Christmas? To
Observe, Or Not To Observe
Part 1
By
Printed on December
19, 2004
INTRODUCTION
It’s that time of year.
Again. Every family hustles to
accomplish many things between the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Most families long for uniting together to
retell the cherished memories lived through the years. Food and desserts, gifts, travel, and family
are all important factors which make the holidays worthwhile.
But what about the Christian? In previous years, this writer has read
several articles informing of the errant association of December 25th and
Christ’s birth. There are two reasons
which warrant this piece. First, its
Christmas time. We are seeing it;
hearing it; thinking it; feeling it, and frankly breathing it. Everywhere we turn, we are focused on
Christmas. Second, the news reports how
secularism is striving to remove the spirit of Christ from Christmas. Right or wrong; For better or worse; Whatever
we may think; However we may feel, the question remains still: How should a Christian regard the observance
of Christmas?
BACKGROUND
Most scholars commonly agree that Christmas began in the
4th century as a replacement for a pagan festival. The winter solstice was customarily celebrated
in the late
feasted, postponed all business and warfare, exchanged gifts, and
temporarily freed their slaves. Many
Romans also celebrated the lengthening of daylight following the winter
solstice by participating in rituals to glorify Mithra, the ancient Persian god
of light….
The Roman Catholic Church chose December 25 as the day for the Feast of the
Nativity in order to give Christian meaning to existing pagan rituals [and]
...replaced festivities honoring the birth of Mithra, the god of light, with
festivities to commemorate the birth of Jesus, whom the Bible calls the light
of the world.[2]
As time passed, Christmas changed and grew in
significance. Santa Claus, decorated
trees, cards, wreaths, mistletoe, stockings, Yule logs, cookies, eggnog, lights,
candy canes, caroling, and even Rudolph have become synonymous with this
holiday. Good or bad, every American
family in some way acknowledges the Christmas holiday.
Next week, God’s Word will be probed for guidance. Surely some Biblical light may be shed on our
understanding and observance. Look for
part 2.
[1]
Restad, B.S., M.A., Ph.D., Penne.
“Christmas.” Microsoft®
Encarta® Online Encyclopedia. 2004 http://encarta.msn.com
(15 December 2004).