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God Rest Ye Merry: Why Christmas is the Foundation for Everything
The repetition of Christmas traditions can appear to dull the powerful nature of the holiday. This short book is meant to rekindle the Christian's understanding of Advent on every front, from politics to shopping to uproarious celebration. Pastor Douglas Wilson critiques false reasons for the season (and false objections to it), teaches the importance of Israel in Christmastime history, explains why nativity sets should have Herod's soldiers (and how Santa Claus once punched a man in the face at a church council), offers the Enlightenment Assumptions Detector test as a guide to understanding Christmas symbolism, and much more. The last section is an all-new Advent it contains a read-aloud meditation and prayer for each day of Advent, making God Rest Ye Merry an excellent tool for cultivating a deep family love of Christmas.
156 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2012
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696 people want to read
About the author
Douglas Wilson
319 books4,544 followersI write in order to make the little voices in my head go away. Thus far it hasn't worked.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
December 31, 2021
The first section of this book is breathtaking, triumphant. Do you want to be reminded of the power of Christmas? Of the beauty and depth of the old Christmas carols? That's what those few pages did for me. The focus on God’s eternal power and plan are unspeakably beautifully encouraging.
Sections three and four were a little strange. The focus shifted away from what Christ is, has done, and will do for us and toward what we should be doing or not doing. At times it became less a Scriptural exposition and more a defense of Western Protestant liturgical traditions. I’m not sure that we need to be encouraged to celebrate in any particular way. I’m also not sure that our celebrating with gift giving and feasting is really such a witness as he makes it out to be. If it was, wouldn’t it be spelled out somewhere in the NT? I do agree that there is nothing sinful in celebrating within Biblical bounds, but I don’t think we can claim any special power for it.
That last section, just wasn’t for me. I’m not one who likes snippet, devotional style writing. I prefer a longer more thought out, fleshed out style. This section was short one-page readings. But I found it strange that a lot of them were simply restated summaries of things he had said earlier.
So I would recommend it, mostly for that first section, but the rest wasn’t bad. It brought up a lot to think about. It just wondered from the promise of the first section.
Sections three and four were a little strange. The focus shifted away from what Christ is, has done, and will do for us and toward what we should be doing or not doing. At times it became less a Scriptural exposition and more a defense of Western Protestant liturgical traditions. I’m not sure that we need to be encouraged to celebrate in any particular way. I’m also not sure that our celebrating with gift giving and feasting is really such a witness as he makes it out to be. If it was, wouldn’t it be spelled out somewhere in the NT? I do agree that there is nothing sinful in celebrating within Biblical bounds, but I don’t think we can claim any special power for it.
That last section, just wasn’t for me. I’m not one who likes snippet, devotional style writing. I prefer a longer more thought out, fleshed out style. This section was short one-page readings. But I found it strange that a lot of them were simply restated summaries of things he had said earlier.
So I would recommend it, mostly for that first section, but the rest wasn’t bad. It brought up a lot to think about. It just wondered from the promise of the first section.
November 9, 2021
A very good read for this time of the year. Needs a more festive book cover.
December 20, 2022
2022: I love this book!
2020: Fantastic!
2012: I just finished reading the first "four lessons" in the book, and now we are enjoying reading the Daily Meditations for Advent around the family table every night. And even though we still have a few weeks of Advent devotions to read, I can already recommend this book to you.
This book is like no other. Really, where else have you read about the "Theology of Christmas Gifts"?
Go grab a copy soon! This is the season to be Merry!
Read again in 2014 and 2015.
2020: Fantastic!
2012: I just finished reading the first "four lessons" in the book, and now we are enjoying reading the Daily Meditations for Advent around the family table every night. And even though we still have a few weeks of Advent devotions to read, I can already recommend this book to you.
This book is like no other. Really, where else have you read about the "Theology of Christmas Gifts"?
Go grab a copy soon! This is the season to be Merry!
Read again in 2014 and 2015.
November 28, 2018
Proofed the audio of this for a release in the next week at Canon. Still great.
1st review: My favorite Christmas Read. Christmas is v Post-Millennial.
1st review: My favorite Christmas Read. Christmas is v Post-Millennial.
December 7, 2025
Christmas is about how the immaterial God became stuff. Don’t be a Gnostic Christmas grinch
December 25, 2021
December 2021 — Ditto to my last review!
*****
December 2018 — This was a jolly collection of thoughts on Christmas. My only criticism would be that I thought some of it could have been tidied up a bit on the editorial side — there was a good bit of repetition (we didn't need to be told three times that there may not have been exactly three wise men), there were some telltale specifics (such as "Christmas is this Friday") left over from the original contexts, and it was rather awkward for the 30th devotional meditation, which would be read by most people on December 30, to be on a you're-finishing-up-your-Christmas-prep theme.
Listening to Toby reading Doug's words was a little discombobulating at first, but I eventually settled into being able to hear both voices.
*****
December 2018 — This was a jolly collection of thoughts on Christmas. My only criticism would be that I thought some of it could have been tidied up a bit on the editorial side — there was a good bit of repetition (we didn't need to be told three times that there may not have been exactly three wise men), there were some telltale specifics (such as "Christmas is this Friday") left over from the original contexts, and it was rather awkward for the 30th devotional meditation, which would be read by most people on December 30, to be on a you're-finishing-up-your-Christmas-prep theme.
Listening to Toby reading Doug's words was a little discombobulating at first, but I eventually settled into being able to hear both voices.
November 2, 2022
Excellent!!!!
Great historical analysis of holidays, great gospel exhortation and great advent devotionals at the end. Loved this book and will revisit again in December.
Great historical analysis of holidays, great gospel exhortation and great advent devotionals at the end. Loved this book and will revisit again in December.
December 14, 2023
Very good. Probably my favorite from Wilson.
December 8, 2019
Wilson is a gifted writer and his enthusiasm and charm make his ideas infectious. Much of what he says, I amen.
Secretly, this book is about Eschatology. Before you think I've gone off the rails or mounted an unwarranted soap box, hear me out.
Wilson does what he does best in this book: he presupposes his conclusion of postmillenialism and, rather than tipping you off that this is the bedrock you are invited to stand on, he describes in winsome prose how beautiful the results of that presupposition is. Why drag someone into an off-topic debate when you can just draw them with the fruits of your position? Can't say I blame him.
Wilson's postmillenialism, of which I am not yet convinced, would go something like this:
1. Old Testament passages describing the New Heavens and New Earth are being realized *now* and will increase until the Lord's return.
2. The amillenial position agrees that the millennium is now, but in heaven. The postmillenial position asserts that the millennium is the expansion of Christ's *visible* reign on Earth now, and, like leaven, Christendom will slowly leaven the Earth.
3. Therefore, all of life (government, culture, arts, etc) should be put under the visible reign of Christ now since this renovation project is currently underway.
4. Therefore, grab Christmas from the world and do it better as an insurrectional sign of the reign of Christ.
My wife and I have wrestled over Christmas this year. In the end, we've decided it is a winter festival that the culture we are in celebrates and we can participate as our conscience allows (we put the tree up last night). I was hoping to find a more persuasive argument for seeing it differently, particularly regarding the dangers of this time regarding greed or some additional scholarship regarding origins that would give insight to how brothers and sisters have celebrated in the past. And there was some of that. But the main argument given without ever being explicitly named is "Celebrate Christmas because postmillenialism is true."
Secretly, this book is about Eschatology. Before you think I've gone off the rails or mounted an unwarranted soap box, hear me out.
Wilson does what he does best in this book: he presupposes his conclusion of postmillenialism and, rather than tipping you off that this is the bedrock you are invited to stand on, he describes in winsome prose how beautiful the results of that presupposition is. Why drag someone into an off-topic debate when you can just draw them with the fruits of your position? Can't say I blame him.
Wilson's postmillenialism, of which I am not yet convinced, would go something like this:
1. Old Testament passages describing the New Heavens and New Earth are being realized *now* and will increase until the Lord's return.
2. The amillenial position agrees that the millennium is now, but in heaven. The postmillenial position asserts that the millennium is the expansion of Christ's *visible* reign on Earth now, and, like leaven, Christendom will slowly leaven the Earth.
3. Therefore, all of life (government, culture, arts, etc) should be put under the visible reign of Christ now since this renovation project is currently underway.
4. Therefore, grab Christmas from the world and do it better as an insurrectional sign of the reign of Christ.
My wife and I have wrestled over Christmas this year. In the end, we've decided it is a winter festival that the culture we are in celebrates and we can participate as our conscience allows (we put the tree up last night). I was hoping to find a more persuasive argument for seeing it differently, particularly regarding the dangers of this time regarding greed or some additional scholarship regarding origins that would give insight to how brothers and sisters have celebrated in the past. And there was some of that. But the main argument given without ever being explicitly named is "Celebrate Christmas because postmillenialism is true."
December 25, 2025
Good book on thinking about the meaning of Christmas. I liked how it had some new things for me to contemplate- like the star, something so familiar to all of us in the Christmas story, but have we actually spent much time thinking about it and how cool it was that God used a star to guide the wise men to Jesus?
I also liked his take on material things and how it’s not all unimportant.
The daily advent readings at the end I just found meh, could take or leave those. A lot of times I felt like they were just little additions to some of the chapters of the book.
Overall though, good book! Enjoyed it.
I also liked his take on material things and how it’s not all unimportant.
The daily advent readings at the end I just found meh, could take or leave those. A lot of times I felt like they were just little additions to some of the chapters of the book.
Overall though, good book! Enjoyed it.
December 5, 2022
A solid, balanced, biblical reminder of what Christmas actually IS, with arguments for partaking in the modern celebrations and traditions of the church and culture.
The last part of the book contains short snippets to be read during advent, but a good many of them restate points already made. I read them all at once, and they provided a decent summary to drill certain points home. Christ is our embodied savior, leaving us to celebrate and praise him with body mind and soul, and this book reminds us that Christmas emphasizes where our hearts stand in this, good or bad.
The last part of the book contains short snippets to be read during advent, but a good many of them restate points already made. I read them all at once, and they provided a decent summary to drill certain points home. Christ is our embodied savior, leaving us to celebrate and praise him with body mind and soul, and this book reminds us that Christmas emphasizes where our hearts stand in this, good or bad.
December 27, 2023
"Of all the Douglas Wilsons in the world, you're the Douglas Wilson-iest."
Some good reflections on Christmas, and a handful of Chesterton-esque quips that'll stick with me. However, everything is shot-through with Wilson's post-mill eschatology, which I do not share.
I got to this one too late for the daily Advent reflections at the end. If I remember to follow those next year, I may update the rating.
Some good reflections on Christmas, and a handful of Chesterton-esque quips that'll stick with me. However, everything is shot-through with Wilson's post-mill eschatology, which I do not share.
I got to this one too late for the daily Advent reflections at the end. If I remember to follow those next year, I may update the rating.
January 18, 2021
Enjoyed first part immensely. Felt it got diverted from title and intended goal as went on.
November 20, 2022
GREAT book! It’s a rich source of concise historical and theological insights on Christmas. I can definitely see the advent devotionals being a yearly read.
January 4, 2013
Christmas is over for most. Here's a post mortem.
Christmas goes beyond sentiment. Jesus entered a real world of sheep manure in a cave. He humbled himself to exalt men. Tinsel and the bells and cards are all fine and dandy as long as we remember and root them in the joy that flows from Christ's humiliation for us.
Christmas is political. A king came to us whom we must accept or reject. Herod rejected Him. So do many earthly kings today and they will regret it one day. The public square is involved in Christmas. Herod and all Jerusalem had reason to be troubled as long as they grasped power for themselves. But rulers and wisemen who bow to Him and give instead of take are joyful and blessed.
Christmas is about stuff. God the Son became a physical creature to redeem the physical world. He is on a salvage operation to restore His kingdom. If you have to have your stuff then it has to go (a la Rich young ruler). Otherwise Christ means for you to have it, enjoy it and use it to serve others. Stuff and buying stuff is not the enemy. Idolizing it is. But we need stuff (a physical world) to express love.
These are the main themes and they are right on target. The writing and flow seem uneven throughout the book as I suspect this is a patchwork of blog posts past.
Christmas goes beyond sentiment. Jesus entered a real world of sheep manure in a cave. He humbled himself to exalt men. Tinsel and the bells and cards are all fine and dandy as long as we remember and root them in the joy that flows from Christ's humiliation for us.
Christmas is political. A king came to us whom we must accept or reject. Herod rejected Him. So do many earthly kings today and they will regret it one day. The public square is involved in Christmas. Herod and all Jerusalem had reason to be troubled as long as they grasped power for themselves. But rulers and wisemen who bow to Him and give instead of take are joyful and blessed.
Christmas is about stuff. God the Son became a physical creature to redeem the physical world. He is on a salvage operation to restore His kingdom. If you have to have your stuff then it has to go (a la Rich young ruler). Otherwise Christ means for you to have it, enjoy it and use it to serve others. Stuff and buying stuff is not the enemy. Idolizing it is. But we need stuff (a physical world) to express love.
These are the main themes and they are right on target. The writing and flow seem uneven throughout the book as I suspect this is a patchwork of blog posts past.
March 5, 2020
It's about Christmas. How should we celebrate it? Or should we celebrate it at all?
What are the origins of Christmas? What does the incarnation mean for the world? Does Christmas really even matter?
Douglas Wilson answers all of these questions in God Rest Ye Merry (which is a great title for it, I think), though he doesn't go too deep into some of the history and origins etc, he doesn't avoid conflicts about Christmas and answers them well.
He also has a 30 day Advent reading a the end of the book. They are all very good.
Why should we celebrate the Incarnation? Why is it important to us? Wilson says it's because: "The Incarnation is God’s opening salvo in His war on our sins."
What are the origins of Christmas? What does the incarnation mean for the world? Does Christmas really even matter?
Douglas Wilson answers all of these questions in God Rest Ye Merry (which is a great title for it, I think), though he doesn't go too deep into some of the history and origins etc, he doesn't avoid conflicts about Christmas and answers them well.
He also has a 30 day Advent reading a the end of the book. They are all very good.
Why should we celebrate the Incarnation? Why is it important to us? Wilson says it's because: "The Incarnation is God’s opening salvo in His war on our sins."
April 5, 2013
The best part of the book is the joy that comes through. Too many of us do not approach this holiday with joy we should. There is always an earthiness to Pastor Wilson’s writing. It comes through in this book. He deals with concrete realities and uses good illustrations to help us find the gladness that Christ and the Christmas season is supposed to give us.
December 26, 2015
Joyous & informative. Only a bit repetitive.
January 30, 2017
Good basic thinking on the theology and practice around Christmas. I wouldn't stop here, but it's a great place to start.
December 5, 2014
Family action item: increase our joyful(!) celebration of Easter in some tangible ways.
December 24, 2025
Listened to this one after running into some questions about why the reformers and puritans seemed to sometimes make it seem that we should be more careful about how much we let Christmas and Easter impact our Sunday services. Some good quotes I pulled below -
“As we continue meditating on the meaning of advent, we are not as much resisting attempts to make Christmas meaningless as we are fighting with alternative meanings.
There is no such thing, from the last analysis, as a vacuum holiday. A celebration without a point. Attempts to neutralize Christmas are simply a intermediate step, and the alternative meanings are waiting in the wings. (Luke 2:34-35)"
…
“Much has been made of the Puritan opposition to Christmas, but more than a little bit of the problem was caused by how Christmas was celebrated...
The problem was actually comparable to us objecting the drunkenness and fornication at Marti Gras, only to be told that we have a problem with the resurrection because lent is the preparation for Easter and Marti Gras is the last blowout before surrendering things for Jesus...
There was another matter also. That of binding the conscience. One of the great achievements of the reformation was the doctrine of the liberty of conscience, rightly understood. "On their own authority, men do not have the right to bind the conscience of another in areas not addressed by the Word of God." WCF Chp. 20 s 2.
What does this mean? The short form in this context is that there is difference between holy days and holidays and between both of them and civil days off."
…
"We will define our time by some system. The year is an inescapable year. Who is the Lord over it? How do we mark our days? Because we live in time, the rhythms of that time will either by Christian or not. To reject the one, is to accept the other."
“As we continue meditating on the meaning of advent, we are not as much resisting attempts to make Christmas meaningless as we are fighting with alternative meanings.
There is no such thing, from the last analysis, as a vacuum holiday. A celebration without a point. Attempts to neutralize Christmas are simply a intermediate step, and the alternative meanings are waiting in the wings. (Luke 2:34-35)"
…
“Much has been made of the Puritan opposition to Christmas, but more than a little bit of the problem was caused by how Christmas was celebrated...
The problem was actually comparable to us objecting the drunkenness and fornication at Marti Gras, only to be told that we have a problem with the resurrection because lent is the preparation for Easter and Marti Gras is the last blowout before surrendering things for Jesus...
There was another matter also. That of binding the conscience. One of the great achievements of the reformation was the doctrine of the liberty of conscience, rightly understood. "On their own authority, men do not have the right to bind the conscience of another in areas not addressed by the Word of God." WCF Chp. 20 s 2.
What does this mean? The short form in this context is that there is difference between holy days and holidays and between both of them and civil days off."
…
"We will define our time by some system. The year is an inescapable year. Who is the Lord over it? How do we mark our days? Because we live in time, the rhythms of that time will either by Christian or not. To reject the one, is to accept the other."
December 27, 2023
This book helped me to understand the more of the why behind celebrating Christmas with enthusiasm, joy, and “stuff!” Jesus came into a PHYSICAL world, therefore, we should celebrate with physical things. This is not less spiritual, this is using all the tools in our tool belt to celebrate the greatest rescue mission mankind has ever known. That is worth celebrating! And while Christmas lights, cookies, and caroling cannot save us, Christ can, and did! So we get to enjoy Christ through His good gifts to us.
I enjoyed thinking more thoughtfully about aspects of the Christmas story like:
-The miracle of a star coming out of the sky to rest over a home and lead the wise men to Jesus, without burning up the earth. Unexplainable in our human minds, but true!
-The significance of Simeon’s prophetic blessing on Jesus and Mary.
-How the Christmas story is full of God choosing to favor the humble. Jesus came down as a child and modeled to us what he meant when he told us to have faith like children. Whatever he commands, He has already done perfectly!
I enjoyed thinking more thoughtfully about aspects of the Christmas story like:
-The miracle of a star coming out of the sky to rest over a home and lead the wise men to Jesus, without burning up the earth. Unexplainable in our human minds, but true!
-The significance of Simeon’s prophetic blessing on Jesus and Mary.
-How the Christmas story is full of God choosing to favor the humble. Jesus came down as a child and modeled to us what he meant when he told us to have faith like children. Whatever he commands, He has already done perfectly!
Read
January 13, 2019On Advent:
"This does not include three weeks of meditating on how you are not worthy to go to banquets. Of course you are not. Haven’t you heard of grace? Celebrate the stuff. Use fudge and eggnog and wine and roast beef. Use presents and wrapping paper.
Embedded in many of the common complaints you hear about the holidays (consumerism, shopping, gluttony, etc.) are false assumptions about the point of the celebration."
"This does not include three weeks of meditating on how you are not worthy to go to banquets. Of course you are not. Haven’t you heard of grace? Celebrate the stuff. Use fudge and eggnog and wine and roast beef. Use presents and wrapping paper.
Embedded in many of the common complaints you hear about the holidays (consumerism, shopping, gluttony, etc.) are false assumptions about the point of the celebration."
December 26, 2025
A refreshing application of the fact that Christ's incarnation is worthy of celebration, worthy of societal emphasis, worthy of national focus, worthy of all glory, honor, and making merry.
Of note was his sidebar (one of many on a variety of subjects) addressing the historic traditions like Lent. Wilson makes the case that Christians now should not seek extended periods of "penitential ritual", since these extended rituals SHOULD be interrupted by the weekly Sabbath rest/feast rythms anyway.
Of note was his sidebar (one of many on a variety of subjects) addressing the historic traditions like Lent. Wilson makes the case that Christians now should not seek extended periods of "penitential ritual", since these extended rituals SHOULD be interrupted by the weekly Sabbath rest/feast rythms anyway.
December 31, 2019
Good Advent read!
I can’t say that I agree with Doug Wilson in everything that he wrote in this book (or evening agree on everything he believes outside of this book) but he has some really interesting thoughts that needs to be pondered! This book is a very good read after all.
I can’t say that I agree with Doug Wilson in everything that he wrote in this book (or evening agree on everything he believes outside of this book) but he has some really interesting thoughts that needs to be pondered! This book is a very good read after all.
December 10, 2019
Just what I've come to expect from Doug Wilson: brief, punchy, well-written, and edifying.
Got it via the free give-away on Kindle - thanks for the gift!
Got it via the free give-away on Kindle - thanks for the gift!
February 18, 2021
It was fun to finish up these meditations on Christmas in February.
December 27, 2021
I loved taking the time to think through the major pieces of the advent story. It was a blessing to me this advent season.
December 24, 2022
Really excellent stuff, especially the daily readings for Advent. There are a few overstated lines here and there, but the lessons are glorious.
Loved it.
Loved it.
December 26, 2023
Great book about the advent season. I learned a lot I didn’t know and was challenged to rethink some things.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews