Christmas and Culture

“I don’t celebrate Christmas!”

So said one of the callers who called in to the Tom Sullivan Show this past week. He was answering the question which Tom had put out to his radio listeners: “Is Christmas a religious holiday, or not?” I was not so surprised that someone in our country doesn’t celebrate Christmas; what got my attention was that the caller identified himself as a Christian pastor.

It was enough for me to stop playing with my Rodney Reindeer stuffed toy, turn off the CD which was playing, “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer,” and postpone my plan to grab a couple Christmas cookies and spiced cider.  That’s how much he had my attention.

The caller explained that while he could have fellowship with other Christians who do celebrate the holiday, he and his family do not observe Christmas because it is not a religious celebration. He added that many of our Christmas traditions have pagan roots, including the choice of December 25 as an appropriation of pagan celebrations of the winter solstice. To him, Christmas is not religious.

I pondered his comments as I placed some of Karen’s gingerbread cookies on my Frosty the Snowman plate and filled my Santa cup with some cider. As I looked toward the living room, I noticed that an angel ornament had fallen off the brightly-decorated tree to land near the beautifully-wrapped present I had gotten for Karen. I walked over and put it back on the tree next to a plastic snowflake, being careful not to step on the poinsettia.

“He may have a point,” I thought, as I lingered underneath the sprig of mistletoe, hoping Karen would walk by . . .

Okay, so most of what I’ve just said was an “imaginary illustration” (that sounds better than saying I just lied to you). Except for the caller and what he said*; that was real, and it did cause me to think about the interaction between the Bible’s proclamation of the Savior’s birth and the public, or private, celebration of that birth. Following are some of my thoughts on this matter:

1. The charge that our celebration comes from pagan roots is not new. People have asked me about it and even sent me articles connecting Christmas to everything from the Roman winter holiday of Saturnalia, to druid tree-worship, to satanic temptations of greed and envy (did you realize that Satan and Santa have the same letters??). That may be true, and I would avoid celebrating Christmas if by doing so I were worshiping trees, greed, or the start of winter. Or if by doing so, I led other people into such false beliefs. (1 Corinthians 8:9-10) What do I mean when I wish someone Merry Christmas – “Go be a druid” or “Christ our Savior is born”? To me, obviously, it is Christ and his birth which I celebrate.
2. Our modern American Christmas is a recent development. Over the centuries, many, if not most, Christians have not observed the holiday. Some churches, such as the Puritans, forbade such festivities in England and even in Boston – making it illegal to celebrate. I am happy to say that Lutherans – including Martin himself – kept the celebrations and added to the traditions.
3. Even though some of our Christmas traditions were adapted from questionable roots, it doesn’t mean that our appropriation of them is wrong – as long as the original meaning is stripped away and Christ is proclaimed through them. For example: pagans did (and do) have reverence for evergreen trees as a sign of life during the dark of winter. The ancient Greeks used them in worship, as did the Romans who tied bits of metal and wood to their trees to honor their gods. But to a Christian, the evergreen is a sign of resurrection and eternal life, brought to us by Jesus, the child born that first Christmas. The ornaments we put on (okay, some of the ornaments we put on) symbolize Christ and the promises of our faith. Our sanctuary’s tree is decorated with what are called, “chrismons,” which are Christian symbols such as mangers, stars, triangles, crosses, and fish. Whatever meaning any of those symbols may have had before Christ, they now proclaim him even to those who cannot read.
4. We don’t need any of our traditional Christmas trappings – snowmen, reindeer, Santas, trees, lights on our houses, or even giant blow-up lawn decorations – to celebrate Christ coming into the world to save us from our sins. Such things are what we call “adiaphora,” which means things neither commanded nor forbidden by Scripture, like the robes or clerical collars we pastors wear, or the seasonal altar cloths (paraments), or the use of an organ, or having a Christmas tree in the sanctuary: we can worship God, proclaim his Gospel, and minister the sacraments – things which are commanded, with or without any of those things.
5. Non-religious activities, songs, movies, and decorations can be an enjoyable part of our Christmas celebrations. It’s okay to have a winter-themed holiday and sing songs about snowmen and sleigh rides. It’s okay to give gifts and eat goodies (disclaimer: within reason and according to your specific dietary restrictions and needs). It’s okay to watch the Grinch. As long as the messages are consistent with the Christian faith – love, forgiveness, reconciliation, generosity and care for the needy, etc. – enjoy them.
6. Appropriation can go both ways. If we use evergreen trees in our celebrations, our society has taken over the powerful biblical symbol of the rainbow and given it a meaning far different from what God intended: his promise never to destroy the world again by a flood. The cross, a sign of God’s love and sacrifice for our sake is used in numerous movies as a sign the person wearing it is unbalanced. And as we are discussing, Christmas has become largely a secular winter celebration, a chance to get off work (except for pastors!), party, and get gifts. To many people, it’s not much different than Thanksgiving or Labor Day. That’s more my concern, than Christians “redeeming” things from the world and using them to serve Christ.
7. Finally, there are two powerful examples in Scripture – one in each Testament – which illustrate believers appropriating pagan things and using them for good. In Exodus 12, when the Israelites finally leave Egypt after the last plague, it says that many of the Egyptians gave the Israelites their silver and gold. Verse 36 says, “Thus they plundered the Egyptians.” Here were pagans giving their resources to the people God had chosen as his own. They didn’t refuse the riches because the pagans had owned them first. Then, in Acts 17:22-31, we read how Paul used a pagan altar inscribed “To the unknown god,” to explain to the Athenians who the real God is and what he did for them through Jesus Christ. We call such use “redeeming the culture,” and speak to a Christian using worldly things for eternal purposes.

So, is Christmas religious or not? I would say it has largely lost that meaning in our culture and society. That it still retains any focus on Christ is a testamonly to the Holy Spirit working through his people to proclaim the Gospel and to do so whatever the season. Let us continue to tell the world about their Savior, so that the true meaning of Christmas will take hold in their hearts.

And as for Karen and me, whether we hang pictures of snowmen or bake cookies or put a bow on our cat, we will celebrate Christmas. For us, Jesus will always be the “Reason for the Season.” May he always be that for you as well!

May the Lord bless you and keep you, may the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, may the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.

Read: Luke 2, Acts 17, 1 Corinthians 8

*I hasten to add, that if we did have any mistletoe, I would stand under it waiting for Karen to walk by . . .