Perceptions #200311

"Reflections On The Christmas Season"

by Norman Bales

I must admit to mixed emotions about Christmas. You will search the New Testament in vain for any mention of Christmas or a celebration of the Lord's nativity. Christmas is pure tradition. For some people, that's reason enough to avoid the celebration of the birth of Christ entirely. I was in a store one day and overheard a conversation between the clerk and customer. The clerk wished the customer a "Merry Christmas." The acid tongued customer said, "Christmas doesn't occur at my house." Some of those who provided religious instruction to me in my early years would have agreed with him. I thought he made Ebenezer Scrooge look generous.

My early instructors reasoned that Lord would have given us some instructions about how to celebrate his birth if we wanted us to do it. That bit of rhetoric came apart when I read the words of the apostle Paul in Romans 14. Throughout the chapter, Paul concentrated on the degree of latitude Christians should allow each other over personal scruples. He illustrated his point with a comment about special days. He said, "One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind" (Romans 14:5). I concluded that the observance of special days, like Christmas, is left to the judgment of the individual. I have no right to sit in judgment of a person who wants to do something special to honor the Lord on December 25th and nor do I have a right to condemn the person who says "To me Christmas is just another day." If it stopped and ended right there, I wouldn't have much of a problem. Unfortunately, it doesn't.

First, let's consider the man who says, "I'm going to keep Christ out of Christmas." Often he plunges into the secular observance of Christmas without any regard for Christ. He makes sure his greeting cards contain no references to the birth of Christ, shepherds, wise men, etc. Holiday music is chosen very carefully. "Winter Wonderland" is o.k, but "Mary Did You Know" won't be played on his car stereo. If he hears a carol about the birth of Jesus on the radio, he'll switch to a station featuring conservative talk show hosts. He is very careful to avoid any mention of the birth of Jesus in the church assembly during the month of December. In fact he may think that's a good time to focus on the resurrection since he uses the same logic with respect to Easter. Actually I don't know anybody who completely ignores Christmas. If you're really against Christmas wouldn't you ask your boss to let your work that day or at least do what some Jewish people do - offer to work for someone who would normally have to work that day.

Even though he disavows Christmas, he may well spend an enormous amount of money on presents and gifts. If he owns a business, he thinks of the season more as an occasion of commercial opportunity than an occasion to honor the Lord Jesus. Personally, I'm not at all comfortable with the idea of dismissing Jesus during the month of December just because that's the only month some other folks want to honor him. For me, Jesus is going to be in anything I do. That includes Christmas. On the other hand, I find it sad that the Christmas season and the Easter season are the only times in which the name of Jesus is allowed in certain public contexts. Even in a church that doesn't have an "official" Christmas observance, we see the "C and E Christians" (those who only show up at church around the holidays) attend our services. Christmas is a little bit like a rabbit's foot for some people. It's something they do for good luck. Besides that it proves, they aren't completely heathen. It also seems to me that those churches, whose leaders deny the virgin birth, practice the ultimate hypocrisy when they display manger scenes and conduct nativity programs during this time of the year. It also brings out the "do-gooders." Suddenly, we become compassionate and generous toward the poor. But why does the passion dry up in January?

But that's enough bad mouthing. Here are some things I like about Christmas.

1. I'm glad that people are willing to think about Jesus, even though I wish they would do it all the time.
2. I love the music. We've got the buttons keyed to two stations that play all Christmas music. But to be honest, I would rather hear "O Holy Night" more often and I could do without Alvin and the Chipmunks entirely. If I had my way they would ban "Grandma Got Ran Over By a Reindeer."
3. I like the lights and decorations, not because they have any kind of deep spiritual significance. I'm not trying to revive some kind of pagan custom when I put up a tree. I like the trees and the lights because they brighten up the world at a drab time of year. However, I do have a few choice words for the manufacturers of Christmas lights who see to it that a whole string of lights goes dark, when one bulb burns out.

4. I love the story of the incarnation of Jesus. I like to hear it told and if December is the only time some people are willing to give it their full attention, I'll be glad to tell it to them.

5. I like the potential of the season to draw families together. The best thing I can say about a heritage that does not have an official Christmas celebration is that we have lowered the number of church busywork activities to give maximum time for families to enjoy the season together. Family reunions take place, family ties are strengthened and significant family memories are made.

I could give you a much longer list, but that's enough for now. I may have mixed emotions about Christmas, but on balance my views are positive.

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