CHRISTMAS - WHAT MAKES IT IMPORTANT
Pastor David L. Brown, Ph.D.
1980, David L. Brown
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WHAT MAKES CHRISTMAS IMPORTANT?
Some mistakenly think that December 25th was the day Christ was born. The honest truth
is, that no one is exactly sure when Christ was born. The Bible is strangely silent on the
issue!
Let me share with you some interesting historical notes. Did you know that the
Apostolic and early churches did not even celebrate the birthday of Christ? The only
recognition of his birth that I have been able to find was a century after Christ had
ascended to heaven. An early churchman from Rome urged the people in his congregation to
sing musical prayers, praising God for the birth of the Lord Jesus. No specific date was
connected with his encouragement.
It is curious to note that Eastern Orthodox Churches believe Christ was born on January
6th and Armenian Churches celebrate his birth on January 19.
One Bible Scholar, Frank R. Klassen, believes that Christ was born on April 1, 5 B.C.
In fact it is his theory that this accounts for "APRIL FOOLS' DAY," because
those who remembered Christ's real birthday were heckled as "APRIL FOOLS."
Is that possible? I can tell you this from my research. .. No one is able to determine
the origin of April Fools' Day! It IS possible, yet no one knows for sure.
- HOW DID CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS ON DECEMBER 25TH
GET STARTED?
Many Roman Catholics would like to point to Pope Liberius, who in 354 A.D. decreed
Christmas to be celebrated December 25th. In reality it was the Roman Emperor, Constantine
who declared December 25th to be Christ's birthday in the year 336 A.D. What was his
reason for this? It was based on political pressure! Many zealous church members urged the
decree.
Why December 25th? That day was already observed as a heathen holiday..."THE FEAST
OF SATURN, BIRTHDAY OF THE UNCONQUERED SUN." This pagan feast began two weeks of
festivities which included feasting, drinking, abstention from work, special musical
presentations and the exchanging of gifts.
You will remember that Constantine was the first "Christian" emperor of the
Roman Empire. As a result of a vision of the cross, inscribed with "In hoc signo
vinces" which in Latin means by this emblem shalt thou conquer in 312 A.D.,
Constantine gave full support to Christianity and proclaimed it the official religion of
the Empire. It is said he even ordered his army to ride on horseback through a river to
"baptize" them into Christianity. It was Constantine's desire to
"Christianize" December 25th so that people would not have to lose a holiday and
could honor Christ, the Light Of The World instead of the pagan god Saturn and the Sun!
You can see December 25th is a MIXED BAG. It is NOT the day that makes Christmas
Important!!!
Where did the name "Christmas" come from? It comes from the Latin
"Christes Masse" of Christ's Mass. This grew out of the Roman Catholic feast day
by that name in the A.D. 1 00's. "Christmas" is not found in the Bible, nor is
it a prescribed scriptural holy day.
It is NOT the NAME that makes Christmas important! So what makes it important?
This "Jolly Old Wit" never existed. How did we get him then? Well, it took a
lot of beating around the bush actually. Here's how it goes . . . There was a churchman
named Nicholas in Myra, which is in Asia Minor. He lived in the A.D. 300's. Not a lot is
known about Nicholas, except he gave his possessions to the poor children in his parish.
He was "sainted" supposedly because he brought two children back to life who had
been viciously murdered. ln medieval times he was the Roman Catholic Patron Saint of
children, merchants and seafarers.
St. Nicholas had a special day December 6th, which coincided with an ancient Roman
Holiday at which time secret gifts were given. I have been unable to find any information
revealing when this Roman tradition of secret gift giving was transferred to Christmas day
with "Saint Nick" regarded as the giver. But it seems that the transition took
place in Colonial American times.
We do know the Dutch brought him to the American Colonies as "Sante Niklass"
. . shortened and run together, forming SanteKlas or Santa Claus as we say it today. Dutch
children expected the friendly fellow to visit them on the eve of December 5th and would
place their wooden shoes in front of the fireplace to be filled with goodies by the next
morning.
The belief that Santa Claus enters the house through the chimney developed from an old
Norse legend. The Norse believed that the pagan goddess Hertha appeared in the fireplace
and brought good luck to the home.
It was not until relatively recently that our present day Santa Claus really developed
as we know him. In 1822 an American minister named Clement C. Moore first described Santa
complete with fur-trimmed suit and his reindeer powered sleigh, for his children in a poem
called "A Visit From St. Nicholas." In 1823, at the bidding of friends, Moore
published his poem calling it "THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS" in the Troy, New York
Sentinel. This well loved poem is the foundation of our present day Santa Claus.
As interesting as the Santa Claus is, and the history surrounding him, it is NOT SANTA
that makes Christmas important!
ARE THE TRADITIONS OF CHRISTMAS WHAT MAKES IT
IMPORTANT?
There are many interesting traditions that surround the Christmas season. You could
write an entire book on them. I want to consider just a few of them and explain their
origin.
An early Roman ritual was to exchange green tree branches on January 1. They believed
this would bring them good luck.
The Scandinavian people once worshipped evergreen trees. They believed godlike spirits
inhabited them so people brought trees into their homes to please the spirits and seek
their blessing. When the Gospel of Christ reached the Scandinavian people they made the
evergreen tree part of their Christian Festivals.
The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah also mentions ancient pagans making idols out of
trees and worshipping them. in Jeremiah 10:3-5. This is a reference to Asherah poles, not
the "Christmas" tree.
But how did the "Christmas Tree" get to where it is today? Germans are
responsible for bringing the Christmas tree to the New World. The German theologian and
reformer Martin Luther (14831546) was perhaps the one who popularized the "Christmas
Tree" as we know it. The tale goes . . . One clear, brisk Christmas Eve, Martin
Luther was walking home under the starstudded sky. It was so wonderful. As he walked he
tried to think how he could catch the beauty of that eve and bring it home to his
children. Suddenly he thought of a large evergreen tree gleaming with candles. He
proceeded to find a tree, cut it down and take it home to decorate it. His children were
delighted.
Hence we have the beginnings of our modern day "Christmas Tree" with all the
trimmings.
As interesting and beautiful as Christmas Trees are, they are NOT the reason Christmas
is important!
No one seems to know how it became a part of Christmas. Originally it was a pagan
symbol of erotic passions. Ancient Celtic, Druid Priests (witches of sorts) used it as a
charm to symbolize erotic passions.
Primitive Britons thought it possessed magical healing properties, while early Romans
regarded mistletoe as a symbol of peace and goodwill.
Somehow from all of this came our modern custom that a woman passing under it should be
kissed and if unmarried it was a sign that she was soon to marry.
This certainly is NOT what makes Christmas important!
It was the ancient custom of the Norse and Anglo-Saxons to burn a huge oak log once a
year in honor of "THOR -- God Of Thunder. "When these people were reached with
the Gospel of Salvation in Christ Jesus, they "Christianized" this custom and
made it a part of their Christmas, Yuletide traditions.
There IS more to Christmas than burning a big log ... surely!
Are these little jewels what makes Christmas special? This year Americans will spend
close to $1 billion on the cards and another $500 million for mailing them! Wow . . .
ouch! Yet it was not
until 1 865 that Louis Prang of Boston printed and sold Christmas Cards in the United
States.
Is that what makes Christmas important?
Many will agree that this practice has gotten somewhat out of hand. Christmas is over
commercialized. The "spirit of indulgence" has become the rule, with credit card
bills to prove it. Christmas is the MERCHANTS DELIGHT and the CLERK'S DESPAIR, not to
mention the post Christmas return rat race! $10 billion will likely be spent in America
this Christmas for over 1 billion gifts, plus $150 million worth of wrapping paper. Don't
even ask me about the booze that will be bought and consumed between Christmas and New
Year's Day.
What would the Puritans of early America say if they saw Christmas today? In colonial
times they called its celebration "Romish Rags" because of the features of
paganism it involved. They even passed "Blue Laws" forbidding the keeping of
Christmas, making minced pies and cooking plum pudding. A little harsh? I think so! But
the big question still remains. WHAT MAKES CHRISTMAS SPECIAL?
Strip off the day, the name, Santa and the reindeer, the tree, mistletoe, Yule logs,
cards and all the commercialization and what do you have left? Some would say, "Just
one BIG EXCEDRIN HEADACHE!" And they would be partially right, because when it comes
right down to it, for many, December 25th is just an excuse to have a party, get drunk,
spend money they don't have or need elsewhere, overeat and take time off work. For
others it is a time of "Christmas Neurosis," loneliness, fear, despondency and
emotional stress.
Why not chuck the whole mess in the trash can?
Simply because Christmas is more than a day of traditionalism, commercialism,
materialism and indulgence. CHRISTMAS REVOLVES AROUND A PERSON, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
CHRISTMAS IS A TIME TO EXALT HIM AND WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR THE WORLD. CHRIST IS WHAT
MAKES CHRISTMAS SPECIAL!!!
Christmas in this day has come to include Christ, at least in some measure, despite
those who would try to isolate Him from it. The world is at least aware of Christ.
Millions sing Philips Brooks' lovely verses, "O little town of Bethlehem... O come to
us, be born in us, our Lord Immanuel." Millions more will repeat, "unto us a
child is born. Unto us a son is given. And His name shall be called WONDERFUL...
"
Don't abandon Christmas & don't be overcome with the evils of its abuse, rather
overcome the evils with good (Romans 12:21). Look at Christmas as an opportunity to EXALT
CHRIST. I am reminded of Paul's letter to the Roman believers dealing with "special
days --Romans 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth
every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
It is not the day that is important, nor the customs that are observed. What IS
IMPORTANT is revealed in the next verse, He that regardeth the day, regardeth it
unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it...Romans
14:6 If we are going to celebrate Christmas, we are to celebrate it in a Christ
honoring way! This is what has happened much of the time concerning Christmas. When the
Gospel of Christ reached pagan people they "Christianized" their traditions and
redirected them to point to Christ. I do not necessarily agree with the reemphasis
in some cases but I do know Christ is to be lifted up, magnified & exalted. Today we
need to do the same...PUT CHRIST IN FIRST PLACE. Make HIM preeminent.
because HE IS WHAT MAKES CHRISTMAS IMPORTANT.
CONSIDER WHY CHRIST MAKES CHRISTMAS IMPORTANT
The "Greatest Gift" of Christmas is Christ. Matthew 1:21 tells US why -- "...call
his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." Again in
Matthew 1:23 we find that he was to be called EMMANUEL, which means "God with
us." Christ was born of the Virgin Mary as God in human form to save us from the
guilt, penalty, power and ultimately the presence of sin. This is why the Apostle Paul
referred to Christ as the "Unspeakable Gift" in 2 Cor- inthians
9:15.
Even the Apostle John tells us why Christ came ". . .the Father sent the Son
(Christ) to be the Savior of the world (mankind) . . for God so loved the world
(mankind),that he GAVE his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH in Him should not
perish, but have everlasting life." I John 4: 14 and John 3:16. Dr. Luke wrote "For
unto YOU is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."
Luke 2:1 1. Christ is the ONLY Savior! Neither is there salvation in any other:
for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Acts 4:12
You do if you are a human being! Why? "Because all have sinned and come short
of the Glory of God." Romans 3:23.
"The wages of sin is death; but the GIFT OF GOD is eternal life through JESUS
CHRIST our Lord." Romans 6:23.
Christmas can mean forgiveness of YOUR sins and an abundant NEW LIFE for you. If
you have not received Jesus Christ, the risen Son of God, God in the flesh, why don't you
ask Him to forgive your sins .. why don't you repent and turn to Christ and ask Him to
Save you right now?
Dear Lord Jesus,
I know that I am a sinner. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I now choose
to turn from my sins and open my life and receive you as my Savior and Lord. Take control
of my life and help me to be the kind of person you want me to be. Amen.
Does this prayer express your personal desire? If so, pray it sincerely and Jesus
Christ will come into your life as he promised. The Bible says in John 1:12 "But as
many as received him (Christ),to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to
them that believe on his name."
Oh, one other thing. Why not get your Bible out this Christmas season and read the
account of Christ's Birthday found in Matthew 1:18 to 2:23 and Luke 1:26 to
2:20. Read it
to the whole family too.
What makes Christmas important?
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
"Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21.
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