Like most of you, I look forward to waking up on Christmas morning to see my children’s eyes glowing with anticipation of opening up their gifts. I even somehow enjoy the yearly trips to the mall with our now-four-year-old daughter to see Santa and experience the excitement and joy of the season. I don’t even have to mention the cookies, do I?
What I do not like and you will never find is a manger scene or the religious pageantry that others put into this season on display in my front yard – (but I will defend my neighbor’s right to do so). In addition though I say “Merry Christmas” and am sickened by others that cower in “political correctness” and fear of uttering those words.
In my opinion, for what that is worth, there appears to be two camps during the holiday or Christmas season. I wonder, (and challenge you), if how many have ever went one step further than considering your reason for the season but thought on the season with reason.
Jesus is the Reason:
First, some fervently defend a single day as a religious holiday steeped in biblical and theological history. Historically, the concept of celebrating Christmas was employed to entice Pagans to the Roman Church. Nowhere in the scripture will you find record of a continual celebration of the birth of Jesus, but the same scriptures clearly say we should remember and commemorate His sacrificial death. It was not until the middle of the third century that any part of the Church celebrated the nativity of our Lord. Even then, it was not until long after the Western Church had set the Christmas example, that the East finally adopted it. Over generations, many came to not only embrace and celebrate the nativity, but changed it to neatly fit a sixty-minute pageant script.
As far as traditions, look no further than the pilgrims. These English separatists came to America in 1620, and were even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Oliver Cromwell himself. As a result, Christmas was not a holiday in early America. From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was actually outlawed in Boston. Anyone found to be exhibiting the Christmas spirit was fined five shillings.
Take Christ out of Christmas:
The second camp, on the other hand, attempts to remove Christ from this holiday completely to “secularize” society. These are not attacks upon the symbols of a holiday but upon freedoms and faith in general. Facts are, for two millennia, people around the world have been observing Christmas with traditions and practices that are both religious and secular in nature. While the Boston of old opposed the celebration entirely, the historical accounts of Captain John Smith and the Jamestown settlement indicate that Christmas was enjoyed by all and passed without incident. It was in the early 19th century that Christmas began to firmly take hold in America, as authors such as Washington Irving and Charles Dickens redefined it as a peaceful family holiday (not a religious one).
So what is my reason for the season?
Believers should spend every day in thanks and praise to God for the gift of His Son. We should embrace songs such as “Joy to the World” and sing them all year. Like any other day of our lives, we should live it to serve the Lord. Let us remember that every day and every opportunity is provided to us by divine providence. Christmas day and every day are afforded us to tell everyone who Christ is, to preach the message of His finished work, and to call everyone to reconcile to God. We can take joy and know that it is not by accident that at least once each year all unbelievers are faced with the truth that Christ became flesh to save His elect.
Believers and non-believers alike should embrace the holiday season. Christmas should be a peaceful, warm-hearted holiday bringing groups together across lines of wealth and social status. Christmas is now a cultural holiday more so than a religious one. Not to say, of course, that there are no religious elements left in Christmas as there are clearly many and obvious ones. This would be expected of a cultural holiday, though, given that religion remains an important aspect of our culture. Today’s Christmas holiday, though, is more than just religion. In fact, significant portions of our Christmas celebrations don't originate in Christianity at all. Rather than stress about the blurry line this holiday has become, make it a time to be with family and friends, give selflessly to someone who would never expect it, or reach out to the person you haven’t touched in a long time. Enjoy the season with gratitude and joy to others.
While I loathe the religiosity of this holiday season, we can all be delighted for any time of year that brings families together, encourages kindness and goodwill, and promotes thoughtfulness and generosity to others. There is nothing wrong with coming together, giving gifts, sending cards, (did I mention eating cookies?) or especially for giving God thanks for the gift of His Son. Rather than squabble endlessly in defense of the meaning of December 25th, use it as it you should the other 364 days on the calendar- this day like any other day let us exalt it to glorify God.
Merry Christmas
