Brent,

I’m eager to hear your take on Kensrue’s video. I must admit, I’m quite conflicted (which I think is probably the whole point of the video and you re-posting it).

On the one hand — it is an interesting parallel to not only the darkness and light that scripture teaches us was around Christ’s birth, but in its comparison of Nazis and Herod and his forces. For Americans watching this video, I would imagine it makes a very tangible connection because we know so much about the atrocities of Nazism during WWII.

On the other hand — the image that the ‘bad’ Nazis are pure evil trying to fight the ‘good’ Americans (the forces of light and democracies) oversimplifies, and perpetuates the myth of redemptive violence. It also connects what Jesus’s birth meant somehow to America — I mean, an American soldier is at the center of this story protecting our symbolic Mary & Joseph from the Nazis. I have a really difficult time with that.

That violence plays such a prominent role in the video is a double edged sword as well. It’s powerful, graphic, and reminds us of the struggle that is happening around us that we either are unaware of or cannot see. Most powerfully, at least to me this Christmas season, is that Christ is the Prince of Peace, and He is alive and working to bring an end to the violence within our own souls and between one another all across the world. That the video ends on this note is, in my opinion, its most powerful asset.

Like I said — I’m curious about your take.