I would think that if modern Christians knew what modern
Christmas is about, they might very well want to wage war on it! My guess is
that if people, in general, knew what
ancient popes used Christmas for, they might indeed step strongly away from it
and the dark deeds committed in its name.
But nothing is that simple in life and Christmas is no exception.
Unfortunately, in our 5-second-information-sound-bite society and low tolerance
for complexity and our rejection of education, what Christmas is and what it
does and where it came from and why we observe a kind of secular version of it
is, simply not interesting to many
people.
And what to do with all of that
information if I do read up? Will I have to throw the baby out with the
bathwater? Or, will I have to think for myself? Don’t you just hate
that!
But,
but, is practicing Christmas un-Christian?
Yes and No. It depends on who you ask and how you observe it
and whether or not you are a Christian in the first place, and what kind of
Christian and how you interpret the scriptures, and… sigh….And don’t think it’s any easier if you’re not a Christian.
There are things to think about…unless,
of course, you just don’t care about knowing what the traditions you hand to
the next generation are all about. I
find that most people prefer not knowing what Christmas is about and where it comes from. Those who do know, tend to be
lenient with the meaning of the traditions and prefer to go with the flow of
warm fuzzy feelings generated by glitter, gifts,
and family.
Few know of its
somber history when ancient Popes with almost god-like authority allowed its
celebrations to victimize Jews and to
consolidate their growing control absorbed such practices as tree
decorating and re-branded them as acceptably
Christian. Non-Christians who celebrate Christmas have no problem singing
eggnog-warmed Christmas carols about the good king, Wenceslas, or about the
silent night when a virgin delivered the Prince of Peace, not knowing and not
believing or sometimes not understanding the words at all.
I can see why a
Christian might get bent out of shape. I guess it’s like when people
summarize my faith tradition as positive thinking, and then go ahead and write
a book about how to think yourself into prosperity. I don’t like it one
little bit.
One perspective among
modern Christians (and also our Puritans of the past) is that Christmas is a
decidedly un-Biblical practice. Why? Because nowhere in the Bible does
are Christians instructed to celebrate Jesus' birthday, to throw a party, roast
a turkey, give a gift and put up a fir tree...
and it doesn't mention December 25th. (No one knows the date of Jesus'
birthday. The date of December 25 is thought to have coincided with the
conclusion of the week-long pagan
celebration of Saturnalia, a period of lawlessness, indulgence, and revelry.)
But
wait... can Christians celebrate
Christmas anyway? Is there another
perspective?
Well yes! There
is another perspective. You might say that just because the Scriptures are silent about the form and
practice of celebrating the birth of the central figure of Christianity,
doesn't mean Christians can't make a special celebration of anything in the
Bible. There is no scriptural rule for or
against it.
Relief. For
Christians, that is.
The very presence of
the accounts of the birth of Jesus in the gospels—albeit that they don't match
perfectly, and assuming you’re not going to get all nitpicky about the inerrancy of the word—suggests that the reading
of the story regularly would be appropriate. The reading of the gospels as part
of Christian worship and education is customary. I suppose a reading of the
scriptural account of the birth of Jesus on an annual basis to celebrate and
teach new generations would be just fine, especially if it were done with awareness about incorporating
non-biblical practices.
Whoops, there’s the
problem, all those things we do and practice over and above the reading of the
story. I ask people why we give gifts at Christmas, why do we hang
mistletoe, why do we bring a tree inside and decorate it. Most people don't know and don't care. Santa Claus, Father
Christmas Saint Nick, they don't know who, or what, or why; but they do—they
tell me—love everything that the season is about.
Sigh.
But,
but, isn’t it pagan?
Yes and no.
Some people believe Christmas is a thinly disguised version of an ancient pagan
celebration called Saturnalia which took place on December 25.
But
wait, is that completely true?
“No!” says Dr.
Richard P. Bucher, quoting two theories that point to other reasons for placing
the celebration of Jesus’ birth on December 25. One says that Julius,
Bishop of Rome in the 300’s carefully researched the details available to him
to arrive at December 25. He had the official records
of the Roman census
examined to get to the date. Although it is
acknowledged that there are many problems with the accuracy of his
conclusion, the point is it was allegedly the result of research. Another
more likely theory points to the deliberate choice of the date by the Church of
Rome to turn people’s attention away from the celebrations that took place at
that time of year to celebrate the Sun God and turn
it into a celebration of the Son of God. Smart move! And
because the Church chose the same date as a traditional
pagan party to celebrate Jesus’ birth doesn’t mean that Christmas is intended
to be a pagan party. That’s up to you and me.
But,
is it up to you and me?
Yes, that’s probably
the heart of the matter. It’s up to you and me to decide what the lights,
and trees and gift giving mean. Lights, gifts, gathering and merry making
have been the hallmark of a good party for a long time. And if a
Christian decides to use any of those to celebrate the birth of their central
figure, how can it possibly mean they are being Pagan? And anyway, what on earth is wrong with being Pagan?
(Modern Pagans are not what ancient Pagans were,
and modern Christians aren’t what ancient Christians were.) Can’t we all
just get along?
If a non-Christian
wishes to celebrate the holidays with lights, gifts, gathering and merry
making, that’s good too. (I would be interested to hear how a
non-Christian explains the lyrics of familiar
carols to their children. I’d vote for honesty, to tell the children the songs
belong to a traditional religion that
celebrates the birth of their leader at this time of the year, and we sing them
because we can’t go to a mall and avoiding them, and they're darn catchy.
But being able to talk to our children about who Jesus is, in the Christian world
as compared to in our faith tradition becomes necessary,
and in my opinion, will not only preserve
the culture in both faiths but lead to an
increase of mutual respect.)
Here’s
the real problem…the Mall.
"Because
gift-giving and many other aspects of the Christmas festival involve heightened
economic activity among both Christians and non-Christians, the holiday has
become a significant event and a key sales period for retailers and businesses.
The economic impact of Christmas is a factor that has grown steadily over the
past few centuries in many regions of the world." Wikipedia
There
is something about this time of year that makes us want to celebrate, gather
with friends, express good will, and enjoy family. Luckily, in my faith tradition, whether you
do that with a menorah, a Christmas tree, carols, or a quiet vigil of prayer,
it doesn’t matter.
There is no command to celebrate life one way or the other, so we are free to
do it this way or that way.
If the “something”
that makes us want to celebrate is advertising, then we have to pause to think.
I'm not for waging a war of any kind; I am for thinking about the influences
that press down upon us and cause us to
do what we do when we do it. I am for waking up to what the traditions in
my life mean.
More Reading:
Not caught up in the holiday spirit? – containing the politically correct holiday greeting
The Christmas Tale – the power of story
Boxing Day – the story of the good king, Wenceslas
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