A Christian Christmas

What is the essence of Christmas? asks lan Rankin, especially considering its pagan origins.

In its origin, Christmas was a pagan festival. December 25 was observed as the birthday of Mythras, the god of the soldiers of the Roman legions. In respect to the time of the birth of Christ, the Bible gives little information, but certainly it wasn’t winter, on December 25, around which the tradition has grown.

But as a Christian, knowing that doesn’t spoil my enjoyment of the Christmas occasion. I’m happy to celebrate the Queen’s birthday on a day other than the date she was born, but with respect to Christmas, it raises questions about its legitimacy in the Christian context.

Very few would criticise the spirit of Christmas, with its focus on peace and goodwill among humanity, and the tradition of gift giving, the renewal of family relationships and remembering those in want. No-one seriously considers the possibility of sustaining the Christmas spirit for the whole year, as desirable as that might be, so, by implication, Christianity is presented as impractical.

However, the essence of Christianity is care and concern for others as a daily way of life. Christianity certainly will be evidenced by good works, but is never established by them—they are the fruit. While the occasional good deed grabs the headlines, it earns no merit points with God. A once-a-year splurge of good deeds and gift giving is a humanistic, not a Christian response to the needs of others.

The Bible gives a lot of space to the events of Jesus’ birth. The problem with Christmas these days is that it takes the event as an excuse for a once-a-year commercialised celebration. The challenge of Christmas is to not just acknowledge the event but to be changed by it. It is not an excuse for a pleasant break from a year’s routine; it is a challenge to evaluate and change life.

As a Christian, I look for every opportunity to proclaim the good news of the birth of Jesus, not just as an isolated event. It was the beginning of the plan by which God stepped into human history and determined its outcome.

Christ’s first advent is certainly something to be celebrated, but it doesn’t stand alone; it is a pointer, the first of a series of events that culminate in His Second Advent. This time He comes not to offer peace to a world in ignorance, but to execute judgment on a world in rebellion.

I’m not trying to do away with Christmas, for I have no right to tell people how they should spend their time and money, but as a Christian, I’m concerned that Christmas is presented as a “Christian” festival when it isn’t. The challenge of the festive season is to make Jesus the focus of and not merely an excuse for Christmas.

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