I don’t know if I have an increased sensitivity to it this year for some reason, or if it is really the case, but the Rt. Rev. Alan McDonald, current moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, seems to be higher profile in the popular press than any of his predecessors in that position.
He as been quite outspoken against the replacing of Trident ICBM submarines at naval bases in Scotland. The Good News from yesterday carries the most recent account of his comments at public meetings, usually with leaders from other denominations. This particular meeting was in London, so he does stray from Scotland for these comments. There have been many articles in the Scottish and British press about his outspoken stand on this topic.
But now Rev. McDonald is being widely reported on for his comments about the commercialization of Christmas and the recovery of the true meaning of it. The reports are covering a speech he gave to the organization Alternativity a week ago. According to the news articles, Alternativity reaches out to the poor and forgotten in society to be sure they are not forgotten at Christmas time.
However, the reports of his comments, like those on the Christian Today web site, seem to focus on remembering those members of society who are frequently forgotten at Christmas. Some examples from the Christian Today article:
“It is vital to encourage thoughts of the present and not to think only
of the kitsch Victorian Christmas card scene of Bethlehem… but to think
of Bethlehem today and for the peace that is so longed for”“It is of great concern that so many people feel under pressure to
present the perfect Christmas. The poorest in our society, and women,
are particularly vulnerable at this time of year. Alternativity gives
people the confidence to take small steps away from the commercial
Christmas.”
The Sunday Herald makes a brief mention of Rev. McDonald’s comments in an article on “Christmas Creep” and another article in The Herald is completely devoted to the speech, noting that it got a “mixed reaction from retailers.”
Regarding the Moderator’s higher profile, it is interesting to see the increased coverage of the Church of Scotland.
About Rev. McDonald’s comments on Christmas, it is curious to see that the reports are on what the Herald calls the “values of Christmas.” In none of these three articles is there specific mention of Jesus, the PERSON of Christmas. I don’t know if this goes back to the original comments themselves or to the reporting on the comments, but it is a bit disturbing to me to see the “meaning of Christmas” reduced to the “values” and not the “incarnation.” It is the “exhibition of the Kingdom” with out the “proclamation of the Gospel.”
My thoughts, take them for what they are worth.