It’s that time of year again when words like festive, yuletide, and merry start circulating in our vocabulary. Tinsel and fairy lights have awakened from their slumber, and mince pies are once again stacking up in our supermarkets.
Christmas time is upon us, one of the world’s most celebrated holidays, steeped in tradition and folklore. The holiday is so laden with tradition that distinguishing fact from fiction has become quite a challenge.
So let’s grab a cup of mulled wine, cosy up to the fire and debunk some of the season’s most famous myths.
The X represents Christ
Everyone has seen the signs wishing folks a happy holiday season. Whereas “Christ” refers to “Christ,” in English, “Christmas” signifies “Christmas.” It is possible to substitute “X” for “Christ” so that it reads “X-mas” rather than “Christmas.” What does Christmas’ X stand for? How is it possible for some people to declare that the X represents Christ while others argue that it is just another effort to eradicate Christianity from society? Which perspective is correct? Both of them are, in a way.
The term “Christ” denotes that the Lord Jesus is the Messiah. This term is called Christos (χριστoς) in Greek. Some have taken the initial Greek letter in this title, chi, as an acronym for Christ since it resembles an X. There is compelling evidence that this procedure was carried out in the 16th century, possibly as a cost-saving strategy for printing press users, despite the claims of many that it dated back to the first century. Those who use the acronym, nevertheless, continue to pronounce the X as “Christ.”
Today’s Christmas Fact:
Did you know that Christmas trees have been sold in the United States for over 170 years? The first recorded sale of Christmas trees in the US dates back to 1850. Since then, Christmas trees have become an important part of the holiday season for many Americans.
Without question, a lot of people use the X these days to exclude Christ from the feast that bears his name. Some could even act ignorantly in this case. The goal of secularists has been to eradicate any references to God, Jesus, and Christianity from popular culture. Must we hold individuals who do not know the Lord to a lower standard?
What then should a Christian do? Should you always write “Christmas” or may you use the acronym? As in other matters, I think the best course of action is to follow one’s own conscience as directed by the Holy Spirit. Although using acronyms is not sinful, it would be improper for a Christian to do so as it shows humiliation for Jesus Christ ( Luke 9:26 ). As a result, you must investigate their justifications for their choices.
Jeremiah 10 prohibits putting up Christmas trees
Some Christians say the eleventh chapter of Jeremiah forbids Christmas trees. A detailed reading of the text shows that it is not about that:
O Israel, hear the Lord’s word. Jehovah says:
Despite the fact that the nations are scared of the signs of heaven, do not follow their example or grow afraid of them. Because the people’s habits are based on conceit; they harvest wood from the forest, which is the product of a craftsman’s labors using a burin. They embellish it with gold and silver, and they fasten him so he cannot move using hammers and nails. Similar to a palm tree, rights are speechless and swept away due to their inability to walk. They are not capable of evil or good, therefore you shouldn’t be scared of them. (Ezekiel 10:1–5)
There are parallels to a Christmas tree in this chapter, but the context shows that putting them up is fine. Each of the first 16 verses of this chapter describes idols as worthless compared to God.
These instructions tell the Israelites not to follow the Gentiles’ idolatrous ways, who constructed idols from chopped down trees. If a Christmas tree becomes an idol or a barrier to worshiping God, it’s wrong. Many people set up evergreen trees to remind them of Jesus Christ’s eternal life for those who accept Him as Lord and Savior.
Jesus was born on December 25
Another contentious issue, but one that is unneeded. The season he was born is unknown. Many assume this date was chosen to coincide with (or replace) Saturnalia, although there is no proof. Julius Africanus originally mentioned Christ’s birthdate on December 25 in the early 3rd century.
Some contend that the traditional date is implausible since shepherds would not have been in the fields at night in winter. December evening temperatures around Jerusalem average 35–40 degrees Fahrenheit. This might have been manageable for these shepherds if utilized as a guide. This reasoning is weak because temperatures may have been above normal that night.
An advanced case has been made against the customary date. Zechariah (father of John the Baptist) was Abijah’s class (Luke 1:5), hence we may estimate his temple service period. After Zechariah arrived from Jerusalem, Elizabeth apparently conceived. Gabriel told Mary of Elizabeth’s virginal conception in her sixth month (Luke 1:36).
We don’t know if Mary conceived shortly after this meeting or if her pregnancy lasted 40 weeks. There is too much conjecture in this argument to rule out or specify any date, including December 25.
We shouldn’t celebrate Christmas
Some have said that because Christmas originated as a pagan celebration, Christians shouldn’t observe it. Some argue that since Scripture never commands us to celebrate it, it shouldn’t be done. After all, Jesus told his disciples to remember his death over the Last Supper, but there is no indication in the Bible that Christians should remember his birth.
Christians commemorate and celebrate Jesus Christ’s entry into the world to atone for sins throughout the Christmas season. Even though December 25 may not actually be the anniversary of Jesus’ birth, it is still crucial to remember him and all that he accomplished for us. Scripture gives us precedence for celebrating Christ’s birth even if we are not required to. The shepherds and angels thanked God for sending his Son into the earth. It is certainly OK for Christians to do this, and we need to give thanks to God every day for the arrival of Christ into the world!
Scripture also serves as a reminder. For example, Joshua 4:5-7 describes the story of the 12 stones, which were intended to be “a memorial to the children of Israel forever.”
Regretfully, Israel soon forgot and embraced concepts from the outside world. The primary motivation behind Christians celebrating Christmas is to ensure that we never lose sight of what God has accomplished for us.
But this is the reality of our modern life. America is on a hazardous road that has led to England losing her Christian history almost entirely. The majority of people in these nations barely comprehend God’s Word at all. Therefore, according to 1 Corinthians 1:18, “the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing.” For this reason, while sharing the gospel with others, it is crucial to start from Genesis.
To urge Christians to communicate the truth uncompromisingly with an unbeliever-filled world, we must explain to them how God’s Word is relevant today. Believers must be the first to reestablish the authority of God’s Word in these nations. But we have to understand that even if these countries go through a revival and come back under the authority of the Bible, this won’t mean that anything will change permanently if we can’t provide evidence for crucial lessons that the future generation needs to learn.
Conclusion
Many Christians recall Christmas and its symbolism. Many Christians celebrate Christmas for Jesus Christ. Some dig too into the history of how we use Christmas to remember his birth. The origins or symbolism of Christmas should not be our emphasis. Many publications dispute the origins of particular customs. Many believe the Christmas tree has pagan roots, while others feel it is Christian.
Many say the December 25 celebration of Christ’s birth is pagan, but it doesn’t matter. Could the twelve stones have been mishandled? Dinosaur fossils are exploited today to indoctrinate people to distrust God’s Word. However, we shouldn’t ignore them.
We must remember that everything started perfectly. Sin invaded the planet and warped everything since then. We must return heathen objects to God and utilize them for good.
We should focus on why we commemorate Christ’s birth and how symbols convey truth. These items should demonstrate how we may live God’s Word.
