Should Christmas really be about Christ? I For One Am Saying No

Posted by on Monday, December 19, 2011 · 10 Comments 

Image from (MMMooo)

Sugar plum fairies, twinkling lights, the shopping craze, and creepy statues of Santa Clause fill malls, homes, and coffee shops across the country. This season is perhaps one of the most anticipated holidays of the year and only one thing, like a bah-humbug grinch troll, ruins the festive spirit—church, Christians, and the birth of Christ.

It is said, quite cheesily I might add, that the birth of Christ is “the reason for the season.” But is it really?

Christmas is more Winter-solstice than Christ-mass.

December 25 was the traditional Roman and Germanic season of celebrating the winter with gift exchanges, bright lights, decorated pine trees, and festive cheer.

And like Christians today, they tried to ruin all that festive fun. They moved the celebration of Christ’s birth, the mass of Christ, to the Winter Solstice to curb all that frivolity practiced by those “evil pagans.”

Christmas does not belong in December.

If Christians today tried to move the celebration of Christ’s birth to another popular holiday to create a “Christian alternative”, many would cry out that these Christians are rejecting culture practices and traditions just because they aren’t “Christian.”

It was a scandal in the ancient world and it would be a scandal today.

Perhaps the Christ-mass should be moved back to it’s original season—in the summer!

And let’s be honest with ourselves, how many off us during this advent season are eagerly awaiting and expecting the birth of Christ? No, we are eagerly awaiting a holiday, family, presents, food, and friendship.

Christ never taught the replacement of popular culture nor did the early followers of Christ. They used culture to speak and demonstrate the love and message of Christ.

Could the gospel of Christ be better exhibited by people celebrating the traditional Winter Solstice through charity and love than through cheesy nativity scenes—an image which has lost all meaning in this culture?

The mystery gift-givers going about the country paying off people’s lay-away accounts at K-marts across the country do more for showing the love of Christ than the attendee of a Christmas morning service or mass. And if we can say that the more “Christ-like” love moving people’s hearts and souls in this country is more a product of love and compassion during the secular element of the season, churches have failed.

I am ready to shed the tradition and stop pretending. More can be done for Christ and more love can be shown by focusing on the holiday itself.

I for one am ready to say Christmas is not about Christ—at least no more than any other day.

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  • http://twitter.com/covjack Jack Brown

    Since the topic of your post is Christmas, I’m not sure if it’s appropriate or not to make a “throwing the baby out with the bathwater” comment, but it feels like that’s what you’re doing here.

    You ask, “How many of us during this advent season are eagerly awaiting and expecting the birth of Christ?” and then seem awfully quick to answer that we’re not.  Speak for yourself, but in our congregation we have had a wonderfully reflective season of anticipation and contemplation on the meaning of the Incarnation.  Did it take place in the wintertime?  No, of course not.  Does that matter?  Again, no.  There’s a wonderful thematic image that can accompany a commemoration of the Incarnation at this time of year: that in the deepest and darkest moment of humanity’s spiritual winter, God sent light into the world.  Luke 2 may have taken place in the summer, but for our congregation this season is more about John 1.  And this is a wonderful time of year to sit with that Scripture.

    The fault does not lie with the church calendar, the fault lies with the church.  We have reduced Christmas to “Jesus’ birthday” instead of truly embracing the message of God’s coming to earth.  The liturgical calendar has been set up to tell the story of Jesus in a way that allows the church to “enter in” to the narrative and follow the flow of God’s interactions with humanity.  I’m not willing to toss it out the window just yet.  

    Perhaps if the church would be less offended when greeters at Wal-Mart say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas,” and more offended by the things in our world (and churches) that offend Christ, we’d realize that it doesn’t matter what time of year we reflect on that baby in a food trough.  And for me, December 25th will continue to work just fine.

    • http://www.theology21.com jonathan Keck

      Well said. And if this season works for you, that is awesome. For myself, I have no desire to go to “church” on Christmas Sunday. Nothing against Jesus. Nothing against reflecting on the incarnation. In fact, it is a nice time to reflect. I love some of the classical hymns and choral songs. However, as we move into a post Christian culture, a return to tradition is less effective and makes the Christian message more nonsensical to a secular culture 

  • Kurtormsby

    Oh Jon….maybe too much coffee for you :D Just kidding. Seriously though I completely see the point that you are making here. But let me pose a question to you. If we “Christians” celebrate the death and resurrection of Christ. When, or more importantly, should we not celebrate the birth of Christ? With the recent propaganda from Atheist posting billboards during the Christmas season, your viewpoint could possibly be shared by the Atheists. Not the theological perspective of course but the underlying argument for Christians not to put Christ in Christmas. I’m afraid I disagree my friend. Would you rather have us celebrating actual pagan holidays along with the “Christian” ones? But only on thier accurate dates,…of course. Look, we all know a baby can survive in a manger in winter. Let is not forget Jon, that nothing happens by accident. God has always used the most unlikely individuals for His purposes, even sinful non-believers, all throughout the scriptures. Why then would He not use a pagan celebration to give way to the celebration of Christ? This is by far the most “21st century” article you have written yet. And in the spirit of the 21st century, it is quite far from Christ. I’m afraid you have missed the mark here my friend…in the theological sense unfortunately. Definitely an article with heavy prayerful consideration, before publishing. Much love homie. Still your biggest fan.

    • http://www.theology21.com jonathan Keck

      Obviously we disagree. “pagan” is not in my vocabulary. Christ and Paul used and practiced all kinds of “pagan”, “secular”, or “worldly” holidays. To be honest, I could care less about Jesus on “Christmas” or on any other day. It is all the same. Now did Christ intentionally use a pagan holiday? I have no idea. I don’t think anyone does. 

      As far as easter, sure the historic date is right. But do I care if it is on the same day? Not really. Easter can be about bunnies and chocolates for all I care. But the point of Christ’s birth and sacrifice are not bound to traditional days, celebrations, and other such nonsense. To be honest, it would be far better for Christianity if they were moved since all the “two-day-a-year” church attenders (Christmas and Easter) would not come to Church.

      A true restoration of the birth and sacrifice, independent of the secular holidays, needs to be reestablished. 

      Christians moved Christmas to conquer a “secular” holiday. That secular holiday has now conquered the sacred. Time for a change

      • Kurtormsby

        “I could care less about Christ on Christmas or any other day.” I bet you wish you could take that one back ;) All I’m saying is why not? Why not use Christmas as a platform to remind EVERYONE of the Gospel? Do you think taking Christ out of one more thing would help or hinder? Do you think Christmas truly perverts the spirit of Christianity so much so that Christians themselves should separate themselves from Christmas? It’s self defeating, especially considering the very name of CHRISTmas. I think your going a bit overboard here Jon. People are going to celebrate Chrismas regardless of their beliefs. Let’s take every advantage to spread the Gospel.

        • http://www.theology21.com jonathan Keck

          I understand your point. However, you may not understand mine. What most people actually practice is “Winter Solstice” not Christmas. Now are there some who practice the latter and not the former, sure! And they can if they want. However, the association of the cheesy Christmas junk only hinders many, not aid. For example, everyone understands and nows about baby jesus, the nativity, and all that jazz. Do they think twice? 99% of people do not. Am I calling for a whole-sale ban on Jesus on Christmas? No way. Do I think it is necessary to think about him more on this day than others? No way. Just my option. 

          I would dare to say, however, that paying off someone’s layaway or inviting an impoverished family over for Christmas dinner without mentioning the baby Jesus—just the gospel like another day—does a million times more than having 20 families fill pews to watch some cheesy Christmas play.

  • Richie Vega

    Excellent, timely, and thought provoking post Jon. It is interesting how many people dismiss the syncretic origin of Christmas as irrelevant. If I understand you correctly, I agree that Christians can celebrate Christmas in a way that is honoring to God. And I also find it a bit strange that, from a religious standpoint, many hold a day so dear even when it is commanded nowhere in scripture. It is an entirely manmade (the solstice celebration) and then coopted (modern Christmas) day.

    From a strictly logical standpoint, I would have to say that non-celebrators hold the high ground. Then again, Christian love is not about logical high ground, and I think both sides need to deal with each other in love, even if they disagree.

    I haven’t celebrated Christmas in about 8 years, and I do miss it. But the part that I miss the most is the tradition, the lights, the vibes, the memories–nothing “bad,” but not exactly Christ-centered. I think the reason I don’t miss the celebration of his birth as much is because the birth of Christ is not intrinsically, or scripturally connected to the holiday. I have  Christ, his birth, death, and resurrection, and I have it without a Christmas holiday.

    But I still miss it.

  • Anonymous

    Funny you post this, as this has been a frequent comment of mine. Every time people stress the importance of Christ centered festivities on Christmas I remark “It’s not even Jesus’ birthday!” thinking that they’re making a big deal out of nothing. However, turn the tables on me and I too am making a big deal out of nothing. How important is a date anyways? Are we becoming pharisees by arguing such irrelevant things? To celebrate or not, that is the question. Tradition is a dangerous thing. It has the potential for both good and bad (as does everything else). Tradition can make something meaningful or it can help erase the meaning all together leaving nothing behind but a hollow structure awaiting it’s destruction. It’s all about our hearts. If celebrating Jesus is really the reason for the season deep in your heart, then celebrate. But if it’s for show or just because tradition dictates so, then by all means abandon ship! Cultures mix all the time. That’s not necessarily bad or good. It’s what you make of it. If it’s a way to bridge a gap, then good for them. I can see the good in what they tried to do, many moons ago. I just think it’s important that as Christians we recognize His life everyday as we live ours. And if some want to throw a celebration once a year, go ahead. I sure as heck don’t mind being appreciated everyday by my husband and then him throwing me a birthday celebration. May peace resonate in our hearts and may He resonate in our lives everyday, even on Christmas/Winter Solstice.

  • http://theestherproject.com/ Lex

    I agree with the sentiment that Christmas isn’t really about the incarnation, but I don’t know if abandoning the holiday to Santa and gift exchanges is the answer. (And even if we did “move” Christmas to the summer it would probably get taken over and commercialized anyway.)

    In a lot of circles and neighborhoods, the season really is about Jesus, and I don’t think it’s a downer. I think it’s perfectly possible to exchange a few gifts, and still remember why we celebrate. I think we can remind people of the “reason for the season” without being buzz-kills. 

    Our church always does a Christmas Eve service that’s all about the nativity, but it’s always a lot of fun. I actually am really looking forward to church on Christmas morning. 

  • Acchitt

    Jon, I may not have made myself clear when we originally talked about this, but i think I can clear up what I was trying to say. Christmas without Christ still looks a lot like the Christmas we all love. But, Christmas without the tree, lights, presents, family, and a huge feast would suck. Actually the latter of the two looks exactly like every other day in the year.  So taking this into consideration, I want people to imagine the two scenarios, and then be honest with themselves when they say what the “true meaning of Christmas is”.