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| Why I Love EVERYTHING About Xmas |
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People complain that the origin of Xmas is pagan. So what! God converted pagan people. Why not pagan days! Besides they were all God's days to begin with and not everything about Xmas is pagan in origin.
People complain that we don't have the right date, that Jesus was born around the Feast of Tabernacles time. You know what? Theologians down through history have guessed that he was born in every single month of the year. I don't care. I don't know anybody that really believes he was born (literally) on that morn. Figuratively, yes. He was born on Xmas morn (figuratively), whatever time of year that was.
People complain that Xmas is too commercial. So what! When even non-Christians get excited about a Christian festival, I think that's a reason to rejoice! Even in Shinto Japan, Xmas carols are being played in every store. The most important message on the planet is getting through. Who cares that the vehicle is commerce!
People will complain that I am X-ing Christ out of Xmas by abbreviating it. I suppose a history lesson is in order here. X is the Greek letter for Ch, a very old abbreviation for Christ. Just like θ is an ancient abbreviation for God (theos).
People criticize Christians for putting up their idol bush, the tree, claiming that Jeremiah 10 forbids it. Sorry, read a good commentary on that. It's got nothing to do with Xmas trees, but idols made from tree wood. Besides, I don't even think of an idol when I set up my tree, nor do I bow down and worship it. I use it to remind me of the "light" that came into the world, the tree of life that had 12 kinds of fruit and pictured life in Christ.
I even love Santa Claus and I know that probably ticks a lot of people off. You know why I love Santa Claus? I'm not talking about the Coca Cola Santa that lives at the North Pole. No, whenever I discuss it with little kids, I talk about the REAL Santa Claus. He lived around 400 or so. He was the Bishop of Smyrna I believe. His name was Nicholas and he became a Saint (capital s) - which came down to us as Saint Nick or Santa Claus. His life story of generosity is the Santa Claus that I emphasize, and his example of how we all can celebrate Xmas.
People criticize a lot of things about Xmas, but you know what! I'm tired of importing the Pharisees' religion into Christianity. I have the freedom in Christ to do whatever the heck I want on this, okay! So, leave me be, and go have your little anti-Xmas rant. As for me and my household, we will celebrate the Incarnation of our Savior.
The OT feast days celbrated OT events. We are no longer under the schoolmaster, we can make up our own feasts, based upon the principle of celebrating major spiritual events. I can't think of any more major than those universe changing events celebrated in Xmas and Easter! |
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| To add a comment to "Why I Love EVERYTHING About Xmas" |
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| December 01, 2007 |
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Grant, your blogs always seem to bring a grin to my face. Regarding this one, it just reminds me that I'm free, and that the most important thing in my life is to please my Lord and Savior, not those who claim to speak for Him. :-)
ps... Were you laughing like jolly St Nick as you typed up this ditty? |
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| December 01, 2007 |
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| Great blog. It may not prove to be popular opinion here, but I'm in agreement with you. From the time I was a tiny child I have warm memories of Christmases that included Santa Claus, a tree with lights, gifts - the whole nine yards. But, never, ever, was I without knowledge of the true reason for celebrating that fact that Holy God loved me so much that He sent His Son down as a baby, fully human and fully divine. We've brought up our sons with the same traditions (Santa, tree, gifts) but more so we've brought up our sons with the Truth that gives meaning to the celebration. They're grown men now and I'm sure they'll pass along the same to their children when they have them. And, it will all be done with joy. |
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| December 01, 2007 |
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Grant,
Appreciate your blog, brother. As i got older and looked into alot of the hooha people raised about the paganism of the holiday, I actually came to appreciate it more. My family, being German Catholic in background, did the live tree and yule log tradition that came from the old country. And here's what I found out. Yes, the pagan celts and germanic peoples did a midwinter festival, and utilized an evergreen tree to symbolize life that never died. The yule log was light in the darkest part of the winter, looking forward to the new life that would emerge in the spring. And when St. Benedict came to what is now Germany to bring the Gospel, he used the symbols that were already familiar to present the story of Christ. The tree/cross is the only true source of everlasting life. And the mass celebrating the incarnation occurs in midwinter just as Jesus came, and comes, bringing promise of resurrection life in the midst of death and darkness.
Our tradition was to save the trunk of the tree from the year before, and use it to burn on Christmas eve, showing that even in death, in the eve of His coming, the light and hope of life in Him shines forth |
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| December 01, 2007 |
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Thank you, Grant. |
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| December 01, 2007 |
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| Great post Grant. Well put. we should all remember Who it is that is Lord of all...even the pagans... |
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| December 02, 2007 |
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Mike, I'm smiling all the way to the celbration of our Lord's birth.
Bunny, ain't it grand to be free in Christ and not imprisoned in the Pharisees' religion of touch not, taste not.
Don, I think that using the culture of ancient peoples was a stroke of evangelistic genius. It had nothing to do with worshiping their gods or syncretism, as some claim, and everything to do with putting the gospel in their cultural setting.
Joey, thank you!
Voice, yes! God owns all the days of the year. LOL.
As for using trees and winning souls to Christ...
11:30 The fruit of the righteous [is] a tree of life; and he that winneth souls [is] wise.
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| December 09, 2007 |
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| Great post, Grant, and I'm with you! I would also add that "Happy Holidays" does not offend me. Yes, I personally say "Merry Christmas" more often, but if a store clerk tells me "Happy Holidays," I appreciate the wish, and appreciate that he/she has chosen to be sensitive to our Jewish friends, or, as in in the case of us in education who often get two weeks off work for multiple holidays, I appreciate the kind wishes for all the holiday season. For those who choose to be offended and believe that the world is out to get us with the "Happy Holidays" conspiracy, I invite you to read this article, republished in today's Salisbury Post, written 20 years ago by a long-time columnist about growing up Jewish: Being Jewish at Christmas time. Is it more Christlike to love every child (and every sales clerk) or to argue over words? Merry Christmas, Grant! |
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| December 10, 2007 |
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| Well balanced comment Kathy. Ain't it grand not to have to be picky about words, and ain't it just peachy that some wish to show love to others by their choice of words! |
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| December 16, 2007 |
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| We are kindred spirits, Grant! I lvoe this blog!!! I love Santa Claus too, in case you've missed some of the other comments I've dropped here and there. Merry Xmas!!! |
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| December 16, 2007 |
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| Merry Xmas to you too Birdie!!! :) |
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