It's that most wonderful time of the year. When well meaning folks send me emails and links to let me know, prepare to be shocked and amazed, that Jesus wasn't born on December 25th. They go on to inform me that Christmas, and all our holiday traditions are bogus and possibly, if not probably, sinful.
The picture they paint and the facts they share are indeed true. Pretty much all we do at Christmas has little or nothing to do with the Bible. One wrote, "We need to be bold enough to step away from the world's practice and be true to Jesus. Truth and accuracy matter!" How could one argue such a sound argument? Oh, by the way His name was Yeshua, not Jesus. Jesus is an English rendition of a Greek name. Jesus is just the name we traditionally use. Yeshua is Jewish..... Just to be accurate. (Yes, I know. Sarcasm is my first language)
So what are the issues we face as we come to Christmas? And just how can we deal with them?
Yeshua was born in Bethlehem, according to Luke 2:4. "When" is the question that relates to Christmas. It was when Cyrenius was governor of Syria; however, that is not much help as to pinpointing a date. Luke tells us that this was during one of the tax registrations of Caesar Augustus. As there were a few such registrations, and folks had months to register, this likewise gives us little to go on. We get some assistance from Luke 2:8. Here we are told that there were shepherds out in the fields, apparently close to Bethlehem, watching their sheep. Now we know it was the spring or fall. In winter the sheep would be in pens and in summer they would be in the high country. Spring seems nice if you want to tie it to the Passover lambs being born and fall works well if you calculate the time John the Baptizer was born.
Either way it is not December 25th and it is not close to Winter. (side note, the Jewish calendar does not have a December, if you want another reason to not like the 25th). December was chosen, most likely, by Constantine, to appease the pagans who celebrated the winter equinox. Making Rome a "Holy Empire" took some creative political compromise to make everyone happy. So.... Taa Daa. It was the Birth of Jesus celebration.
So the critics are right, no birth of Messiah in December and, yes, there is a tie to a pagan celebration. Now what about that tree you like to decorate? Lots of possibilities here. We have St. Boniface stopping a child sacrifice to an oak tree by cutting down the tree. Tradition holds that an evergreen grew back in its place, symbolizing new life. Druids in Germany decorated evergreens to appease the spirits that inhabited the trees, and after becoming Christians they continued the tradition, the new reason being evergreens spoke of eternal life and their shape pointed to heaven. Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and lots of other early cultures decorated their homes with evergreens as a symbol of the hope of spring. There is nothing Biblical about the tree nor any evidence that an evergreen was used to make the cross for our Lord's crucifixion. It probably has some tie to pagan practice. However, I never think of Druids when I see a decorated evergreen.
Then there is Santa, or Father Christmas, or Kris Kringle, or Saint Nick. At least this has some historic verification. Saint Nicholas was a fourth century Bishop who cared about people. Tradition is that he provided dowries for two sisters so they could get married. He was one of the Bishops to participate in the Council of Nicaea, under the direction of Constantine. His generous spirit evolved into the stories and traditions we hold today. There is nothing Biblical here, other than the call for the followers of God and Messiah to be generous and giving people. Also, Yeshua didn't wear socks so He could not hang them by the chimney with care. (by the way, the King James translation of Zechariah 2:6 is not a proof text for Santa Clause "Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD.") I guess this would be another reason to kill that tradition.
However, we may have overlooked something here. Traditions, even if they are not Biblical, can have value. This year my daughter and I decorated our artificial Christmas tree. She found a hand made ornament given to her by Mrs. Bly back when she was a little girl. Mrs Bly was a lovable grandmother to all the kids in our fellowship back in Virginia. She had been my daughter's Sunday School teacher. The ornament is not just a piece of wood. It is a treasured memory of a Godly woman who has touched my daughter's life. Mrs. Bly lost her battle with cancer years ago, but her memory lives on through a simple Christmas tree ornament. I guess, to be Biblical, I should deny my daughter this precious memory.
Let me make one last observation that actually does come from Scripture. Matthew 2 gives us an account of the Magi from the East coming to find the King of the Jews. It is most likely that these astronomers were from Babylon or Persia. As they studied the heavens they saw a remarkable sight. A new star and it seemed to be moving. Not a typical shooting star but a movement with purpose. They checked the scrolls, perhaps dating back to the time of Daniel, and found the reference to the star of Jacob. They made the perilous journey, of several months, and came into Jerusalem, the city of the king. But, there was no new born king.
Herod called for the Jewish scribes and chief priests to learn where Messiah was to be born. The Magi were directed to Bethlehem, the city where David was born. The Magi then made haste and came to the home where Joseph, Miriam and the young child live (not the stable, for many months have passed from the night of Messiah's birth). They were most likely Gentiles. They came at a random time. What we do know is that it was not Messiah's birthday.
Upon arriving at the home of the carpenter, the Magi bow down and worship the young King of the Jews and give gifts. They are good gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Not something a toddler could use, but I am sure it came in handy when Joseph, Miriam and the child had to flee to Egypt. The point I am making is that Gentile astronomers from a pagan country made a difficult journey to celebrate the first advent and birth of the King of the Jews. His name was Yeshua. They worshiped Him and praised God for His arrival. It was not Messiah's birthday. It was not a Scriptural holy day or celebration. It is not found in the Bible. They simply came to worship the King of the Jews and to Celebrate His birth. From what I can tell in the record Matthew left us, God seems fine with their actions.
I am a little baffled that setting aside a time to praise God and celebrate the arrival of His Son is somehow inappropriate or evil. It seems any day is a good day to celebrate the reality that "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten Son of God." For me, it would have been amazing to stand with the Magi and worship the King, even if it wasn't really His birthday. To shower Him with praise and gifts just because I was there. Just because I chose to.
So I will have fun and put up some lights. I will decorate my tree with my daughter and treasure the memories. I will celebrate His birth and first advent as I wait in expectation for His return.
You can do as you think is best for you. However, if you don't like my tree, well,no offense intended, get over it.
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