MERRY CHRISTMAS!

In Genesis 3:15, God told the serpent that enmity would be between him and the woman and that her offspring would crush his head. From then, God's unique, sole, and unwavering plan was set in motion: the plan of Messiah. Sin infected humanity through Adam. Fourteen generations from Adam to Abraham, fourteen from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to Israel’s exile, and fourteen from exile to Jesus would pass, all while Satan tried to thwart the plan but perpetually failed. Today, Christians around the globe remember, celebrate, and live in the reality of Messiah’s birth. No bi-polarity but truly God and truly human, perfection took the consequence of total, absolute, and unavoidable imperfection. The one who created Mary and Joseph would be raised by them. He was born for the purpose of a humble and terrible death on behalf of his people. Let us, now part of his story and adopted into his family, rejoice this Christmastide, for Christ has come and will return for his own!

IS CHRISTMAS DERIVED FROM SECULAR OBSERVANCES, AND IF SO, SHOULD WE CELEBRATE IT?

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IS CHRISTMAS DERIVED FROM SECULAR OBSERVANCES, AND IF SO, SHOULD WE CELEBRATE IT?

            Approaching the Christmastide season, it is common to hear arguments on various sides for or against the celebration of Christmas including those related to the actual date of Christmas itself. Many of the American traditions have little to do with the birth of Christ such as Christmas trees, the exaggeration of St. Nicholas that we find in Santa Clause, and even the giving of material gifts. I believe that these external elements are not wrong or right in and of themselves; yet, we must be careful with them and have likely lost the sense of Christmastide in American culture. Additionally, I believe a large reason for that is the negation of the Advent season: bypassing Advent may only contribute to the materialistic attitudes we possess. Those opposed to religion often claim that Christmas (and other Christian observances for the same matter) is derived from pagan rituals alone and even fall in the way of atheists who claim this as a sufficient reason to abandon the celebration. One such argument suggests even the timing of December 25 to be evidence that Christians celebrate falsely. Indeed, the same arguments are made against all Christian celebrations, which should cause Christians to consider the foundational reasons for observances. Here I will argue for the celebration of Christmas as a vital observance in Christian life and conclude by extending the philosophy to all Christian observances.

Why December 25?

            I should begin with one of the primary arguments against Christmas: the date itself. The first recorded date of Christmas being celebrated December 25 is 336 AD under emperor, Constantine; yet, it was not an official Roman state festival.[1] Unfortunately, biased human secularism clings to this idea and furthers the claim to submit that Christmas is derived from pagan rituals rather than the literal birth of God himself and it has only been perpetuated because of Constantine’s decree. The obvious bias is evident in this suggestion. There are, however, multiple theories on how and why December 25 was chosen. It should be noted that these are merely theories and nothing more.

            One theory suggests that so many Pagan festivals occurred around this date so it was natural to include the Christian celebration of Christ’s birth. For example, the birthday of the Pagan Sungod, Mithra, was celebrated December 25 when the Romans thought the Winter Solstice occurred.[2] Another theory suggests that December 25 was chosen to connect the Christian celebration of Christ’s birth to the Jewish parallel of Hanukkah, which begins on the 25^th of Kislev (the Jewish month closest to the solar-lunar month of December).[3] Since Jesus was a Jew, this is a feasible reason for the chosen date. Another likely reason is that ancient Jews believed prophets died around the same time of year as their conception. Jesus was crucified and died on the 15^th day of Nissan. In a solar-lunar calendar, that would be in the spring around March 25. Thus, March 25 is regarded as Annunciation Day in the Christian calendar: the day Mary received news from God that she would carry and deliver Jesus. Hence, nine months later, December 25, is when we celebrate his birth.

            These are the most important theories which exist regarding the chosen date of December 25.

No One Truly Knows When or Why

            Bear in mind that these are only theories. There are even more theories. These mentioned, however, are the most presented and substantial. None of them may be proven or falsified. Whether any or none of them are true, Christians have celebrated the birth of Christ on December 25 for centuries, albeit in vastly different ways than today, particularly in Western society. While multiple sides argue the rightness or wrongness of December 25 as the chosen date Christians celebrate the birth of Christ, the fact remains that no one knows with absolute certainty when he was born nor why or how December 25 originally became the standard date for celebrating his birth. Nonetheless, it is the date the church has held for centuries.

Is It Right or Wrong to Observe Christmas if It Is Derived from Pagan Practices?

            All orthodox Christian observances are crucial to living in the reality of the story of God. I have focused on the date of December 25 here; yet, numerous arguments are made against observing Christian celebrations not limited to Christmas but also including Easter and others. Whether the date of December 25 or any other element surrounding the Christmas season (and other liturgical feasts) is derived from pagan practices is negated by the fact that Christians have chosen to honor specific events in the life of Christ for centuries. Even if December 25, for example, stems from pagan customs, it is now (and has been for centuries) a Christian observance. Thus, one should not be concerned with the origins. To answer then the question of whether Christians should observe Christmas if it derived from pagan practices, I suggest that it is right to do so, for the observance now is not pagan. I might also add that it likely never has been, for December 25 has been chosen for pragmatic purposes only. What makes the day sacred is not the day itself but the content therein. As December 25 approaches, let us remember the miraculous and glorious birth of God who came to bring life to his people. It is s sacred day and one which is right to celebrate.

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[1] “Why Is Christmas Day on the 25^th of December?” Whychristmas.com, accessed December 9, 2019, https://www.whychristmas.com/customs/25th.shtml.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.

THE KING IS COMING: AN ADVENT MESSAGE

Audio for the following may be found here. You may also listen to podcast episodes here.

THE KING IS COMING: AN ADVENT MESSAGE

            Advent, perhaps a largely misunderstood liturgical season in the Christian year, begins today. My aim in this message is to eliminate two common misconceptions of Advent: namely that Advent and Christmas are one and the same and that Advent solely prepares for the celebration of Christ’s birth. Advent holds a plurality of themes and rituals including but not limited to expectation and remembering Israel’s awaiting of the Messiah. Nonetheless, to relate to global Christians as a part of the timeless body of Christ, Advent focuses more on Christ’s Second Coming than his First. Certainly, many of the texts read and songs sung during Advent focus on the expectation of Christ’s incarnation; yet, we live in a time after such an event but, nonetheless, await our King’s Second Coming. In the same way Israel awaited the coming of Messiah, the church presently awaits his Second Coming and the end of time. The Sunday prior to Advent is known as Christ the King Sunday and celebrates his dominion over everything. Such a reflection is appropriate to subsequently reflect upon Christ’s certain return for his people and the end of time. Therefore, this is an Advent message of hope, for our King will return.

The Certainty of Christ’s Return

            The Bible repeatedly announces that Christ will return for his people in bodily form (Matt 24:44, Acts 1:11, Col 3:4, 2 Tim 4:8, Heb 9:28). Scripture makes no unclear reference to Christ’s return and an end of history. Scripture teaches that the Second Coming will be a curse for those who do not know him but a blessing for those who are his. The Advent season celebrates this coming and its certainty. Even believers who understand Advent not as synonymous with Christmas but as a season of expectation often do not associate it with Christ’s return; yet, Advent is more about the Second Coming than the First Coming. The certainty of Christ’s return assures Christians reasons to celebrate.

            As Israel awaited the Messiah, we too await Jesus’ return for his bride. In fact, to some, Christ’s return could seem farfetched, surreal, or unrealistic. It might be a distant hope to which people cling but grow weary of believing what may seem to be an old fable while the glimmer hope slowly dies. Rest assured, however, that because Scripture guarantees it, Christ’s return will happen.

            Remembering the expectation of the Messiah is only a portion of the Advent season. A beautiful link to present-day Christians and ancient Israel is the empathy felt in waiting. Christians know what it is like to await their Savior’s coming. It is possible, however, that many Christians speak of Christ’s return and perhaps even believe it yet do not live as if it is certain. Since Christ’s return is sure, should believers’ lives not be impacted? The Advent season reminds the church that Christ will return. In her waiting, she stands secure and redeemed before the Father; yet, a day is coming when she will see her bridegroom in the flesh. Such a truth should resonate with Christians and impact how their daily lives are guided.

The Expectation and Eagerness of Christ’s Return

            The church can relate to God’s chosen people, Israel, in that they also await Jesus’ coming, albeit his Second Coming rather than his First. The word, Advent, comes from the Latin adventus, which means the arrival of a deity or the enthronement of an emperor. Historically, the season of Advent has its beginnings in the 4^th and 5^th centuries AD. Bishop Perpetuus of Tours decreed a time of fasting from November 1 until Christmas. Behind this order was an old custom of fasting from November 11 until Epiphany (January 6). There was no fasting on Saturdays or Sundays; hence, there were 40 days of fasting. By the mid -5^th century, references to Advent began appearing in homilies. The time and length of Advent varied in Roman and Western churches. In Eastern and Greek churches, references to Advent did not appear until the 8^th century; nonetheless, by this time, Advent beginning the first Sunday in December or last in November (four Sundays prior to Christmastide) became the standard.

            Advent is not merely a liturgical ritual; the Advent season reflects on a few themes, not the least of which is the return of Christ. As Christians are further in time away from Christ walking this earth in flesh, the eagerness of his Second Coming becomes more apparent. Advent celebrates, first, the expectation of Christ’s return. Without an expectation, there cannot be an eagerness. Believers should expect Christ to return because he said he would; it is a promise. Because of this expectation then, there should be an eagerness of Christ’s return. Advent affords the church an opportunity to celebrate with joy and eagerness the awaited coming of the Messiah. The Advent season has taken a long path to what exists now; yet, the liturgical cycle of light grants Christians an opportunity to share with believers of the past who also eagerly awaited the Messiah. He has come but is coming again. Advent, therefore, represents the church’s expectation and eagerness of Christ’s return.

Advent’s Hope for the Season: Christ Will Return

            More than remembering a past expectation of Christ’s incarnation, Advent is relevant to Christians presently in that the church eagerly awaits his return. While some may speak of the return of Christ as fictional, it is certain. No one knows how or when Christ will return; nevertheless, his return is certain. For believers, this should be a joyful hope. As Advent begins, my prayer for all Christians is that we would live with the realization that Christ has not yet returned and, therefore, gives us the opportunity to continue to serve him but also that his Second Coming is imminent. Let us be a people of eager expectation and joyful longing, for our King will return.