The Purpose of Christmas

Thanks to a combination of political correctness and crass commercialism the real reason that Christmas is celebrated each year around the world has been pushed into the background. THE PURPOSE OF CHRISTMAS is Rick Warren’s small, but powerful, contribution to putting Christ back into Christmas.



People have got so caught up in the whirlwind frenzy that is now associated with celebrating Christmas - decorating the house, shopping, one-upmanship present purchasing, cooking, attending parties and the such that they are no longer enjoying the Christmas season.



This simple book explains why Christ was born over 2,000 years ago, and why Christmas is a big deal to so many people who celebrate the spiritual aspect of it. Rick Warren is not show more saying we shouldn’t decorate our houses, cook and buy presents for each other; he just wants to remind us why we do this and what spirit we should be doing it. Hint – not the spirit of greed!!



The book is small and quick to read, but is huge in the message it covers. Rick Warren explains that Christmas is about celebration (it is Christ’s birthday after all), salvation (the gift that Christ brought us when he came to earth and died for our sins) and reconciliation. He looks at the different stresses that we humans experience at Christmas and how peace can be obtained through the promises of Christ.



There is not a lot of theological gobbledygook to confuse readers – even the Bible verses are quoted from modern translations. I have felt very tired and depressed at Christmas time in the last few years. I thought the spirit had been killed. THE PURPOSE OF CHRISTMAS shows me it hasn’t been killed and is still very much alive and to not let the “bah humbugs” and “politically correct police” take away my Christmas joy! show less

I kind of feel like this book is milking the popularity of "The Purpose Driven Life". Maybe that's because I already know the purpose of Christmas. Maybe this book is written more for those who don't already know the meaning of or purpose of Christmas.

The author makes good points and the writing style is cohesive and readable.

A friend sent me this book, and I am glad I read it. I think Warren makes good points about resolution/reconciliation and forgiveness/trust. In today's times, I think people forget that "you can disagree agreeably"--that is, you can disagree with each other in a civil way and still listen to each other's views even if you don't fully agree with each other.

I read this book as a nod to Rick Warren's influence. By all accounts I've read, he's done an incredible job of growing his California-based ministry, but his upcoming gig at Obama's inauguration as caused some controversy. This is the first of Warren's books that I read.

It was a pretty quick read, which was nice. I picked it up yesterday afternoon and finished it before bed (after going out for a holiday dinner and celebration).

I was looking for a book that would put me more into the "spirit" of Christmas, but this one was "preachier" than I was looking for in a book about the holiday. I shouldn't be surprised, based on what little I know about the author, but I was, a little. The message of salvation seemed a bit strong for a book show more about Christmas.

I did appreciate the messages of peace and gratitude in the book, as well as the brief intro into the "Purpose-Driven Life" philisophy that propelled Rick Warren into broader-based fame. show less

very good book that said alot about the meaning of christmas and the purpose it has it our lives. I will definitely read this again next christmas.I esp liked the notes section at the back of the book refering to qutoes taken from the bible.

This would be the perfect book to give a seeker, baby believer, or one who has strayed from the faith and maybe just comes to church at Christmas.

This is a wonderful book to give to a searching unbeleiver. It surpurbly explains the whys and wherefores of Christmas for adult and child, believer and doubter. This book is well worth the purchase price!

" It is astounding that so many people have celebrated Christmas every year of their lives without ever having opened their greatest and most expensive Christmas gift. Jesus Christ is God's Christmas gift to you."