...of Christmas and its fanfair

BY PRISCILLA CHRISTOPHER

From time immemorial, Christians world over have meticulously kept the tradition of remembering the birth of Jesus Christ every 25th day of December. This tradition which is almost as old as the world has become a legacy handed down from generation to generation that no one can really tell who instituted it and its essence of celebration. 

So, this season is often associated with series of shopping, travelling, exchange of gifts, visits to tourist centres and other fun-catching exercises. The streets are littered with comical images of Santa Claus, an assumed Mary feeding an assumed baby Jesus, Christmas lights and other pictures portraying the celebration of the greatest man earth ever had. 

Similarly, music points add spice to the season by playing carols and songs insinuating the birth of Christ; offices and corporate outfits wear looks of green and red, and the entire town comes aglow with coats of many colours.
One place Christmas is felt in all its entirety is the home. From the first week of December, the budget is already drawn and purchases for the D-day commences immediately. Items ranging from wears to wares are purchased. Possessions like lands, cars and houses are acquired, old items are replaced with new ones, strained relationships are made-up, the house and its surroundings is given a massive refurbishment thus, an old, forsaken house comes alive at Christmas. 

Before Christmas day, the home is already up with the jostling of anxious children who cannot wait to put on their new wears the following day; the sitting-room is well decorated with a Christmas tree standing close to Mr. Santa Claus in a strategic position; all is set for the event!

Indeed, the joy and happiness experienced at Christmas is one superseding other celebrations; an activity worthy of the grand birth of the world’s saviour, if one may ask. 

Millions of people celebrate Christmas for various reasons. Some spend the time with friends and family; others think about God or devote time to helping the poor or needy. By themselves, these are undoubtedly worthy deeds. However, they are clouded by the dark side of this holiday.  

There are two significances of Christmas — the religious significance and the given significance. The religious significance originates from the bible while the given originates from mortal commandments- an assumption of men. The religious significance holds to the fact that there is no scriptural command directing Christians to remember and celebrate the birth of Christ but his death which He himself instituted and commanded in Luke 22: 19. 

The given significance holds that Christmas is derived from a Catholic word, ‘MAS’ and ‘CHRIST’ meaning, a crowd of people following Christ. It also holds that though Christmas is not found in the Bible, men can observe it as a normal remembrance of a person’s birthday which everybody does.

The religious significance has however argued that the given significance is inconsequential and contrary to Colossians 2:16 “let no man therefore judge you in food, or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of a new moon or of the Sabbath days”, adding that church leaders should not impose opinions and ideas on their followers but should allow them use their discretion in making choices with no scriptural directives. It also cautions Christians to be wary of imposed worship as seen in Colossians 2:20-22 “...touch not, taste not, handle not...the commandments and doctrine of men”.

This argument between the religious and given significance has existed from time immemorial and the stronger party has often prevailed, with the other keeping to its belief. 

The truth that Christmas is not biblical also presents itself in the choice of the date. A thorough search of the scriptures reveals that only the 31st verse of Jeremaiah 52 has a record of the 25th day of December. The king of Babylon, Evil-Merodach brought out Jehoiachin, the king of Judah from prison and for the first time in 73 years of captivity; spoke kindly to him, set his throne above others, changed his prison garments and fed him with a ration equal to his own daily until Jehoiachin’s death.

In the light of the above, celebrating Christmas becomes a solemn moment for the remembrance of the mighty king of Judah who fell from grace to grass and was raised up again after 73 years of captivity and of course, nobody does this.  

Many scholars agree that most Christmas traditions have their roots in non-Christian and pagan customs. These include Santa Claus, mistletoe and the Christmas tree; exchanging gifts, burning candles, hanging decorative wreaths, and carolling. Regarding some of these customs, the book “The Externals of the Catholic Church” observed: “when we give or receive Christmas gifts, and hang green wreaths in our homes and churches, how many of us know that we are probably observing pagan customs? (Watchtower, Dec. 1st 2014). Even ‘The Christian Book of Why’ notes that “the early Christians refused to set aside a date marking Jesus’s birth because they wanted to divorce themselves from all pagan practices.” 

 
After considering the above facts, millions of people have decided to abstain from celebrating Christmas. Instead, they find joy and true satisfaction in spending time with their friends and family and in helping the poor and needy whenever they wish throughout the year. 

The truth about Christmas is that it has no religious affinity and should not be seen as one. The reason for the frenzy is perhaps because of the prominence of the ‘celebrant’ which is undisputable. But should such lowly birth condition warrant such noise? Agreed, he was a great man; has anyone wondered why Christ did not celebrate his birthday once while he lived on earth? Or why he instructed the remembrance of his death and not his birth?

In Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians (I Thess. 5: 21), he advised them to prove all things and hold on to that which is good. He also urged them to think on things that are true, honest, and of good report in Philippians 4:8.  

Since the Bible is the bedrock of Christians’ conducts and behaviours, its precepts must be followed accordingly. Christmas is, and should be seen as a social event which should be observed with all amount of decency. Laws should not be made where there are none and Christians should endeavour to investigate their actions to avoid vain worship.