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A Not-So-Silent Night: The Unheard Story of Christmas and Why It Matters

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Christmas is the happiest time of the year, or so we choose to believe. Likewise, we tend to see Easter as a sad time of year. At Christmas we celebrate the birth of the promised Messiah, the fulfillment of the promise God made at the Fall, when sin separated Adam and Eve and all their offspring from the presence of God. Thus the birth of the baby Jesus, announced by an angel of the Lord to humble shepherds in the surrounding fields and accompanied by an angelic chorus, is truly a time of joy. All of creation, not just the children of Adam and Eve, "lay . . . in sin and error pining," for that moment when the Son of God, the promised Messiah, would leave his glory in heaven to be born of a virgin, to walk among humankind in true humanity as the second Adam, in order that He might reverse the error of the first Adam. Indeed, there is reason aplenty to rejoice at Christmas. But there is more, much more.

In his new book, A Not-So-Silent Night: The Unheard Story of Christmas and Why It Matters (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2009), Verlyn D. Verbrugge reminds us that the true significance of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem is found in His crucifixion outside the gates of Jerusalem some thirty-three years later and his resurrection some three days after that. What Dr. Verbrugge wants us to remember and think about during this festive season is the war between Jesus Christ and Satan that began that night in Bethlehem and raged until that glorious moment thirty-three years later when the stone was rolled away from the tomb and the crucified and dead Jesus was raised from the dead by the Father. Satan did all he could to prevent that event. Jesus had to literally fight His way to the Cross. Those intervening years witnessed the greatest struggle in history. Everything, truly everything, hung in the balance.

In a brief hundred pages, only eleven short chapters, Dr. Verbrugge recounts this epic drama, "the greatest story ever told." The humble circumstances of Jesus' birth, His rejection by those whom He came to save, the humiliation suffered by Mary, His mother, and the courage of His adoptive, earthly father Joseph are all highlighted. Verbrugge reminds us that Mary was not an ignorant participant in this struggle. Her song in Luke 1, known to us as the Magnificat, is "primarily a song of conflict and war--and of God's power to vindicate those who are trodden down . . . [it] is about the mighty warrior God, whose sovereign plan of history will always emerge victorious."

Dr. Verbrugge wants us to hear again a second song, the song of Simeon in Luke 2. When Joseph and Mary take the baby Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem to be dedicated, they are confronted by Simeon, an old man whom the Holy Spirit promised would not die until he had seen God's promised Messiah. Simeon's response is another pronouncement of the earthly struggle between the Messiah and Satan. How Mary must have felt when she heard Simeon say, "And a sword will pierce your own soul too." He was not telling Mary something she did not already know. He was reminding her that her son was born to die, in order that God's people, of whom Mary was one, might be reconciled to God.

A Not-So-Silent Night is a welcomed reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. Short, yet well-written and full of meaning, Dr. Verbrugge's latest book will change how we view Christmas. Never again will the reader be able to look at a manger scene without seeing the Shadow of the Cross hanging over it. We should weep, as well as rejoice at Christmas, and we should rejoice as well as weep at Easter. Thanks be to God!

- Paul R. Waibel

If you are looking for the perfect Christmas gift, there's no need to look any further. You've just found it! However, A Not-So-Silent Night is a book that every Christian should read regardless of the season. I am personally acquainted with the author, Verlyn Verbrugge, and consider him to be one of the top Greek scholars of our generation. Yet, this doesn't keep him from writing in a clear and uncomplicated fashion. In a mere ninety-eight pages of text, Verbrugge illumines the unheard story of Christmas and why it matters.

It's been said that before one can fully appreciate the good news of God's grace, he or she must first come to grips with the bad news of sin. Verbrugge takes a similar approach. He unveils the dark side of Christmas in such a way that one will come to appreciate the glorious good news of Christmas like never before. After reading this exceptional resource, I was deeply moved. I realized that over the years I have been unknowingly influenced by Christian tradition and culture. Yet, now I will never see Christmas and the birth of Christ the same way again. My only disappointment with this book was that it was not written earlier.

If you want to save yourself some time and energy, buy multiply copies of A Not-So-Silent Night and enjoy the satisfaction of crossing off your Christmas list. This book has something for everyone: the busy housewife, the man who doesn't like to read, the bored teenager, and even the Greek scholar. Your family members and friends will thank you for sharing with them a tool that will inform and transform how they view God, the characters of the Bible, and most importantly, themselves.

Sent to me as a complimentary copy from another website, A Not-So-Silent Night piqued my interest, as it presented some very interesting ideas to ponder during this Advent season. Dr. Verlyn D.Verbrugge has written a slim yet interesting treatise that urges his readers to take another look at the birth of Christ.

Traditionally, Christmas has been celebrated as a time of joy, peace and light. Verbrugge takes a different viewpoint. If you consider why Christ came into the world, His birth ushered in a new era of spiritual and physical conflict. The heralding angels should really be seen as soldiers of a heavenly army, declaring their readiness to their Commander in Chief. Essentially, "Christmas is the beginning of war." (p.74)

While I felt that Verbrugge was a bit heavy-handed with his depiction of Christ's birth as a death-scented occasion, there were a number of points made that have made me appreciate this holiday in a deeper way. His portrayal of the trials that Mary and Joseph had to endure as social and familial outcasts was very compelling. I will never look at their diversion to the animals' stable in the same way again. I also found the comparisons made between Genesis' Tree of Knowledge and Christ's cross to be very interesting.

There are many angles to the Christmas story that I have never considered before, and this concise book clearly presents them in a scriptural, deliberate way. It is certainly worth 98 pages of reading to enhance your appreciation for what God has done for us in the birth of Christ Jesus the Messiah.

[...].

Verlyn Verbrugge's A Not-So-Silent Night: The Unheard Story of Christmas and Why it Matters illuminates the "dark side of Christmas." In short, Verbrugge offers a reality check for the Christmas mythology that dominates the western Christmas experience (i.e. a quiet stable with Mary and Joseph smiling down, rosey cheeked and basking in the glow of the cooing baby, while angels sing lullabies above). By illuminating the background of the Christmas story with current scholarship, and describing what it was probably like while the Messiah was "Away in a Manger," Verbrugge effectively dispels the warm-fuzzy myths of Christmas. He brings us back to a more biblically grounded understanding of the story.

Succinct and approachable, Verbrugge's eleven chapters cover less than 100 pages, making this book an easy read to fit into the busy holiday season. Pastors and Bible study leaders will likely find this book a ready resource for creating new Christmas sermons or small group studies.

One last note: don't be put off by the phrase "the dark side of Christmas." Verbrugge's intent is not to be an Ebenezer Scrooge in Bethlehem (see the book's conclusion for his own thoughts on this), but instead he intends to bring readers to a fuller and more meaningful understanding of Christ's birth. This is a significant little book with large implications for how we read, meditate on, and share the story of Jesus' birth. Highly recommended.

For years I have taught my New Testament Survey students at Union University the Birth of Jesus narratives in Matthew and Luke, but I learned some things from this little book! God has chosen specific people, places, times, and ways to reveal truth, and we honor God by reading the Scriptures carefully and in their various contexts. In A NOT-SO-SILENT NIGHT Verlyn V. digs down through the layers of our cultural preconceptions about Jesus' birth to reveal a rich fabric of the real story. You will never think of Christmas the same way again. Highly recommended! George H. Guthrie, Benjamin W. Perry Professor of Bible, Union University

I highly recommend this book. It brings out little known facts about the "Christmas story" that will bring you to tears and give you a new appreciation for the depth of the Scriptures.

A pleasant (though sometimes sobering) and informative read, especially relevant around the Christmas season. It reads somewhat like a transcript of a sermon, not surprising considering that the author is a former pastor. Some points will be familiar to regular church-goers, but there are certainly new perspectives on the events surrounding the nativity of Christ. I appreciate the chapter regarding "Mary's Shame." The author offers information regarding the historical and cultural setting that Mary lived in, which reveals that Mary, vastly different from Christmas card pictures of a peaceful woman riding into Bethlehem on a donkey with a halo on her head, rather rode into town under an onerous burden of shame heaped on her from every side excepting her cousin Elizabeth. Mary wasn't required by law to report to Bethlehem for the census with Joseph--she was compelled by the necessity of being with the only person (her fiancee) who would not shun her, or worse. I recommend this book for those trying to dig deeper into "the Christmas story" and move beyond holiday platitudes.

Christmas is a very special time in the Christian calendar but it has never been in our family an expensive holiday celebration. Being expats, we each kept some of our well rooted traditions and simply incorporated some new ones thus making it an original blend!

The Advent calendar with the lightning of candles, Midnight mass and the Nativity all had their place along our (tiny) tree in the Flanders. Caroling, the reading of the Christmas story, the birthday cake for Jesus, Boxing Day and so on were added later once I married a Brit!

Most importantly, we always reminded our children that Christmas is ongoing throughout the year. The feeling of elation we experience throughout this blessed Season should not stop when you take the tree down!

Christmas is a time for hope, a time for rejoicing, a time for sharing and so much more!

In 'A Not So Silent Christmas', Verlyn D. Verbrugge delivers a provocative albeit well developed argument that there is a dark side to Christmas. This he tells us is usually ignored by Christians but these different emotions (pain, humiliation, fear and danger) reveals the true meaning of the Season. He adds that until we see the dark side and acknowledge the shadow of the Cross as inseparable from the Manger, we will not understand what truly happened over 2000 years ago in a little town called Bethlehem.

At the risk of sounding very naive, I would like to think I see the best in everything. Society as we know it has enough dark side. Yes, there is good and evil in everything but until we believe in the good of all things, we have not accepted Christ! It is only when we release 'power' in His hands, that we are true believers.

A startling amount of research was enacted to put together this 103 page book and since I am no theologian, I will not dispute the veracity of Verlyn D. Verbrugge. I will not differ on Mary and Joseph's sadness at the birth of their child and its circumstances for example nor the ensuing events or even its shady locale history. Mr. Verbrugge's reputation tells me I am out of my depth but whilst others will agree with him I have to well, disagree!

I will close this by telling you Christmas means something entirely different to me, it is coloured with happy thoughts and reverence and not for a moment will I see it as something dark! I am a dreamer and I remain hopeful!

I could only give it 3 stars!

I received this book free from KREGEL PUBLICATIONS as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not asked to write a positive review and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.