachel said the following at 11:35 PM on Dec 26:]

10

If you're looking for a good "book list" you might try "Book Lover's Guide to Great Reading: A Guided Tour of Classic and Contemporary Literature" by Terry W. Glaspey. It is, quite literally, a book about good books to add to your reading list. And it focuses on the Christian tradition, books that are both classic and contemporary and will deepen your faith and knowledge of our faith! My New Year's resolution this year includes getting started on the books listed in this book -- no matter how intimidating some of them might, at first, appear.

[11. lm said the following at 11:57 PM on Dec 26:]

11

Thanks for the reminder, its been a few years since reading Athanasius. Great book! The intro by C.S. Lewis gives great inspiration for continued reading of the classics.