Today was the Youth-Christmas pageant at my church where I sported a gold and red robe as I played Wiseman #2. Our brilliant director, who was one of the highly intelligent youth that I minister to as her youth-leader directed a comical rendition of the nativity story - and believe me it was funny!
Me and my two fellow wisemen were cranky senile old geezers who were constantly tripping over ourselves and each other. As a part of the skit, I was supposed to go over and help one of my fallen wisemen to his feet; however, - this was not supposed to be a part of the skit - one of our 3 year old sheep ran onto the stage with the same idea in mind. Also as a part of the skit, one of the shepherds called in sick; however the day was saved by someone who was aiming to arrive at a party, but took a wrong turn somewhere and ended up on the hill with other two shepherds; he as such became an honorary shepherd and a witness to the frightening angel who came to tell some great news!
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. - Luke 2:11
In some Christian circles, this sort of rendition of the Christmas story, (or perhaps doing any rendition of the story) might be construed as mockery to the significance of the Christmas message. However I would argue that it is not; as with a few ad-libs hear and there and adding a couple of interesting humorous twists we followed the story, religiously (pun intended). Mary and Joseph resorted to a smelly stable to give birth to their miracle child. Shepherds, who while were looking after their sheep got the good news of this Messiah child via a horde of angels; and the proverbial and probably inaccurate number of 3 wisemen followed a bright star to the manger and gave to the Messiah, the newborn king, gifts of murh, frankincense and gold. This is the Christmas narrative, or at least in part. Sure, we played with the theatrics, but stayed we faithful to the theology.
However when the modern media, TV and movies for an example do a rendition of the Christmas story, do they only play with the theatrics? Sadly no. Today society is so off-kiltered regarding the Christmas’ origins, its depressing. Ottawa Sun journalist Ron Corbett learned this the hard way when he went into a store to get nativity-scene based products. He wrote an opinion piece in the Ottawa Sun entitled: Have we all forgotten what Christmas is really about?[i] He tells the story of the clerk who in all honesty had no idea what he meant by the term 'Nativity Story'; however the clerk's scary lack of knowledge of the true meaning of Christmas is a widespread phenomena. Above I alluded to the idea of some hypothetical Christians taking an offence of any rendition of the Christmas story but the original; however allow me to introduce you to the critically acclaimed and history's longest running TV show: The Simpsons. I recently watched a Christmas special of The Simpsons where the Simpson family put on a rendition of their own of the nativity story; however their creative liberty leaves a lot to be desired as, although they did keep to the theology - sort of - they gutted all of its significance. (However for any Simpsons fan this should not come as a surprise as being offensive is The Simpson's modus-operandi.)
However the sad thing about this is The Simpsons, in all their mockery told a story that was closer to the real meaning of Christmas than any of the feely-good, morally upright Christmas movies that played this year. Every Christmas TV movie that I saw this year or at least I saw advertised was centred around Jolly'ol Santa Clause, Christmas trees and lights and helping those who are in need. That is at least until last nights episode[ii] of The Simpsons. On this episode Reverend Timothy Lovejoy gave a riveting sermon. The following is the main thesis of his sermon, Lovejoy preached:
Every Christmas I stand up here and tell you that Christmas is about the Lord. However that is not the meaning of Christmas! The meaning of Christmas is about helping others.
And this was the message that every Santa movie and Christmas tree movie I watched or saw advertised this year. I have one very important question: "Why has ‘the world’ taken away Christ from Christmas, except when they are making fun of it? To provide a decent answer for the second question one commenter in Corbett's article alluded to above sheds light on one reason. Pertaining to Christmas being in public schools the commenter writes:
...observing a Christian story in a public school excludes every non-Christian in that school, ...[iii]
In sum observing Christmas is offensive for some non-believers of Christianity as it's origins excludes them, in terms of allegiance. How is this offensive? Should I be offended that the Islamic celebration of Ramadan excludes me as a Christian? According to the Qu'ran, Ramadan is practiced to “...glorify Allah for that which He has guided...” the Muslim believer (cf. Sura 2:185)[iv]. Would it be proper if I was to replace the focus of Ramadan with a Christian focus? No! If I don't subscribe to Islamic theology, I don't have to celebrate Ramadan; my lack of acceptance in Islam theology does not give me the right to mock the Muslim's beliefs and practices by robbing their religious celebrations of their significance.
How should non-believers treat Christmas?
Although Santa Clause's routes are founded in a real-life Christian man, named Bishop Saint Nicholas, 343 AD[v], neither he or his fictional persona is the meaning of Christmas. Although practicing selflessness, is a great Christian value, the practice of selflessness is not the meaning of Christmas; that is with the exception of God's selflessness (cf. John 3:16); selflessness is actually the necessary response to the meaning of Christmas. There is nothing wrong with encouraging family unity by decorating Christmas trees; but family unity is not the meaning of Christmas; but again it should be a necessary application taught by the meaning of Christmas as Paul states many times:
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up,... - 1 Thessalonians 5:11
And Christmas time is a great time to practice this! So what is the meaning of Christmas? ANSWER: To celebrate the fulfillment of God's promise of the messiah (cf. Matthew 1:21) and his mission's purpose:
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. - Luke 19:10
Christmas should continue to be a nationally accepted holiday as it does promote the "good will to men" message; however it should likewise support is routes, irregardless of unbelievers. So if you don't believe in Christian theology, but you do agree with the morality of Christmas, that is selflessness and community, great, practice selflessness and community! If you want to propagate the idea of a fictional character to help you do this, great, do all of these things, but just don't call any of them 'the meaning of Christmas'! If you reject the Biblical account of Christmas' origins, fine, but just remember, Christians don't; and just as anyone should not mock Islam's Ramadan, or Judaism's Yom Kippur, or any other religious beliefs and practices, by gutting them of their significance, please don't do it to Christmas.
Keep Christ in Christmas!
And if you are offended at the idea of Christmas having Biblical and Christological origins just think: divorcing Christ from Christmas offends the Christian - and rightfully and justly so!
Keep Christ in Christmas!
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[i] - http://www.ottawasun.com/2013/12/15/have-we-all-forgotten-what-christmas-is-really-about - accessed Dec., 21, 2013
[ii] - December 22, 2013
[iii] - http://www.ottawasun.com/2013/12/15/have-we-all-forgotten-what-christmas-is-really-about - accessed Dec., 21, 2013
[iv] - http://quran.com/2/185 - accessed February., 10, 2014
[v] - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholas - accessed February 10, 2014
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