It’s Christmas! Again.
We might feel a mix of different emotions during this season when the lights turn on, the trees go up, and the gifts are passed. Our social media feeds are filled with gatherings of family and friends. When Christmas rolls around each year, while there is the initial excitement and anticipation of what is to come, we might wonder…is this all there is to Christmas?
Maybe we’ve heard several times at church, “it’s about Jesus!” and moved on. But to really hold on to the true meaning of Christmas isn’t so simple.
3 obstacles to holding onto the true meaning of Christmas
The secularization of Christmas
In Japan, where less than 1% of the population is Christian, you can find Christmas trees, lights, and gift giving. Over the centuries and worldwide, what began as the celebration of the birth of Christ has turned into a season of lights, carols, and gift giving (not to mention Santa Claus). While none of those are particularly problematic by themselves, the commercialization of anything holy or sacred can leave us feeling jaded.
The Bible tells us that if we make lights, carols, gift giving, or anything else except for Jesus Christ, the main thing, we’ll actually be left feeling more empty than we began. Sometimes it’s really easy to get swept up in the glitz and glamor of the season, but we have to remember that those things aren’t the main thing.
The paganization of Christmas
In some cases, Christians and pre-Christians alike have turned from celebrating Christmas altogether because of the dates’ supposed pagan roots. It has become “common knowledge” that December 25 is actually the celebration of the ancient Roman “dies solis invicti nati”, day of the unconquered sun. Others are turned off by the fact that some Eastern Orthodox churches observe January 6 as the real date of Jesus’ birth. Some think that the church invented December 25 as an arbitrary date.
There are several theories for why December 25 was settled upon. Some believe it is connected to Mary’s date of conception–March 25, while others say it comes from a North African tradition (for your own deeper study, read some trustworthy sources like The Gospel Coalition or Britannica). Whatever you conclude the real reason is, it might be worth thinking about whether or not the birthday of our Savior and Lord is worth celebrating, even if it happens to be on the same day as a pagan holiday or not.
The socialization of Christmas
Have you ever thought about how the holiday season that boasts the most social activities can be one of the most lonely and isolating seasons of the year? Social media compounds that, as we look at all the photos of other people having a great time, while we compare and assume our plans to be subpar. We find ourselves judging ourselves by our social circles and quality of relationships, while forgetting that the original reason why the church gathered in the first place was to celebrate a vulnerable infant who became the hope of the world.
Holding onto Christmas
The odds are stacked against us. Cultural, economic, historical, and social factors can totally divert us from holding onto a Christmas that reflects Jesus the Son of God. Yet it is precisely these things that point and direct us back to a simple birth, of a child, that would change the world. It is precisely Christmas that reminds us that no matter how commercialized our lives become, that God has given us more than we could ever buy for ourselves. It is precisely Christmas that reminds us that no matter how many pagan holidays for idols there are, they are precisely just idols, nothing in comparison to the God of the universe who decided to demonstrate His strength by coming in weakness as a baby. And it is precisely Christmas that teaches us that no matter how social or isolated we may be, God is on a never-ending pursuit to put his presence in our lives, to be “God with us”. As Isaiah 7:14 says, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
May your Christmas be filled with Christ, the son of God, this year.
Take some time today to hold onto the true meaning of Christmas. These questions might help you to personally reflect or start meaningful sharing with a group of family or friends.
- What does Christmas mean to you and why?
- What is your favorite memory of Christmas and how does it connect to the story of the birth of Jesus?