culture

Once again: Jesus was not born in a stable!

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Every year, in the northern hemisphere, and especially in Northern Europe, we are apparently caught by surprise as the evenings draw in, and the morning light comes later. It always seems surprising, even though it is the same every year.

And every year, I brace myself for the repetition of the ill-founded claim that Jesus was born in a stable, alone and isolated, with his family ostracised by the community—despite the complete lack of evidence for this reconstruction. It will be repeated in pulpits, real and virtual, up and down the land, so I do not apologise for reposting once more this annual feature.

There have been signs that the message is getting through, after my posting on this since 2013, and people are reframing these tired tropes to focus on what the New Testament actually says; if you have any evidence one way or another, then let me know in the comments. I think it is still worth repeating—and it makes a difference. If you want an example of how to preach about Christmas without mentioning the manger, have a look here.

Picture Jesus’ nativity. Bethlehem town sits still beneath the moonlight, totally unaware that the son of God has been born in one of its poor and lowly outbuildings. In an anonymous backstreet, tucked away out of sight, we find a draughty stable. Inside, warm with the heat of the animals, a family sits quietly. Lit by a warm glow, a donkey, cow and an ox lie serene at the side of the scene. The cow breathes out a gentle moo and the baby in the straw filled manger stirs. Kneeling close by Mary, Joseph and a small lamb sit in silent adoration of the child. All is calm, all is not quite right.

Can we find the gospel in our culture?

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How can we make connections between what we see in our world around us, and the good news of what God has done for us in Jesus? How can we build bridges of understanding from the things that engage the time and attention of those around us, within but especially outside the church, and into the good news which an increasing number in Britain today have no understanding, no folk memory from school days?

I was recently passed this example, written for a local magazine, which takes the popularity of The Traitors television series, and draws out a key idea that connects with the gospel.

Faithful in a World of Traitors

If you’ve watched The Traitors, you’ll know the tension that runs through every episode. Contestants live together, talk together, share meals and laughter—yet all the while, a few of them are secretly plotting the others’ downfall. The rest are left to guess who’s genuine and who’s faking it.

It’s clever television because it taps into something deeply human: our fascination—and our fear—of betrayal. We want to trust people, but we also know that trust can be broken. And when it is, the damage can cut deep.

The Game and the Heart

In The Traitors, suspicion becomes a survival skill. Every conversation is loaded, every smile analysed. Even acts of kindness can be doubted. It’s a world built on paranoia, where self-preservation trumps relationship.

It makes for great drama—but it’s a miserable way to live.

Should racial justice be at the heart of the Church’s mission?

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John Root writes: ‘Being Built Together Volume 1: A Reference on Racial Justice in the Church of England’ (hereafter BBT) is a ‘book of readings and testimonies about the work of racial justice and the experiences of people of colour in the Church of England’ according to the Church’s leading administrator, William Nye. It includes … Continue Reading

Did Jesus teach in Greek?

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The question of whether Jesus spoke and taught in Greek has, at times in the past, been a subject of serious debate. But for some reason this issue has disappeared from serious consideration, at just the time in NT studies which is actually quite hospitable to the suggestion. The fact that Jesus spoke Aramaic is … Continue Reading

Where is the Church of England going on race and ethnicity?

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John Root offers his analysis of the recent report: ‘Behind the Stained Glass: A Report on the participation of UK Minoritised Ethnic People in the Ministry and Leadership of the Church of England’, written for the Racial Justice Commission of the Church of England by Professor Paul Miller and associates of the Institute for Educational … Continue Reading

Has the Church forgotten the working class?

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Gary Jenkins has previously written on this website about the Church of England and its struggle to engage with the working class. In 2020, following a debate in General Synod, he concluded with this comment: The really strange thing about the problem of the church’s relationship with the working class is that it is simply … Continue Reading

What happens when you make ‘race’ sacred?

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John Root offers this review of Eric Kaufmann’s Taboo: How making Race sacred produced a Cultural Revolution. The week-end before last the Wireless Festival was held in Finsbury Park just down the road from my home. Amongst the items that attendees were prohibited from bringing were ‘Clothing, garments, items which promote cultural appropriation’. What’s going … Continue Reading