Every year when the Christmas season rolls around (in mid October or so, when Christmas displays begin swallowing Halloween costumes at Walmart, Target, etc.), I see and hear reminders from well-meaning Christians that "Jesus is the reason for the season" and that we Christians ought to "take back" Christmas. Well, a) I'm not fooled by the slogan, and b) I don't believe there's anything to "take back." In fact, I believe it's time we give Christmas back to the pagans. Frankly, we don't need Christmas. The world doesn't need Christmas. What we need, and what the world needs, is Jesus Christ.

No date for Jesus' miraculous birth is given in the Bible. In an article published in Christian History called "Why December 25?" Elesha Coffman writes, "For the church's first three centuries, Christmas wasn't in December - or on the calendar at all." Coffman goes on to say, "Some church leaders even opposed the idea of a birth celebration. Origen (c.185-c.254) preached that it would be wrong to honor Christ in the same way Pharaoh and Herod were honored. Birthdays were for pagan gods."

I know Christians who get upset about people using the word holiday in place of Christmas. "Put Christ back into Christmas!" they say. As if it is something to be "fixed" - or at least defended - through general semantics. And we have all heard about political battles over nativity scenes displayed on public property.

I understand the emotion involved in these things. I really do. I feel it, too.

But when I take a step back to think about what's really at stake, and pray about it, and seek God on it, I begin to wonder if we as Christians are involving ourselves in foolish arguments. Or, worse, if we are actually sinning in our annual masquerade of Christmas piety and pageantry. Are we clinging to Christ? Or to our beloved traditions? There appears to be something just off - maybe even dangerous - about gathering around a live baby or a rubber doll or a molded piece of plastic shaped to resemble an infant, and singing, "O come let us adore him: Christ... the Lord."

Meanwhile, Jesus gazes upon such a scene from his place in heaven at the right hand of the throne, from whence he shall come again to judge the living and the dead.

I enjoy the holiday season as much as anyone, I admit. I mean lefse and krumkake and eggnog and the music! I love the music, which is nostalgic and, yes, can be worshipful (any time of year).

But what would happen if, on December 25, rather than reading about Christ's lowly birth, we read about him coming again "in a cloud with power and great glory" (Luke 21:27)? Or we visited not a stable in Bethlehem, but a cross on a hill outside Jerusalem? That was Jesus' destination as Immanuel. Let us prepare our hearts, and our world, for his coming again.

Randy Mortenson serves Ebenezer Lutheran Brethren Church in Mayville, North Dakota.

By Randy Mortenson

Randy Mortenson serves as pastor of Ebenezer Lutheran Brethren Church, Mayville, ND. He is also the author of the re:Think column.

Comments(1):

1. Christmas

   I want to thank you Pastor Mortenson for your article about Christmas. You managed to express much of what I have felt about Christmas for many years. I have had many a discussion with God about my concerns that go back to my days as a single young man. I've been married now almost 10 years and have four beautiful kids. I want nothing more than to be obedient to God's command in Eph.6:4 to; "bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord." You mentioned Christmas as a pagan holiday and that is true. So is Easter and Halloween. We, as believers, are supposed to be different. 1Pe 2:9 - "you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." As I see it, we need to stop trying to fit God into what the world's doing and start living out the truths in God's word and be an example to them, or at least to our families. Thank you again for this thoughful article, I am encouraged.

   Sunday, December 06, 2009 Robert