Bjcorbin's Blog

The topic of “Christmas” has become increasingly controversial within Christian circles.  This seems sadly ironic given Western Christianity’s passion for cultural relevance, while at the same time, many within the church willingly abstain from the one season in which the culture tepidly engages with its songs and stories.  The arguments against this celebration go something like this:

“Christmas has its roots in Pagan festivals!”

“Jesus wasn’t even born this time of year!”

“It probably wasn’t even cold in the season of Jesus’ birth!”

“The wise men didn’t arrive on the night of His birth!”

“Christmas is too commercial!”

And on and on….

Sadly, these types of arguments just make pious church folk seem even more joyless and effectively remove Christ from Christmas in the process. 

Does it really matter whether it was winter, or cold, or what the exact date was?  I would contend that there is a marked difference between celebrating the birth of Christ and celebrating Jesus’ birthday.  If we have no way of knowing the exact date, should we simply forfeit the celebration of His coming? 

The truth is that ancient people were very attuned to the seasons and the cycles of the sun and moon; especially as they related to growing and cultivating food.  As such, the winter solstice was a significant marker in every year, as the descent into darkness finally halted, and the days began to grow steadily longer. 

To be sure, the Pagans did center their celebrations around this annual event, but they were ultimately taking their cues from creation itself.  No doubt, early Christianity arranged their festivals/feasts to in some way counter these Pagan offerings, but the changing of the seasons was a far more significant point of reference. 

The scripture teaches us that the invisible qualities of God are “clearly seen and understood” in the things He created (Rom.1:20), and that because of this, men have no excuse for not finding Him.  Indeed, this is why so many lost people are prone to worship created things like the sun, or moon, or nature itself. 

As the Pagans looked for a source of hope, they found cause for celebration in the turning of the seasons, even if they did not recognize the One who set those patterns in motion.  Should we, who claim to know Him, forfeit our remembrances because they made their arrangements first.

It only seems fitting that we would celebrate the arrival of the “Light of the World” amidst the darkest days of the year.  Alas, our tradition is not rooted in paganism, it is derived from the creation which so clearly magnifies our Creator. 

There are those who would further argue that it was ultimately the death of Christ on the cross that matters, and that the birth of Christ wasn’t particularly consequential.

But before His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus sacrificed His deity; not only to become a man, but to become a man of sorrows, who was acquainted with grief. 

He sacrificed His perfect fellowship with the Father to come to this earth as our Savior.  He sacrificed the glory of heaven for a manger, the rejection of mankind and ultimately crucifixion.

He did all this to become Emanuel, “God with us.”

How much more clearly could God have expressed His love for us than this.

And when the angels shared the glorious news of His arrival, it was with shepherds.  Powerless, voiceless, working folks of no reputation.

He wasn’t born, nor did He live His life anywhere near the seats of human power.  There is no record that He ever went to Rome, and He rarely even visited Jerusalem.

Indeed, when the Son of Man chose to be born on a roadside, raised by a working-class family in Nazareth, and to spend His years of ministry pouring into 12 simple men of little influence, He was making a statement about how He would change the world.

He clearly demonstrated that His Kingdom was not of this world, and He steadily refused to become entangled in the affairs of men.

Make no mistake; the sacrifice Jesus made to become “God with us” was no less profound than the one He made on the cross.

It was the day that our redemption was set in motion, and it certainly warrants a season’s worth of rejoicing.

As the Ark of the Covenant was returned to the tent of David (1Chron.16), which signified the return of God’s tangible presence in the midst of His people, David praised,

Give praise to the Lord, proclaim His name

Make known among the nations what He has done

Sing to Him, sing praise to Him

Tell of His wonderful acts

Glory in His holy name

Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord Rejoice

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad

Let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”

Let the sea resound, and all that is in it

Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!

Let the trees of the forest sing,

Let them sing for joy before the Lord!

And as our God humbled Himself to come and dwell amongst His people, why should our celebration be any less jubilant.

As for the commercial aspect of Christmas, this season is whatever we choose to make it in our hearts and in our homes.  If we decide to adhere to the cultures take on Christmas, then we have no one to blame but ourselves. 

Boycotting Christmas does not serve His purposes nor glorify His person.  There are no bonus points in heaven for historical datebook accuracy.  If we don’t like what Christmas has become then we need to change it for ourselves, and for our children, and for our grandchildren, and for our neighbors and for our community.

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