Taking Christ Out of Christmas: Rethinking Advent, Nostalgia, and Revolutionary Presence - w/ Pastor Bethany Nass Cseh
Voxology
The Christmas Story Is So Far Away From Everything Important
The Christmas story is so full of quietness hiddenness weakness obscurity right I mean this is all happening away. things that that um Christmas exemplifies but it is true all year long in the American church is the substitution of spectacle for hiddenness or a glory for weakness and we're just not content with that you know.
A raw, provocative, and delightfully messy Christmas episode with Mike Erre, Tim Stafford, and special guest Pastor Bethany Nass Cseh explores how the Christmas story has been softened, sanitized, and even hijacked by nostalgia, cultural expectations, and spectacle. What emerges instead is a deeply human tale of presence, prophecy, and disruption—one worthy of contemplation beyond a single holiday.
The episode spans humorous holiday banter, chaotic family vibes featuring Seth Erre and Big Nate, and a deep theological roundtable about “beefs” with the way Christianity has portrayed Christmas. The team critically unpacks the warping of Christ’s birth into a feel-good, curated experience—and boldly suggests we might need to separate “Advent” from Christmas entirely to re-encounter its radical core. Get ready for a different kind of Christmas conversation.
Key Takeaways: • The Problem with Curated Christmas – Bethany Shea reflects on the pressure to create an Instagram-perfect holiday and how this contradicts the raw, unglamorous birth of Jesus. • Jesus Was Born Into Disappointment, Not a Hallmark Movie – The nativity was messy, risky, and fearful—a far cry from tidy manger scenes. • Time to Separate Christ and Christmas? – Tim Stafford challenges the idea of merging commercial, cultural Christmas with the spiritual season of Advent, advocating for reclaiming the radical truth of the incarnation. • Mary’s Magnificat as Revolutionary Protest – Mike dives into Mary’s song from Luke 1 as a political and spiritual act of resistance, confronting power and promising divine reversal. • God With Us—Now, Not Just Then or Someday – The group critiques our tendency to project Advent hope exclusively into the past or future, rather than embracing Emmanuel in the present moment. • The Real Saint Nick Was a Justice Warrior – Tim spotlights the historical St. Nicholas as a man of charity and liberation, subverting modern Santa Claus myths. • The Church Has Replaced Flesh-and-Blood Presence with Spectacle – Why high-production Christmas events often obscure the vulnerable origins of the gospel.
Guest Highlights: • Pastor Bethany Shea – Co-pastors a UMC and church plant (Catalyst Church in Humboldt County, CA) with her husband and is the author of two spiritual formation devotional guides, Stepping Into Advent and Stepping Into Lent. Bethany offers profound insight into how Advent offers a prophetic vision grounded in present hope, not polished perfection. • Seth Erie and Big Nate – Make cameo appearances full of laughs and holiday spirit.
Resources Mentioned: • Bethany Shea’s Books – • Stepping Into Advent – Amazon • Stepping Into Lent – Amazon • Catalyst Church Humboldt YouTube – Catalyst Services • Rachel Held Evans – Reflection on Mary and pregnancy from “Wholehearted Faith” • Pete Enns – Biblical re-evaluations of the nativity story • “God With Us” themes from Isaiah, Luke 1–2, and elsewhere • History of Saint Nicholas – Liberation of women and how stockings became a symbol of justice
Join us in confronting the comfort and reclaiming the revolution at the heart of Christmas. Rediscover Advent, reimagine church, and celebrate the beauty of the incarnation with honesty, humility, and a bit of humor.
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Learn more about the Voxology Podcast
Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify
Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon
The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio
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Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre
Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford
Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy
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