Christmas Day is, in the Christian tradition, a day to mark the birth of Jesus – who was a radical economic reformer who died for social justice. Why have we forgotten that?
This is the audio version:
This is the transcript:
Happy Christmas! That is the obvious thing to say this morning because here we are, Christmas Day, and we're still making videos.
Why? Because there are things to talk about this Christmas.
I spoke yesterday in the video that we put up about my desire for a vision, and I want to build on that idea today.
I want to think about Christmas, what it really means.
I remember my childhood. Don't we all, when we think about Christmas when we're of a certain age? And what was that like?
Well, in my case, my childhood Christmases were in a fairly strict evangelical Christian household. We certainly weren't materialist as a result. My parents believed that presents should be small and limited in number. I'm well aware that I was very slightly jealous of those who I knew who got bigger presents than I did.
Christmas was always short as well. I now look back and think that my mother must have had OCD. She hated the Christmas tree and everything that went with it. It went up on Christmas Eve, and if she could have done it, she'd have taken it down on Boxing Day. I think it lasted a day or two longer - but not much more than that.
So, Christmas was a limited affair and going to church was a big part of it. But I always remember that going to church was all about stables and donkeys and all of this stuff and swaddling clothes, whatever they were. But there was no discussion. of what it was really about.
Now, I'm not here to tell you that you should be a Christian, which would be pretty hypocritical of me because I won't be in church this Christmas, but I do think that Christmas does happen to mark the birth of one of the great teachers of humankind.
I have no doubt that somebody called Jesus did exist at around the time we call zero to 33. I do believe that this person did teach, and I do believe he inspired people to write about what he had to say.
I don't think that everything he said was entirely original. He built quite clearly on the shoulders of others, but then everybody does.
But, he most certainly made a difference. And I think it's just worth reflecting today on that Jesus - a name that, by the way, was quite common in Palestine at that time, and think about what that person had to say.
When he first spoke about his mission, he said he came to give good news to the poor, to free the oppressed, to declare - as he put it - the year of the Lord's favour, which when it is unpacked, means he was there to declare a jubilee. And, in Jewish law, a jubilee meant the voiding of all debt, the declaration that those who owe money did no longer. He came, then, to declare an economic change in the society in which he lived.
Look at something called the Magnificat. It's in the Gospel of Saint Luke, and it's supposedly the song of praise sung by Mary about the child she was having. It says the rich will be pulled down from their place. It's extraordinary, radical stuff.
And Jesus went on to found a movement that shared all their goods in common, and the excess that they could generate, they gave to the poor. T
This was not a man who came with a mission which was just about loving little children, or whatever else. This was a man who preached about economic reform, and he died for it. I've little doubt about that.
And so, what is Christmas about? Christmas is about that same thing, really. It is about declaring good news to all men. Or women, but when they wrote that they didn't think about that point. The point I'm saying Is it if we truly understand the message of the teacher whose birth we celebrate on Christmas day - although let's be honest, the probability that he was actually born on the 25th December is pretty darn remote - one in three six five to be precise - the point I'm trying to make is that this person was a radical economic reformer. And if we want to celebrate Christmas in its true style, we have to ask about what radical economic reforms do we want this Christmas because they are what Christmas is all about.
Thanks for reading this post.
You can share this post on social media of your choice by clicking these icons:
There are links to this blog's glossary in the above post that explain technical terms used in it. Follow them for more explanations.
You can subscribe to this blog's daily email here.
And if you would like to support this blog you can, here:
Buy me a coffee!
Merry Christmas Richard.
Thank you for a timely reminder that – no matter how many times we hear that the UK is a ‘Christian country’ – it is not. That statement is just identity politics anyway.
Have a good Christmas, PSR
Without a written constitution Christianity has played a huge role in shaping our values , whether you are a practicing Christian or not Christianity help build everything around us .
Happy Christmas .
Empathy, the ability to share, kindness, the reciprocity thereof, altruism.
All these fine attributes existed in human beings before Christianity Andrew, and is evidenced in pre-Christian societies. To ascribe them to just Christianity I think is not correct, and if I may so, very ‘Western’ in outlook too.
Peace and goodwill to all of the species.
Yes i had a conversation the other day where it was said that Sharia law is bad for women’s rights and that it’s much better that we’re a Christian country.
I had to state that women’s rights were only improved despite Christianity in this country and we’re fought hard for against the religious patriarchy.
Correct
Thank you for all your thoughtful commentary throughout the year.
Thanks, David. Happy Christmas.
Merry Christmas Richard. I am a cultural Christian rather than a believer, but I always thought that Jesus was a socialist. A proper one.
I agree.
When I was a child I was told by a vicar – a family friend still – that he was, but wrong on that point. It told me what I needed to know about the selectivity of those who called themselves Christian’s.
Now if only. those leading the Christian Church could remember that message and act on it.
Thank. you Prof Murphy for your immense output and stimulating thoughts throughout the year.
Thank you and well said, Richard.
I wish your loved ones and you a merry Christmas.
And to you, Colonel
“Man does not live by bread alone.” Meaning that our physical and economic needs are met in a wider context. And our economic structure should come out of what is a vision of the moral order. Adapting that to the world we live in is a difficult task and the attempt to do that is what makes your blog special.
Thanks, Ian
Jacques Ellul ( The Subversion of Christianity) and Michael Hudson make a case that Christianity was profoundly changed when it became a/the state religion of the Roman Empire.
They put forward that a focus of kindness and economic equity were replaced with a focus on personal sin/guilt and the urging of giving to the poor instead of making equitable economic attitudes and structures fundamental to society.
Might orthodox Christianity have thus become influenced/controlled by the powerful more than by the “source” example of Jesus Christ?
I am definitely in their camp.
In today’s Guardian
how a plague changed attitudes before Constantine. Not something I have read before
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/dec/25/birth-jesus-plague-roman-empire-christianity
Me neither…..
Steve T and Robertj make excellent comments on how the message of Jesus has been watered down and shifted away from transforming the contemporary world to subservience and life-after-death. There are many other writers on this, such as Borg, Crossan, Gutiérrez, Cone, Ruether. We keep hoping that it will once again be the basic message of Christianity for today.
and many thanks Richard for your postings!
Thanks
Marcus Borg & N T Wright who are personal friends but have differing theological takes on Jesus, have written a book collaboratively where they dialogue with each other, on the topic of Jesus.
“The Meaning of Jesus”. It’s a good book and a great model of respectful dialogue. Wright is coservative theologically but very opposed to “pie in the sky when you die ” theology. His popular writings are published under the name of Tom Wright and challenge a lot of stereotypes. A big influence on me.
I quite like his New Testament translation. Theologically not where I am, but I like his approach to the text.
Merry Xmas and many thanks for the most informative blog!
Thanks John.
And happy Christmas
I’ve always thought of Jesus as a radical but not in economic terms.
Thank you – much to think about.
I hope you and yours have a merry time this Christmas and thrive in 2025.
PS: I also hope both you and Tom are now fully recovered.
We are both fit now. Thanks!
May Christmas be kind to you and yours Ricard; and all your readers.
And you have a good one too, John.
Thanks for all your comments.
Thanks for the Christmas video Richard. I’m tempted to save it till 3pm!!!
I like your focus on the social & economic justice side of Jesus’ teaching. And you are right about much of his teaching not being original, but prefigured in both Law & Prophets, he actually shared much with the Pharisees (like Nicodemus & Joseph of Arimathea).
The unusual side, that his disciples struggled to grasp, were those claims about oneness with his Father, and the scary stuff about death and resurrection, which was completely at variance with their expectation of a nationalistic divinely backed military messianic leader who would “Make Israel Great Again” and evict the Roman Imperial colonial occupier (a vision which the more corrupt collaborators in Jerusalem didn’t approve of because it would upset the status quo and their privilege). A Messiah dying was NOT in the disciples MIGA playbook, but it was, weirdly, in Jesus’s.
I’m one of a growing number of Christians who want to emphasise the radical social justice side of Jesus, while also believing his personal claims to divinity and the “miraculous” stuff, but resisting the way in which a “religion” called Christianity, and an “institution” called Church have all too often ignored the radical Jesus, and used his name to perpetuate the unjust status quo and protect privilege and oppressors.
We want to work alongside those who have a different or even sceptical take on the theology – a phrase I have used here before is co-belligerency, a word that combines the ideas of partnership and polemic.
Happy Christmas to anyone working with integrity towards social justice, loving their neighbours, seeking peace with justice, and forgiving their enemies (and early enlightenment & repentance to those going in the other direction).
Thanks, Robert
Merry Christmas to all and a special thanks to Richard with his tutelage.
Thanks!
Thanks Richard certainly something to reflect upon. Happy Christmas.
And to you
It’s wonderful that Thomas is over his cold.. is this his “job” videoing you?
Yes
Although he does work on other projects as well
Very very well said Richard. As a convinced atheist, I have long held exactly these views about the man Jesus and his radical views and fail to see how anyone calling him/her-self a Christian can ignore them, as so many seem to. Maybe the church has a lot to answer for in that?
My very best wishes and a Happy Christmas to you and your family.
Thanks
Happy Christmas
And much to muse on
An important message delivered excellently, as always.
As I have stated elsewhere, Jesus wouldn’t be going to the City with a cap in his hands like Starmer and Reeves, he’d be going down there with a whip.
This reminds me I asked a priest how many times Jesus was really angry. He talked of the temple incident. About money. Then I asked how much training priests get in money.
Nothing.
How come the one thing that Jesus got into a rage about is the thing they don’t teach priests?
Very good question.
Money is a key theme in Luke’s gospel (along with women and Romans). Which is interesting because he was probably writing his gospel for the elites of his day.
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=money+and+Luke%27s+gospel&t=fpas&ia=web
gives a flavour of some of the literature.
Fairly hard to ignore really, maybe they didn’t bother with Luke?
A great Christmas message for common wealth, Richard! (Pun intended).
In the records of the gospel texts, Jesus says much more about money than about sex. And only money – it’s misuse and the abuse of the poor – causes him anger or harsh criticism.
It seems that the co-opting of the church, the communities of Jesus-copying people, into the patriarchal Roman imperium was what led to the reverse of the previously ‘inverted’ (ie. right way up) radical ways. Down the centuries, there have always been groups of believers who tried to live out the more radical ways (monastic communities, radical reformers, nonconformists of various sorts…) but they were often persecuted, crushed or marginalized by ‘the mainstream’, ‘the system’, the orthodox. Sounds familiar?
Very familiar.
See this morning’s video.
Merry Christmas to you Richard, your family and all your readers.
Many thanks for your commentary over the past year and the much needed thought provoking they encourage.
When we strip out all of the religious trappings, Jesus sped the question of what it means to be truly human, which is our best side.
Ignoring this fact is where so many -including archbishops – fall down.
As we say “Oop North”:
All the Best!
Thanks Karl
Should say “Jesus posed the question”.
Merry Christmas everyone
Interestingly because of having lived through and in my fathers case served in WW2 my parents werent big on Religion
a family friend was, at some time in WW2, Chaplain General to the Forces. He was once (or maybe more times) if he had ever done anything in anger? – his reply was that on visiting troops in an ’emplacement’ (my term, not his) he found that all had been killed, so he picked up a machine gun and answered back – he was angry.
If Jesus were alive today, I suspect that the temple in which he would be overturning tables would be Canary Wharf. Somehow, we have to abandon our worship of Mammon, and get back to the true ‘Christian’ values that you have described today. Let’s hope that 2025 continues in that direction.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours, Richard, and thank you to your team for all the effort you have put into activism in the past year.
Thanks, Kim
Happy Christmas
Scene: Heaven’s Treasury Office. Saint Peter is reviewing the ledger.
Saint Peter: “Alright, Gabriel, run me the numbers. Did we meet our deficit targets this quarter?”
Gabriel: “Well, Peter, things are…interesting. We had a bit of a spending spree. You know, feeding the multitudes, turning water into wine, those pesky resurrections…”
Saint Peter: “Right, right. And the revenue stream? Did the collection plate overflow?”
Gabriel: “Not exactly. Seems those Roman centurions weren’t exactly keen on paying taxes. And, well, you know how those fishermen are with tithing…”
Saint Peter: (sighs) “Look, Gabriel, we’re running on faith here, not fiat currency. This ‘just print more miracles’ policy isn’t sustainable. We’re going to end up with a heavenly hyperinflation crisis. Imagine the value of a single loaf of bread in a few years!”
Gabriel: “But Peter, the Lord said ‘ask and ye shall receive’! Doesn’t that mean we can just…manifest more resources?”
Saint Peter: “Manifestation is not the same as sound fiscal policy, Gabriel! We need to find a way to balance this budget, or we’re going to end up with a heavenly debt crisis. And I really don’t want to explain this to the Father…”
Source: Gemini AI.
Very good
Thank you for all your writing through the year.
I agree enormously that Christianity has underpinned our society and culture, and that its core beliefs are strong even when they are distorted by institutions and society. How different would our society be if we believed in Odin instead? Better for being less individualistic? Worse for not having an emphasis on poverty? The Christian idea that every soul matters equally to God.
I read somewhere that Christian atheists study their bible a lot more than Christian believers.
Me, I’ve found the writings and different opinions of the scholars much more interesting than the lines pushed by the church (churches). I do think that if the church had accepted the academic research and argument as it developed then it would be in a better place now. Jesus wouldn’t be a god, but the church’s place in community and moral argument would be stronger.
Instead the church ends up pushing strange ideas, precariously balanced on top of each other. Jesus died to save our sins. Jesus is God, and believing this gives you everlasting life. Angels exist and Mary was a virgin. Jesus is coming again with an army, and will fight the army of the devil and win. All of this is (IMO) fascinating as the historical development of a belief system. So perhaps it is also interesting that the church hangs on to it, despite everything. But it makes for painful listening.
Thanks
Dear Richard,
Trust that you and yours are enjoying your Christmas Day.
Watching your video and reading contributors’ comments brought to mind (oddly) the following, which I first came across in a Bernard Levin column in The Times in the 1970s:
God’s plan had a hopeful beginning
Until Man spoiled his chances by sinning
They say that the story
Will end in God’s glory
But at present the other side’s winning
For the world’s sake we need to tackle this pronto.
Looking forward to 2025 and more of your thoughtful and insightful posts and videos. Oh, and wishing you a happy retirement from your professorship here in Sheffield.
A Happy New Year to everyone.
Thanks
Hi Richard
Insightful as always
In Bach’s setting of the Magnificat the musical symbolism of “the mighty” is depicted through descending and powerful lines.
The meek and downtrodden are symbolised through rising patterns
I wonder how his bosses felt about that!
Or maybe they just didn’t get it
Have a great Christmas and successful 2025
Good for Johann Sebastien!
Happy Christmas
Merry Christmas Richard (and all his blog readers) from a long-time lurker.
Thanks
And to you.
Dear Richard and Mrs. Murphy!
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Thank you for all you do to help us understand and make sense of a troubling time.
It is a relief to know that there is a sensible and practical alternative to what we see daily from government, albeit permanently frustrating that they have not, as yet, listened.
One lesson we learn from Jesus is not to give up in the face of the worst possible adversity, propelled by a firm belief that persistence such as yours will be rewarded, and we will all benefit. I am very grateful that you are continuing to champion the cause.
Let’s hope for a black swan event (the unpredicted and welcome kind) when the light finally shines on those who exercise such power over our daily lives
Kind regards,
Chris
Thanks, Chris
I advise anyone interested in this to look at Michael Hudson. His thesis is that Rome was the first significant culture to not forgive debts and it was ultimately the reason for its collapse. Unfortunately we have copied its legal prejudices, principally that all debts are the responsibility of the debtor and must be repaid.
He goes on to reflect on the transition in the west from industrial capitalism to financial capitalism. We can all prosper by making money from money.
Of course, ultimately we cannot.
Thanks
Focusing on Jesus, your remind me of Jesus’ Nazareth manifesto in Luke 4:15-21 (http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=602189018). But it is hard to get to the Jesus of history behind the later biblical and non-canonical presentations of him. Personally I have a fondness for James’ epistle (e.g., James 5:1-6 – http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=602189392) and Patristic monastics like Basil of Caesarea’s Homilies on Wealth and Poverty (published as ‘On Social Justice’, St Vladimir Sem. Pr. 2009, (https://www.scribd.com/document/797328854/St-Basil-the-Great-on-Social-Justice-St-Vladimir-s-Seminary-Press-2011) and John Chrysostom’s on Wealth and Poverty (https://www.agape-biblia.org/literatura/On-Wealth-and-Poverty-by-John-Chrysostom.pdf)
But in ‘The Meaning of the West: An Apologia for Secular Christianity (SCM 2008), the philosopher and theologian Don Cupitt presents his thesis that the secular social progressive perspective in the West is a product of emerging Jewish (‘prophetic’) Christian (‘kingdom’) ideas in a now post religious form. He concludes it,
“This book has expressed my own feeling that I can at last finally leave the old religion behind, not just because what is left of it has now become so weak and irrational, but much more because the afterlife of Christianity has now become so much bigger and more interesting than its earlier period of existence as a great world religion. The British Labour Party, for example, has done far more to build the Kingdom of God on earth during the past hundred years than the Latin Church achieved in the same territory during the whole millennium ad 600–1600.”
Cupitt would be ashamed of Labour now.
I was influenced by his Sea of Faith.
I think the modern closest equivalent to the world Jesus envisioned could be best described as a “Well Being Economy”. One where the social and environmental needs of all who inhabit this world are better considered. Such a well being economy would be a good concept for resolutions for a hopeful and better 2025.
Thank you for all your efforts and the efforts of other commentaries on this marvellous inspiring site.
Thanks, Ben.
Richard,
Sorry this message is late, Happy Christmas and New Year.
Your output this year has been immense and I’m not always sure your health has been up to it. That said you’ve shown a determination to carry and like many I’m grateful you have.
Hopefully in 2025 you will feel better/stronger now you have made some life choices.
Best Wishes
Eric
Thanks Eric
Let’s put my health in context.
Long COVID did leave a mark
I do get viruses in a way my wife, fur example, does not
And I push myself, I know.
But I have no chronic conditions and take no regular prescription drugs. That is very unusual for a man of 66, I am told.
I count my blessings.
Apologies for coming ‘late’ to you Christmas Day blog, Richard. I nowadays have a rule that I don’t go online on Xmas Day (and when we’re away on holiday). Anyway, just to add yet another thanks for the relevance of your Xmas blog (and all the others throughout the year, of course). I’m not a christian and never have been (nor any other religion), but I do think you’re correct about the existence of Jesus, and indeed the way in which you and others here have noted that his more radical teaching have been warped, twisted and ignored to protect the interests of the powerful – of his day and indeed, down through the ages to the present day. Anyway, all the best to you and your family for now and 2025. May you go from strength to strength. We’re going to need it after January 20th.
Thanks, Ivan.
Go well in 2025.
Merry Christmas and a good New Year to you, your family, and all the contributors.
I am finding it hard to be hopeful.
All of you help me .
With people like you carrying on the fight, all is not lost.
Thank you all.
Thanks, Eliza.
And I genuinely believe there is always hope.