Christmas: Redeem the Time
As far as we can tell from historical records, Christians didn’t set aside a day to commemorate the birth of Christ until several centuries after his death. Scholars are divided on just why December 25 was chosen for this day. Some think it relates to the prophecy of Malachi, “For you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings” (4:2, ESV). To remember the birth of the “sun of righteousness,” Christians chose the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year and the day on which the sun’s light begins to grow in the annual calendar. The Roman calendar placed the solstice on December 25, and that date hasn’t changed, even though the solstice has.
Still other scholars suggest darker roots. In A.D. 274, Roman emperor Aurelian set December 25 as a feast day to the god Sol Invictus, the “unconquered sun,” and some scholars think Christmas was just a way to Christianize this pagan festival. The evidence is scant enough that it could go the other way around, though: the feast of Sol Invictus could have been an attempt to paganize an existing Christian celebration. There’s little doubt that other elements of pagan origin were later added to the celebration of Christmas, though. The celebration of the Germanic Yule, a midwinter festival connected to the god Odin, added the Yule log and wassailing to the Christmas celebration.
These pagan roots and traditions have made some Christians wary of celebrating Christmas. The Puritans actually outlawed Christmas for a time. Today, many of us grow weary of the crass commercialism and the over-sentimentalized Santa folklore, and a few of us remain convicted about these stories of pagan rituals, ancient and modern, infiltrating a celebration of the one, true God. Should Christians celebrate Christmas at all?
I cannot speak for the Holy Spirit, and I’m certainly not going to tell you what to do in your family. Whether you celebrate Christmas with an extravagant tree and presents, a simple reading of Luke 2, or not at all, we are all called to walk in Jesus’ footsteps and redeem the time. Indeed, all creation is groaning in childbirth, as it brings forth the redeemed kingdom of God. When we participate in that redemption, we follow Christ. So it seems the most important question for us followers of Christ is: How can we redeem the time of Christmas?
For me, the history of Christmas is the story of Christmas, because the story of Christmas is a story of redemption. The reason for the season is not just the baby in the manger but the conquering, risen Jesus who redeemed the lost to the kingdom of God. When Christians appropriated non-Christian customs and gave them new meaning in the kingdom of God, is that not redemption? Are we not setting creation free from idol worship and bringing it into a right relationship with the Creator? Do we not remind our world that there is a better reason to celebrate anything? Better than family, better than gifts, better than pretty decorations and sentimental songs. We have much to be thankful for, and more than enough reason to celebrate.
This work of redemption is ongoing, of course. Our modern culture wants to secularize Christmas by appropriating the truth of God’s Word for their own purposes. They want peace on earth and goodwill towards men without participating in the kingdom that brings true peace. They want the love of family and friends, but not the love of God. They want to express kindness and love through giving gifts, all while rejecting the greatest love and the gift of our salvation. There is much redeeming still to do. Christmas is just the beginning.
Celebrate or don’t, but don’t forget to redeem the time. Show the world the Savior worth celebrating.
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