Episode 359: Christmas Pop Culture Ambivalence, Part One

Merry Christmas!  For this year's Crazy Faith Talk Christmas special, we're going to take a look at how pastors Erica, Sarah, and Steve engage with pop culture Christmas phenomena, from movies to songs to Christmas specials on TV and the like, that are "Christmas-adjacent."  Plenty of sermons have been preached about how Christmas is really about Jesus' birth, and there are plenty of Christmas-themed movies and songs that don't make that connection.  How do we deal with songs and shows that take us as far as "Christmas isn't about materialism" but don't get beyond "family is nice" or "togetherness is important" as far as what they have to say?  And do we treat Christmas songs and movies differently from the way we would treat other romantic comedies or movies about families?  If we can watch a "secular" romantic comedy or read a novel that doesn't have anything explicitly Christian about it and still find it entertaining or enjoyable, can we do the same when it's a movie that claims to have something to do with Christmas?  And how do we make choices about what kinds of songs or content make it into our public worship services, too?  If you've ever felt ambivalent about Christmas pop culture, this might be a conversation for you, too!  Listen in here!