How and Why should
Christmas be celebrated
by the Constituents
of the Grace Church?
By Pastor George D. Cutler
(December 24, 2006)
Grace Gospel Ministry
What really is Christmas?
The word "Christmas" is a derivative of the Old English dialectic Christes Maesse, which evolved into "Christ's Mass, Christ in the mass or Christ worship.” There is nothing in the Scriptures to suggest that Christmas is a religious holiday nor is there any guidance in the Holy Book as to how it should be observed. This is the lacuna (deficiency in the directorial structure) that has enabled various cultures around the world to develop rituals and popular traditions of their own for their expressions in celebrating this very popular holiday. However varied they may be, these traditions and practices all underscore and demonstrate common bases for that which has emitted to exemplify the most accepted characteristics of the holiday. These observances usually start on the 4th Sunday before December 25th and continue through the four weeks period being called “Advent” and on into the second or third week of January in various part of the Earth.
The so-called “spirit of Christmas” is essentially encompassed in the practice of giving gifts to one another. Those that ascribe to orthodox Christianity, as well as many that do not, traditionally exchange gifts, which is supposedly intended to represent God's gift of His Son (Jesus) as a savior to humankind. However the beginning can be historically traced to the tradition of exchanging gifts that goes back to ancient Roman times where a custom existed in which people gave gifts to one another in order to bring themselves good fortune for the New Year. This same dimension of hope and expectation of good things to come is especially relevant today as an unknown dimension of Christmas to people of the world who are looking for some prospect of lasting peace. To many in North America, particularly in the United States and Canada, the Christmas season is heralded beginning with the annual Thanksgiving parade. This event serves as an accentual, which celebrates the arrival of Santa Claus (mythical saintly figure reputed to bestow gifts on the less fortunate) and the festival of Thanksgiving, on which humankind symbolically offer their gratitude for all that they have received throughout the year.
The History of Christmas
The first Historical Christmas was celebrated by the Roman Catholics in 336 AD when it was known as the “Feast of the Nativity.” The word “Christmas” actually entered the English language sometimes around 1050 AD; in expression of an Old English phrase, Christes Maesse; mirroring the meaning "festival of Christ." As for the more modern enigmatic term "Xmas," it is widely believed that it may have come into use in the 13th Century with the importation of the "X," drawn from the Greek letter C, which is pronounced “chi” (Erasmus) or “kh” (Modern Greek); supposedly representing the abbreviation for Cristo,j (Khris·tos) rendered “Christ.” Some scholars have even averred that the "X" might stand for the cross upon which Jesus Christ was crucified. Another mystique attached to Christmas is its association with a "holy" night personifying peace and tranquility. Hence, the celebration of Christmas became heavily permeated with the notion of peace and depictions of the holy night of Christmas, which became its most popular themes in Northern European paintings from the 15th to the 17th centuries. These images became central to the Christmas celebrations of the time and have these same such lasting effects even into the 21st Century.
Although historians cannot place the precise year and date in which orthodox Christendom first began celebrating the Nativity of Christ, most scholars believe that the term “Christmas” actually originated in the 4th century as a “substitute holiday” for pagan celebrations of the winter solstice (the time of the sun's passing a solstice which occurs about December 22nd to begin winter in the northern hemisphere of the Earth). This is very much in the same way that “Autumn Fest” has been recently substituted to replace the celebration of “Halloween” in the “Christian Cultures” today. Before “Christmas” was celebrated, the Romans honored Saturn, the ancient god of agriculture, in a festival called Saturnalia which commenced on December 17th. This festival lasted for seven days and included the winter solstice, which usually occurred around December 25th on the ancient Julian calendar. During Saturnalia, the Romans feasted, postponed all business and warfare, exchanged gifts and temporarily freed their slaves. Many Romans also celebrated the lengthening of daylight following the winter solstice by participating in rituals to glorify Mithra, the ancient Persian god of light. These as well as other winter festivities continued through January 1st, the festival of Kalends, when Romans marked the day of the new moon as the first day of the month and year.
Here it is noteworthy to interject that most Gentile nations (including Christians) even today observe and operate within the frame work of the calendar instituted by Rome rather than the calendar instituted by God to the nation of Israel in the Old Testament. Thus, the spread of Christianity over the next 1000 years saw the introduction to and observance of Christmas in the rest of Europe and in Egypt. During this period, Christian beliefs were intermingled with existing pagan feasts and winter rituals; thus resulting in the many long-standing traditions of modern-day Christmas celebrations. For example, ancient Europeans believed that the mistletoe plant held magical powers to bestow life and fertility, to bring about peace and to protect against disease. Northern Europeans associated the plant with the Norse goddess of love, Freya, in developing the custom of kissing underneath mistletoe branches. This custom was also later transposed into the Christmas celebrations, as kissing under a mistletoe branch eventually became a part of the modern-day’s secular Christmas tradition.
Hence, the symbolism of Christmas, particularly in its original setting, brings to bear the real significance of the event in the various Christian and non-Christian Cultures, as a harbinger (forerunner) of peace and happiness in heralding understanding and compassion; particularly of those in power toward their subject fellow beings. Most scholars are of the opinion and view that Christmas originated about the 4th Century, wherein Christians began substituting their more tranquil practices of Christianity in lieu of the pagan celebrations of the winter solstice. Over the next 1000 years, Christianity spread to the rest of Europe and to Egypt. Some of these vestiges of pagan beliefs and Christian traditions, as they existed in earlier times still remain; for example, the belief in ancient Rome that the mistletoe plant bequeathed life, fertility and peace and brought relief from sickness and ill health.
Modern Day Christmas
Christmas has now evolved as the time of year when parents and grandparents look forward to seeing their children dressed up as Mary and Joseph or the Three Wise Men. But the traditional Nativity scenery and plays are constantly being challenged by those that favor the secularity mode of the holiday and in some cases have succeeded in such religious connotations having been axed in favor of a celebration of a broad range of different faiths. Others have led attacks on all cards bearing the word “Christmas,” suggesting what they deem to be the more socially-politically-correct expression “Happy Holidays.” The counter-point of this is that those espousing the religious symbolisms of Christmas have viewed these moves as "disgusting" and even as an attack on how they perceive that Christmas should be celebrated. Their views are that that this “skullduggery,” i.e., “this underhanded and unscrupulous behavior,” reflects the workings of some overzealous bureaucrats; purporting that they are protecting against dangerous intrusions into the United States Constitution, while leaders of other religious communities state that they were just as disappointed by the continuing erosion of the Christmas festivities. Non-Christian religious proponents have sullenly suggested that instead of the prioritization of the Nativity message, there should be equal presentations about the origins of Christmas, the Jewish holiday Hanukkah, the Hindu festival Diwali, as well as all other symbols of faith.
Hence, instead of peace, these varied factions wage no-holds barred confrontations of protests and counter-protests …….as those in the orthodox Christian circles exclaim that: "the Nativity is a very important story and we think it's disgusting not to do it because it should be all about the little ones learning about Jesus, which is the story that they should learn about Christmas.” And so on and on the controversies rage, even as it has been forgotten that the entire gamut’s of the holiday was conceived by the ideology of almost every one of the combatants involved in the Christmas debate. What has evolved is religious ideology-social/political correctness gone crazy. This is pointedly the case regarding orthodox Christendom, whose prime contentions mainly revolve around what they have gleaned from tradition rather than their exegetes from the Scriptures regarding the circumstances and intended message of our Lord Jesus Christ. Many of God’s people are so misguided in their conceptions of these Christmas issues that they utilize much wasteful energy protesting things that are mostly irrelevant, as to what Christmas is actually about. Sadly, their actions are well-intentioned but misguided. It would be a most productive project for all to engage their time and resources in study of how the different religions have from the beginning contributed to the December 25th observance (not actually Christ’s birth date), which does not in any fact way chronicle what is scripturally conveyed in the so-called Nativity sceneries and plays that are dramatized. In this sense, Christmas is not really “Christ centered Worship” and the scripturally un-informed should become cognizant that this holiday has never been and could never be exclusively “about Christ after at all."
In essence, it is not the holiday traditions that have evolved from the Christmas celebration, which have come under attack, as the world views such but religious traditions that are not well founded on rightly divided Scriptures. In fact, there were periods within the past two centuries when some organized Protestant Churches actually sought to disassociate themselves from the Christmas holiday observance and some even do today; due to their knowledge of what originally and historically precipitated it and thus its varied modes of celebrations (carousals and reveling, etc.). In this sense, the real issue is not about replacing Nativity sceneries and plays with secular productions, in that it is not really important whether featuring such characters as reindeer Eskimos and even elves really matters. What does it really matter if only one in 100 Christmas cards now express a religious theme or government-funded entities have replaced the terminology “Christmas parties” with what they deem to be the politically-correct jargon, i.e., "winter celebrations".
However one might actually look at it, the Christmas holiday, as it has been historically observed and celebrated by the majority from the beginning is "alive and well." Even the true motives for singing the Christmas carols and other religious songs in the malls and the productions of religious pageants on these premises are geared to the economic profits of retail businesses and can not be seriously accepted as genuine reflection on Jesus Christ. Reluctantly, when all the facts are reviewed, it must be admitted that Christmas is not a spiritual but secular holiday. To this end, there is no spiritual profit nor lost in either endorsing or rejecting the celebration of it. So if it is ones inclinations, put the Christmas trees up, buy presents for love ones, give to charity and yes, even participate in various other cultural festivals of the world (excluding reveling) …………while yet personally maintaining a Christ centered message; as a committed servant of God would always endeavor to do.
The
Commercialization of Christmas
GIFTS: Almost everyone agrees that at the heart of the Christmas Season is the message of altruism, even if it is not really a trait of humanity or what most normally practice systematically but many find themselves indulging in it for the tradition’s sake. Many around the world exchange gifts on this day. Shops in the Western as well as in some Eastern parts of the world are stocked with toys, food, clothes and accessories. In the United States, many consumers are expected to spend heavily during the Christmas season each year. According to the Gallup poll taken November 9-12, 2006, the indications are that 34 percent of adults think that they will spend at least $1000 on gifts.
This year is the strongest
sentiment that has been seen in early November in at least four years. Between
2002 and 2005, only 25 to 30 percent of the people polled expected to spend that
much. More North, in Canada, during Christmas 2005, Canadian consumers spent
$804 each nationally. This was well above the monthly average of $555 for the
rest of the year, excluding December. Hence, there is no room for doubt this
year too, of people in general keeping up their traditions of giving and
spending more during December than during other months of the year. This in turn
gives way to the incontrovertible fact that Christmas has a commercial
dimension to it. Need there then be any further evidence how commercialized this
supposedly “sacred day” is? No doubt about it, the traditional Christmas holiday
always has been, now is and always will be chiefly about big business.
Although the religious calendar calls solemnly for four or five weeks of preparation to celebrate the birth of Christ, the "Christmas economy" far overshadows all other holidays, some of which are yet money spenders in their own characteristics. Thanksgiving Day in the U.S, which falls in late November, serves as little more than a prelude to the greatest shopping weekend of the year. One of the reasons for Christmas to be such a commercialized time of the year is that people anticipate the season every year with increasing enthusiasm. This is perhaps the reason why in 1939, President Roosevelt moved the date of Thanksgiving back to the third Thursday of November, with a view to expanding the Christmas shopping season. It is stated by some economists that the survival of many businesses are dependent on Christmas profits and half of the annual advertising dollar is spent on Christmas-related advertisments. Hence, it is not surprising that the appeal to some shoppers is that Christmas spending is regarded as a patriotic duty to be performed.
Commercialism: Some foist that there is some legitimacy in the commercialization of Christmas, in observing that it did not occur in a social vacuum but such became conveniently entrenched with the increasing consumerism of mankind. In most societies historically, it has become the social culture wherein consumption for its own sake, irregardless of need, is legitimized and even encouraged. In modern day Christendom, excessive consumerism is exploited in the doctrines of religious beliefs; inciting the deep emotions of greed to persuade their faithful to possess many things. Often, religious strains are used in advertising. For example, sociologists who specialize in behavior modification, have demonstrated that the strains of “Joy to the World” trumpeting throughout the shopping malls in December, produces greater profits and that “Silent Night, Holy Night” is even more prolific as a commercial tool. This brings to bear the reasoning that Christmas has really become a religionly-sanctioned occasion for extravagant spending.
Economics: From a purely economic perspective, although excessive spending during the holiday season may be healthy for the economy in the short run, an over-commercialized Christmas comes with other personal costs. The preparations for observing the birth of one who came into this world in the poorest of possible forms, heralding comfort to the poor, are often overrun by the more materially and therefore financially attractive preparations to observe the coming of Santa Claus, the symbolic physical gift bearer. Extravagant Christmas spending means fewer dollars available for those charitable authorities and agencies tackling critical social and environmental problems. One commentator put it well by saying that the loss in this context is not so much in dollar terms but in the sense of exploitation that many feel at Christmas and the depression that follows when Christmas fails to deliver the happiness that the popular hype of materialism promises. This results in the ensuing guilt of such ones having been willing participants in this religious fraud, all of which rob Christmas of its potential to renew the human spirit.
Most Notable Secular Christmas Symbols
Arguably, the three most powerful symbols of the Christmas Holiday, in the non religious sense are: Santa Claus, Christmas trees and Christmas cards.
Santa Claus: The legend of Santa Claus was brought into the United States by Dutch settlers in the 18th Century. Sinter Klaas, as Santa was known in Dutch folklore was personified as a tall dignified and holy figure riding on a white horse through the air. Also known as Saint Nicholas in Germany, Santa Claus was thought to be accompanied by a no-nonsense elf called Black Peter who punished children who were disobedient. This ancient and stringent demarcation between good and bad, reward and punishment, later gave way to the more lenient expression of Christmas depicted by a jolly, fat and saintly looking old gentleman who brings happiness to all humankind.
Christmas trees: Almost contemporaneous with the popularity of Santa Claus is the Christmas tree, which was transformed by the Germans from a pagan symbol of fertility to a symbol of hope and rebirth. Reportedly, the first Christmas tree in England was a gift given by Prince Albert to his wife, Queen Victoria in 1841. The Christmas tree was popularized by German immigrants to other parts of Europe, as well as the United States and Canada. In the present day context, the Christmas tree is decked with candles (to signify light and hope), food (in streamers of pop corn for instance), ornaments of angels plus other symbols of peace and harmony and whatever other items of enticing relevance that are deemed appropriate. It is not uncommon to find gigantic Christmas trees at public squares and shopping malls decorated only with white doves and ribbons to signify peace and unity among people of the World.
Christmas Cards: The overarching significance of the Christmas card that is understood among most people is that it acts as a tool to re-establish contact by one person with another with a message of goodwill and wish for happiness. The practice of exchanging Christmas cards became a widespread custom in the 19th century as a tool of communication and still remains one today in the 21st century. Often, a Christmas card can serve to diffuse hostility and misunderstandings that have been harbored over the year. They are also useful for bringing entire families together at Christmas time. Instrumentally, they can also become tools for introspection and examination for ones unworthiness, as well as opportunities for dissidents of religious organizations and beliefs to embrace the message of peace that Christmas brings. Those living the United States reside in the so-called glamorous world of personal achievements and material ostentations (excessive displays of pretentiousness embellishments) ……..as it has become more fashionable to be individually identified with ones own personal accomplishments. Unfortunately, this is currently the most appealing message in the painful struggles of the new millennium, wherein mainline ministries foist that the hope of ones peace abides in their heightened expectations of receiving an abundance of Earthly yet perishable goods.
The Secular Effect of Politicized and Commercialized Christmas
Celebration: Every year about this time, there is raised a hue and cry among those who are supposedly representing the Church; about the "commercialization" of Christmas, which is accompanied by feigned impassioned pleas for all to get back to the "real meaning of the celebration,” whatever that is. The religiously socially/politically correct yet insincere wordings are: “Too much time and money are spent on the public side of the holiday, i.e., the hustle and bustle of shopping, the lavish decorations and the often insincere displays of seasonal piety while the true spirit of Christmas gets left far behind.” Others representing the secular sector argue that all public displays of a religiously oriented Christmas are inappropriate. Every Christmas season seems to spawn a new series of lawsuits charging that the First Amendment is imperiled by the appearance of the manger’s scenery on civic property or by the singing of carols by choirs. Others more atheistically inclined; claim that the very message of Christmas itself is a violation of their rights when there is public sponsored recognition of its existence. They purpose is to remove Christmas from public life completely, rendering that it should be relegated solely to private and personal expressions of religious sentimental values.
Apparently to them, the essence of even this purely secular Christmas is still too much; even if it is merely representative of something like out of a Norman Rockwell painting of a household gathered around a piano drinking hot spiked cider and singing "Here we go a-wassailing," while an apple-cheeked matron, her eyes sparkling with reflected light from the roaring fire in the hearth, loads the festal board with heaping platters of roast beef, steamed vegetables and candied fruit. This seems so puzzling in that nothing on the surface is wrong with that of course, so far as it goes. Yet the counter-point is that it just doesn't go far enough. It would be a preclusion to claim that commercialization is the sole essence of Christmas but unfortunately such a statement is rather close to the truth. From the very beginning, Christmas has been a public event and was never regarded as a personal matter ……….not even to mention the spiritual remembrance of someone’s conviction.
In its recent century’s portrayals, the Christmas holiday was not only public and commercial but also downright religious and political. One of the most well-known sceneries of Christmas, as commemorated in countless greeting cards and church pageants, is the coming of the Wise Men to honor the baby Jesus. But even this is mostly noted in observance of the public’s perception of the occasion. The Wise Men’s arrival and their caravan into the capital city of Judea were several years subsequent to what is depicted in the scenery. Far from it being displayed in its correct forum as an inspired mission, this pronounced intrusion of falsity was and yet is conveniently introduced into the scenery to accolade the accommodations of what should be obviously known as nonfactual. But the subliminal message is that the Wise Men went Christmas shopping. In contradiction of this fallacy, gold doesn't grow on trees and frankincense and myrrh require human labor for their productions.
Merchants have been capitalizing on this holiday since the inception of the very first Christmas and even more, the scenery portrays no hint that the Wise Men's eventual visit doesn't end with their presentation of gifts. Scripturally speaking, Matthew's account tells of King Herod's jealous rage at this misperceived threat to his tyrannical rule. Hence, he murdered all whom he erroneously perceived as even remote rivals of his power. Herod realized the political implications of Jesus' birth and ordered the death of all male babies in the vicinity of Bethlehem. But the Scriptures’ conveyances focus on the true One that He was afterwards and that the proclamation of Jesus as King is in essence, solely in regards to His relationship to the Commonwealth of Israel. in this light, the concern would be more about Jesus’ incarnation than the aspects of the customizing of Christ as being the focus of abstract theological treatises.
Misperceptions of this nature are what have forged men’s faith and their creeds in proclaiming Jesus Christ’s link between the Heavens and Earth, purely in the sense of its religious-social/political impact. Thus that which is portrayed doesn’t neither shattered nor even rattle old pagan pretensions that mere humans were "divine." Meanwhile, instead of the knowledge of the true message immeasurably benefiting those uniquely targeted to realize its greatest joy, too many of God’s people are enamored by this commercialization of Christmas. The internalization of the true message would signal at least one time in the year when the world could approach some semblance of sanity. But instead; the brightly lit houses, the evergreens garlanded with bulbs and the carols merely provide the musical background for hectic shopping. Hence, what is actually conveyed are mingled messages that fail to mirror the manifested shift from B.C. to A.D. which changed the world forever.
The Scripture's Christmas’ Message
In effect, the Scriptures provide no guidelines as to how the Christmas holidays should be observed nor do they suggest that it should even be considered a religious holiday. Because of the absence of biblical instructions in this regards, Christmas rituals have been shaped by the religious and popular traditions of the various Church Cultures that celebrate the holiday. Traditionally, the religious Christmas season starts with “Advent,” (the period observed by some Christians as a season of prayer and fasting) which begins on the fourth Sunday before and continues through Christmas Day, as the supposedly sacred season ends with “Epiphany” on January 6th (which is observed as a commemoration of the coming of the Magi as the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles or in the Eastern Church in commemoration of the baptism of Christ). Traditionally during Advent, “Christians” make preparations for the commemoration of Jesus' birth on December 25th and also look forward to the Second Coming of Christ. Each of the four weeks symbolizes a different way in which they perceive Jesus Christ: through the flesh, the Holy Spirit, death and Christ's judgment of the dead. The Advent wreath, which consists of four candles anchored in a circle of evergreen branches, originated with the German Lutherans and this tradition has been adopted by many churches and families. At the beginning of each of the four weeks proceeding Christmas, they light an Advent candle as they say a prayer.
But the underlying problems with these religious practices are that the focus is on the works of the flesh even though some of them are purported to highlight the flesh of Jesus. The problems with the former (focusing on the works of the flesh) are well document but the latter (focusing on Jesus Christ in the flesh) is well skewed. In II Corinthians 5:16, the Apostle Paul states (from the Greek Text), “Therefore from now on we know no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, but now we know Him so no longer.” II Corinthians 5:14-15 focus on and emphasize the significance of the death of Christ, how all in Christ are identified with Him in death and how He died on behalf of all His elect. In fact, these Scriptures confidently affirm that the message of the Gospel of the Grace of God conveyances are centered in the facts and purpose of His death and resurrection (Romans 6:1-11). This unquestionably sets forth the death of Christ and His elect’s identification with it, as this is truly the basis for their spiritual growth, for His resurrection actually focuses attention away from His Earthly to His Heavenlies ministry.
Note that the Greek phrase avpo. tou/ nu/n (ahpo too neen) rendered “from now on,” may also be rendered “from the now or from the now time.” Here the Greek adverb nu/n (neen) rendered “now,” denotes a change from one dispensation or economy to another. The thought in this verse is that there was a period of time when Christ was primarily known in a fleshly body, as recorded in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew Mark and Luke). But now, during the present Church age of Grace, He is not known in the medium of a fleshly body. While here on earth, incarnate in the flesh, Jesus proclaimed the gospel of the Messianic Kingdom exclusively to, as it was conveyed to and subsequently rejected by the Jews, in the first seven chapters of Acts. Now, Christ is manifestly seated at the right hand of God in the Heavenlies, as Head over the Church (Body of Christ). This message was unknown prior to its revelation through the Apostle Paul, which comprises the Gospel of Grace in both its salvation and mystery aspects.
The literal meaning of II Corinthians 5:16 compels recognition that Jesus’ Earthly, in the flesh ministry was strictly according to the Old Testament prophecies and is DIFFERENT from His present Heavenlies ministry (Ephesians 1:2-3). Hence, Jesus Christ’s present ministry is based in the Heavenlies, is spiritual in nature and in accordance with the revelation of the Mystery that was revealed through the Apostle Paul. In this light, this verse’s literal reading (from the Greek text) is, eiv kai. evgnw,kamen kata. sa,rka Cristo,n (ee keh eh·gno·kah·mehn kaht·ah sahrk·ah Khrees·ton), which is rendered “even though we have known Christ according to the flesh.” Here the cogitation is that many had seen Him (Jesus) and certainly witnessed His ministry while He was on the Earth. However, the Gospel of Grace makes it very clear that the commission of Paul to the Gentiles is not to perpetuate this same Christ-in-the-flesh Kingdom ministry. Note that the latter strong Greek adversative phrase is avlla. nu/n ouvke,ti ginw,skomen (ahl·lah neen ook·eht·ee yeen·os·ko·mehn), which is rendered “but now we know Him so no longer,” as it is utilized to emphasize contrast between the spiritual and physical distinctions of Jesus Christ. In the distinctions of the Earthly Kingdom and Heavenlies Grace Dispensations, the priority is currently on the new message regarding the present way in which Christ “now” relates to His people, members of THE BODY OF CHRIST, THE CHURCH.
Hence, the celebration of Christmas is once again upon us. But now after years of just uniformly following religious-social/political protocol, knowledge that is gleaned from the Scriptures should serve the truly informed in taking advantage of this season for fellowship with family and friends while yet graciously recognizing that it does not afford any liturgical, sacramental nor even spiritual benefits. This knowledge should not incite one to militate against the traditionally religious and secular practices of the Christmas holidays but we can participate in some of them and yet not spiritualize any of them. Let the merchants continue in utilizing the Christmas celebration to make their millions of dollars for their businesses and the corporations continue to encourage their employees to celebrate “the holidays” in their usual mannerisms. Many are concerned about offending someone else but it does matter that the participation of the informed should never breach the borders of directives, which have been scripturally incorporated for members of the Body of Christ in the Grace Dispensation.
The Apostle Paul mentions “the Day of Pentecost” in his epistles but he never gave any directives for participation in it or any for shunning it. Also, there is no indication that Paul’s acknowledgement of Pentecost engendered his participation in it in any covenantal manner. The fact that there are directives discouraging the esteem of one day over another (Romans 14:5-6) does not engender ones active or public protestation against such by offending someone, in that the passage begins with the advice that the “strong ones” should bear the burdens of the “weak,” i.e., the uninformed ones (Romans 14:1). Hence, ones participations should always function according to ones knowledge of what is in the Grace Covenant. As one is persuaded in varied degrees to make special purchases in the season, it should be subordinated to strict adherence of the kindness and love exhibited by God’s grace.
What chiefly matters the most then? The religious and/or secular story about a cute little baby in a stable born on a cold starry night is not much to be concerned about …to the point of precipitating unnecessary discord ……as such would represent all that is counter-productive to the Gospel of Grace; which is about Christ’s death and resurrection. Most people love little babies but the heart of the matter is the One who was born in a manger in manifestation of the Son of the Living God, Jesus Christ. One can comprehend and appreciate the message of the cradle only as it transitions to understanding and internalizing the message of the Cross. The main problem in the scriptural sense is encountered when the manger bed overshadows the Cross. Without a doubt, for manifested testimonial sake, it was necessary that Jesus was born into the world. But the ultimate purpose of His first advent was the sole purpose of His mission, i.e., manifested testimony of His death for the sins of the world (of His elect). This is genuinely the exclusive message comprising the essence of life, which encompasses more than the traditionally seasonal expressions “Merry Christmas” or “Happy holidays!”
Hence, there is no scriptural adduce for offending anyone about this subject or joining in any of the debates neither pro nor con. It really does not matter in any scriptural aspect whether one is a member of the American Family Association, the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights or the Committee to Save Merry Christmas. The so-called conservative Christian groups utilize much ill-informed and misguided energy in threatened boycotts of governmental institutions, business enterprises and department stores, whose advertisements for "holiday trees" and hearty if non-specific holiday well-wishes reflect what is construed by them as "anti-Christian and anti-Christmas bias" or even “un-American.” In amalgamating God and Country, they exclaim that "Christmas is a federally mandated holiday and the 90 percent of people in the United States that celebrate it shouldn't be offended by not calling it what it is" (whatever it is).
And then the retailers straddle the fence by getting in on the farces, as they are well aware that roughly 80% of Americans are “self-identified as Christians.” Some major retail chains, including Wal-Mart, Target, Walgreen's, Macy's, Kohl's and the likes send veiled or coded signals that they have gotten the message. The basis assumption appears to be that while this nation harbors a diverse society, Christmas is the national holiday that trumps all other seasonal celebrations. And so the beat is initiated on "Black Friday," the day after Thanksgiving, which kicks off the annual frenzy of consumerism of the holiday, which sets the tone. Gone are the days when some protested that they were worried about rampant materialism and the cry was that it was time to "put Christ back into Christmas." Now it's time to put Christ back into the likes of Kmart and Wal-Mart, who now bravely proclaimed, "this year, we're not afraid to say 'Merry Christmas!’ "
What does this all translate to the Constituents of the Grace Covenant?
There is a plethora of beliefs and persuasions in America and the world in general. In a sense, these include the one who is a Jew celebrating Hanukkah, a Muslim marking Eid al-Fitr, a neo-pagan Wiccan for whom the Winter Solstice focus is on December 21st and even some of the other world religious traditions ranging from Buddhism to Bahai, even including the symbols for atheism, the Church of World Messianity (Izonume), the "Humanist Emblem of Spirit," as well as the United Church of Religious Science. Given this potpourri of "available" faiths, inclusive of other ancient religions that trace their origins to pre-Christian Europe, it is baffling that all claim to authoritatively offer convincing explanations for the banning of others while yet lobbing for the acceptance of their group's symbolism.
The presumptions in this nation seems to be that while “Christian America” will tolerate a certain degree of religious divergence (Jewish and maybe even some Islamic symbolisms), they feel that there is something about the others that simply crosses the line. So they exclaim that: "Alternative religious perspectives are one thing but paganism is quite another.” But in Pagan symbolism, there is yet a deep and seasonal irony ……one that might come as a shock to the "Save Merry Christmas" crowd and that is, Christmas in its origins and symbolism is perhaps the most pagan-inspired of all holidays. Its dating derives from the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia, which as fore-stated in these writings, was determined by the winter solstice, which is the astronomical point in the year after which the periods of sunlight on Earth lengthens. And that's not all that contemporary Christians have in common with neo-pagans. Most popular symbols surrounding Christmas, i.e., evergreen trees and other greenery, mistletoe and holly, the Yule log, candles, bonfires, and holiday lights; all fuel the mystical spirits with the ability to fly and to enter and leave a house through its chimney plus tricksters to treat or taunt little children, not to mention those elves …….all derived from pre-Christian Europe.
Ironically, these pagan-derived symbols and customs are precisely the elements of Christmas that the so-called Christian activists are pressing to preserve and promote in venues such as Target and Macy's. Compounding the irony even further, these are the symbols that illustrate what's wrong when any one religious group or entity claims the ability to determine what constitutes "religion" in America. In fact, nothing could be more in keeping with the "Christmas spirit" than to respectfully acknowledge religious and secular diversities. And nothing could be truer to the premise that no single self-proclaimed group holds a premium on the meaning of this magical season.
Also, no governmental agency should decide what "qualifies" as an appropriate religious symbol for the “season's greetings.” Hence, the historical Christmas holiday season affords a major observance of accommodations for all as such. All can variedly appreciate the more inclusive acknowledgement that the end of the year is their festive time also. Indeed, particularly by ancient and modern historical design, the matter of being excluded in the holiday season must especially sting and inevitably bring out the fighting spirit in diverse groups; some in fact demanding symbolization of their religion, i.e., the Nativity, Cross or Star of David. And then the secular persuasions raise their protest in opposition by stating that these religious symbolic inclusions indeed affect them in an offensive manner and potentially are in violation of their rights.
Christmas as a season of 'Culture War'
According to these religious traditions, the so-called Christmas holiday season signals a period of preparation for celebrating their various expressions of faith. They view it as a season when their practices as believers exerts a spiritual balance over preferences of non-religious traditions for whom also the holidays hold deep sentimental meanings as well. Even though certain ones that view themselves to be solidly anchored in Christian orthodoxy claim to as least respect other's beliefs, they feel as though those outside of the borders of their circle keep intruding. Their claim that the actions of “outsiders” constitute a "war on Christmas," hence compels retailers to play a balancing act by putting "Merry Christmas" in advertising, thus proclaiming that they have rescued the manger while yet concomitantly, sullenly distancing themselves from such at the behest of those opposing such. As the antics of these "Culture Warriors" are scrutinized, one can not help but wonder whether the central players in these arenas are illusionary, in that realistically, a fitting carol that could be ascribed to them is the famous lyric: "You're so vain. I bet you think this song is about you." Many in these camps seem to gloat over the meaning of the Kingdom Gospel Scripture in the book of Matthew: "Blessed are the peace makers, for they shall be called children of God."
Such attitudes are certainly in keeping with humanistic egos that are actually focused on them instead of Christ. Noting that they aver to be avid scholars of God’s Word, it is amazing that they are such willing contributors to the secular nonsense about Christmas. The witnessing of their arguments and platforms obviously illuminates their need to become educated regarding the holiday of Christmas, both historically and scripturally. And so currently, the great battle for “Christmas” is controlled by traditional forces but is under constant attack with Battle of the Bulge-like offensives launched by the secular proponents. Here a most probing question is: does this have anything to do with the central message of the Prince of Peace? Also, how does the use of the word "Christmas" by Kmart or Wal-Mart assist anyone in preparing to celebrate their religious components of the holiday? Do these great defenders of Christmas expend a like same amount of energy reading, meditation or studying the gospel that they purport to defend, without comprehension of its actual message regarding the coming of Christ? Indeed, it is the "secular proponents" who point out the true origin of the Christmas holiday while these religious “protectors of Christmas” seem satisfied to mawkishly insist on the embellishments of "Holiday ornaments" and "Holiday trees,” of which such have absolutely nothing to do with the message of Jesus Christ. Hence, their cries of "Save the Date" seem even the more ridiculous because no informed biblical scholar would ever claim December 25th as the genuine birth date of Jesus Christ.
Of course, these religious-social/political perceptions of correctness enviably reach such predictable levels of self-parody, i.e., whether the proper jargon should be "Holiday tree" or "Christmas tree," as their opposition just as adamantly militates against the expression "Merry Christmas" and warn that the “happy holidays” greeting is inclusive and sensitive and does not favor one religion over another. Thus the debate goes on from year to year, as to whether the holiday will be "religion-neutral" in holiday greetings and as the battles rage on, they are effectively demonstrating that the message “peace on Earth” was not prophesied concerning this present evil age. The truth be known, the spirit of “good will” is victimized by issues manufactured by ideologues that have nothing to do with the first advent of Christ to Earth. From stem cell research to alleged plots against Christmas, culture war issues have more to do with the politics of the advocacy groups than they do with “peace and good will” on Earth.
Ironically, the "culture war" against Christmas was originally waged by many of the early Protestant Churches in Europe and subsequently by the Puritan settlers in the United States, and there were even laws passed against any type of celebration of it. These facts were either never revealed to or are completely ignored by the religious zealots that are ginned up to rouse the troops in the religious war going on in this country for the “souls of America.” But it is strictly a cultural war, as critical in their minds as the post World War II Cold War with the Soviet Union.
Hence, the pundits on all sides and from every angle are getting in on the act, as in large part, the "war" has been waged by the shouting media voices of attention-seeking medics. Indeed, this era is not demonstrated by recognition of the fact that the holiday that is most popularly observed as “Christmas” from its pagan inception, always has been and always will be a secular holiday, which is more focused on humankind than on God in its entire format. Moderation of opinions and the toning down of all the rhetoric would certainly alleviate many of the irreverent challenges, in effect walling off the din of the ancient practices from the modern popular cultures. The main problem with most of today’s popular cultures is that they are, well, just that … “popular" but not “scripturally” accurate.
As God’s people become more informed, they should challenge the "defenders" of Christmas to examine the Scriptures that they have traditionally relied upon in ignorance ……and especially the Nativity scenery and play. It would do a world of good for them to spend several months of searching out the Scriptures’ reflection of Christ’s first Advent to Earth. With the truth in hand, it would be surprising, as to the amount of drop-out rate of those militating against "The War on Christmas." Hence, there is no need of waging a "battle for Christmas" but the more spiritual function of examining ones own commitment to Christ.
The Value of Comprehension Effectiveness
It seems that one could glean from the experiences of the previous millennium, mankind’s futile endeavors in life and his nagging failures of spiritual deprecation, as a clue in comprehending that this new era should compel all of God’s people to simply serve the Lord and shed the prejudice of self-indulgences. But the Scriptural fact is that such is only available through purposeful revelations from the word of God. This century will most likely be an era wherein the informed will internalize what spiritual consciousness primarily instills in those who depend on the greater knowledge and awareness of Eternal things. The order of such comprehension engenders specialized spiritual skills to fully understand the contributions of realizing the nurture of the boundless Spirit of God’s Eternal Presence. When it comes to quality living, such is without question, distinguished solely as ones superior existence in Christ, as opposed to all that is perishable and destined to be manifestly destroyed.
This quality is a great consolation and blessing, which carries the message that we should now embark upon the manifestation of a renewed life amidst an embodied diversity of the multifaceted Church Cultures that are reputed for their familial spirits of belonging and their ever present hand of humanly inspired friendships and fellowships. These unrealistic expectations should be particularly disconcerting to those having experienced an environment of uncertainty and suspicion wrought by their misunderstandings and the discord that is tendered through their lack of spiritual comprehensions. Whatever Christmas might mean or not mean to the various religious denominations and beliefs does not alter its correct message, which stands globally for peace and joy ............eventually but absolutely not in the “present evil age” (Galatians 1:4). This knowledge should be enough for one to observe December 25th in a scripturally realistic manner, i.e., with hope in ones’ hearts and the expectation of the eternal joy that is to manifestly come in the superior message of the Gospel of the Grace of God. Perhaps this is the most scripturally pragmatic approach to observing what is averred by many to be a spiritual or even religious holiday but yet is really a secular day for families and friends to fellowship, hopefully without overly participating in the retail sales!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Note: Nothing that is voiced within these writings should be construed as a blanket indicted of the traditional services and festivals that mark the general modes of Christmas celebrations as long as such reside within the scriptural disciples of moral and ethical conduct. However, the intent is to emphatically point out the scriptural flaws and fallacies associated with them and denote that the celebrations of the various Christmas rites and rituals provide no spiritual value to ones life other than that which is normally deposited in such ones daily and weekly dedications and devotions.