My first reaction on seeing this billboard was ‘blasphemy’. God didn’t sleep with Mary. To suggest that He did (and that’s how I understood the poster) is just offensive.

Is this what you think the poster is communicating?

The church has written an explanation of the poster on its website. After reading the explanation of the poster I still had no idea what the purpose of the poster was – in fact, I felt more confused! So I kept reading and discovered that this church describes itself as ‘progressive‘. Not sure what this means? I didn’t either, but according to the website:

“Progressives are more interested in spirituality than right belief or proper worship. The identity of Progressive Christians is centred in ethical living.”

Doesn’t sound like Christianity at all.

It’s a shame (but not surprising) that this kind of non-news about a non-Biblical message gets media exposure, for example:

• ‘Judgement swift for church’s saucy billboard‘ on Channel 7′s Sunrise.
• ‘Kiwi Catholic outraged at church billboard depicting Mary and Joeseph after unsatisfying sex’ on the Herald Sun.
• ‘Mary and Joseph post-sex billboard upsets Catholics’ on news.com.au.
• ‘Mary and Joseph poster sparks unholy row‘ on ABC Online.
• ‘Joseph, Mary in bed billboard set for NZ‘ on SMH.
• ‘Risque Christmas billboard causes outrage‘ on Times Online.

It’s a shame when the real controversy – the startling truth that God was born into our world to save us – will barely get a mention in the mainstream media this Christmas.

Sigh.

…

Other Christian blogs and websites are discussing this poster too, check out:

• Wishing you a ‘progressive’ Xmas
• Progressive Christianity??
• ‘Poor Joseph’ advertisement provokes worldwide fury
  

The following quote from the blog above, is a good summary:

“Archdeacon Glynn Cardy and St Matthew-in-the-City have got their much-longed-for debate. But it is not about the miracle of the Christ-child and the wonder that God became man: it is not edifying and does not in any sense bring glory to God. It is a tawdry, crude and gratuitously offensive ejaculation which resonates with a sex-obsessed age and lacks only used condoms strewn over the duvet in a Tracey Emin fashion.”

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Sadly, ‘Religion’ is coming in fourth place as the meaning of Christmas, with ‘Christmas Spirit’, ‘Commercialism’ and the ‘Credit Crunch’ taking out gold, silver and bronze. ‘Christmas Spirit’ has been steadily gaining in popularity as Christmas approaches.

Christmas Tweets has fairly limited application (there’s not a varied range of use for a tool that tracks what people are saying at Christmas!), but it’s interesting all the same to see (and read) what Christmas means to different people.

On a more reflective note, what must Jesus be thinking as each year Christmas seems to be less and less about his birth, and more and more about amorphous ‘seasons greetings’ and a fat man in a red suit who doesn’t even exist, let alone die for the sins of the world.

Thanks Dylan Malloch for letting me know about this site.

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I can’t answer that question, but I can tell you that someone has taken up the cause of tweeting on behalf of Mary, under the username Natwivity. Mary and Joseph are tweeting, Elizabeth’s tweeting, and even the shepherds are tweeting!

Check out their tweets here.

What do you think of this use of Twitter? It’s certainly a novel use of social media!

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1. International Justice Mission – Gift of Freedom 2009. For example, $50 will send an IJM investigator undercover (to rescue children and sex slaves from brothels) for a day. $225 will cover the costs of taking a client’s case to court.
2. Arguably, the World’s Most Useful Gift Catalogue. One of my favourites, these are really practical gifts to equip people in the developing world. For example, you can purchase an eye examination for $5. Even buying your Christmas cards from TEAR is supporting a great cause. The Christian Children’s Fund of Canada has a similar gift catalogue.
3. Operation Christmas Child. Give a gift to a child who may well have never received a gift in their life. Imagine their joy, unpacking a shoebox full of goodies!
4. The Gift That Gives by Anglicare. Available in three denominations ($25, $50 and $75), $50 for example will provide a food hamper for a family in need.
5. Etiko and Tribes and Nations. Both of these stores sell products that have been produced using ethical fair trade principles. I bought some shoes from Etiko recently.

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I’d also add to Steve’s list the Christmas themed designs in the Church Marketing Lab pool on Flickr.

On a related note, I’d be keen to hear what churches are doing (outside of church services) this Christmas. What activities will your church be running to encourage the people in your community to come and hear the good news about Jesus?

At Church by the Bridge this Christmas we will be hosting:

• a Christmas (fair trade) market
• a Christmas food and clothing appeal (for Anglicare)
• Carols under the Bridge
• a Carols by Candlelight Christmas Eve service
• Christmas Day services – this goes without saying!
• a lunch on Christmas Day for our local community (organised with the local council)

What is your church doing, and what is the rationale behind these events? If you have links to the creative you’ve developed to promote these events, post the details of that too!

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Christmas Mystery

As always with Dan Stevers, this video is well produced, and ties in particularly well with the theme my church is running with this year – “Celebrate Jesus: Tiny baby. Total Saviour”.

The Christmas Story

Another great video from Dan, this video simply presents verses that explain the Christmas story. The ‘snow’ concept might not work quite so well in summery Australia…

Worthless Christmas

A great spoof of the Mastercard advertisements, with a pointed conclusion.

Retooning the Nativity

A light-hearted video, challenging some of the common misconceptions about the Christmas story.

Jesus and Santa

Another light-hearted video that deals with the confusion that exists about Jesus and Santa. Refreshing (for Australian audiences familiar with US accents) to have a British accent in a video too! Next step – well produced videos with Australian accents!

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