Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
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INtro
I’ve been thinking a lot about giving and gifts these past few weeks.
Why do we give, what was the impetus/Origen of Christmas giving?
So I did a little researching and came upon several things:
Each religion has traditions of giving around certain holidays or festivals:
Ramadan (ends the fast with small gifts)
Diwali is days of parties, celebration,and gift giving
Jews often around Purim have given gifts at gatherings, and in America Hanukkah has components of gift giving.
But the Christian holiday, Christmas is most renowned for giving gifts.
As a matter of fact the average family will spend $900 on Christmas gifts And over 500 billion $$.
The origins of Christmas as we know it took place in the early 1800s as the west was going through industrial revolution, cities were booming, and a middle class was forming.
Granted, other nations in the west had traditions of St. Nicholas, Papa Noel, and/or SinterKlauss.
But the amalgamations of a melting pot in the cities of America & Europe, a tradition began to unfold.
How it got folded into the story of Christ’s birth and advent is for another time.
My inquiry into the history of Christmas origins, did not satisfy my thoughts on giving and gifts.
I then began to wonder what motivates us to give, which made me think of a giving continuum of sorts.
one end we have Ebenezer’s Scrooge/The Grinch And on the other end we have The Triune Loving God Of Scripture.
What might lie between those spaces:
guilt
Obligation/Expectation
Tradition/Customary
Appreciation
Celebration
Care & Love
I am sure other reasons for Giving exist, but I am sure these hit most the main points.
Regarding Christmas we often land in the area of expectation/custom/appreciation
Though we probably are hoping to end up in the celebration or love realm
I must confess, I am struggling with giving this year from a place of authenticity, celebation, and love.
Of the heart of Christmas, the essence of Advent celebration, and the birth of Christ.
Perhaps it’s my familiarity with this time of year, perhaps its the aftermath of the earthquake, or just weariness.
Maybe all of the above.
My tendency is to label my attitude and thoughts as ba-humbug.
But I’m not sure that’s it.
I suspect it is something more.
I also suspect I am not alone in my thoughts and impressions this year.
The reality is that I love Advent and Christmas, but not because of the gifts, but those are fun.
I guess this year I am looking for something more profound and lasting, than just getting or giving something that will wear out, be used up, or end up in a heap next time the earth get s angry.
I want To know and feel and experience the stories we read and the characters revealed.
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