Christmas Without Christ

Judith

The Origins of Christmas

From: faithfreedom.org
We simply don't know the day of Jesus' birth. Some argue that it was in the spring, some the fall, others that it fell on December 25th. The holiday has some rather dubious roots in Roman pagan worship - some even think it goes back some 4,000 years. It was not till the year 530 AD that the church commissioned the Monk Dionysius Exiguus to proclaim this popular festivity as the birth of Christ.

From: christmascarnivals.dgreetings.com
Christmas was celebrated on January 6th until the year 1743, when due to a change to the Gregorian calendar the date was changed to December 25 by Pope Julius 1. In America, Christmas was actually outlawed in Boston from 1659 to 1681 and if you had the Christmas spirit - you were fined.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the holiday of Christmas began to take on its modern form - as a family holiday - in America. It was declared as a national holiday on June 26, 1870.

The word Christmas is even disputed - some think it means "Christ Mass" and there are arguments over whether that means "to kill Christ" or "Christ sent".

All that aside - I have an interesting supposition for us to consider:

What would Christmas be like if we took Jesus out of it? It's actually happening all around us.

Canada
Taking Christ out of Christmas

By SEAN DURKAN-- Sun Media

OTTAWA -- Grit MP John Bryden wants to take Christ out of the Christmas Day holiday to make it easier for non-Christians to celebrate it.

Bryden has tabled a private bill which would have Christmas Day declared part of Canada's heritage and awarded the status of a national holiday, rather than just a statutory holiday based on religious observance.

"Christmas Day is not a religious holiday to many, but it is part and parcel of being Canadian," says Bryden.

"This goes back to the very early days of Canada; to our ancestors who, when winter was upon them in the wilderness, huddled around the fire and felt fellowship and good cheer.

"My bill, I hope, will enable those people who are not Christians to celebrate Christmas with the rest of Canadians," says Bryden.

From YoungConservtives (www.yconservitives.com)

Annie Laurie Gaylor, cofounder of the Freedom from Religion Foundation proclaims, "The real reason for the season is the Winter Solstice." Supporters of this group erected a sign inside the Wisconsin Capitol saying:

"At this season of the winter solstice may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds." 1

New York City Public Schools recently passed a law prohibiting the display of Christian Nativity Scenes. However, in these schools the display of the Islamic Star and Crescent Moon is encouraged.1 Also, in a California Public School, the Principal has banned a teacher from saying the word Christmas.

Advertisements for Christmas trees now call them Winter Trees. Government and even private business and media are falling all over themselves to avoid saying the word Christmas - much less Jesus birth.

So what would Christmas be like with no Jesus?

o A time for family
o A time to exchange gifts
o A time of good cheer
o Santa Claus & reindeer
o Christmas Trees (well, winter bushes at least)
o Perhaps call it the Winter Festival or Winter Celebration
o Holiday shopping
o The Lights & candles
o The smells
o The Parties
o The Music
o Hot chocolate and spiced cider and eggnog
o Snow (maybe)
o A time for love

In many ways Christmas wouldn't change much at all without Christ. Many of the traditions we associate with Christmas would remain. Many people would simply not think it was different at all if Jesus was no longer associated with Christmas.

I mean really - what would be missing?

o Manger scenes
o Angels
o "Merry Christmas" - probably change it to "Happy Holidays"
o The Charlie Brown Christmas Special would have to be re-edited
o Christmas Carols

Why Christmas is really empty without Christ

o Gifts without the Savior become a simple exchange of goods
o Love without Jesus becomes meaningless expression of emotion without hope
o Christmas without Christ is a marking of the seasons, not the marking of the greatest event of all time.

So what should this tell us as Christians?

Isaiah 9:6-7
6 For a child has been born - for us!
The gift of a son - for us!
He'll take over
the running of the world.
His names will be: Amazing Counselor,
Strong God,
Eternal Father,
Prince of Wholeness.
From THE MESSAGE

I want to look at verse 6 of this prophecy concerning the Messiah - and apply it according to the perspective of three of the participants in the original Christmas story - and in that I want to make three statements and ask three questions that I hope will make us think about the real core, the real meaning of Christmas.

1. We are recipients of the real Christmas present - will we open it? (6)

Shepherds: a savior, a Messiah, a LORD

Luke 2:10-12
"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Sometimes we are afraid to approach the feeding trough - afraid we will be rejected by Jesus because we are not worthy. Well, we aren't worthy, but He loves us anyway - but we MUST come to Him.

2. Jesus coming represents a hostile take over, which side are we on? (6)

Jesus said: Matthew 10:34-39

34 "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn

"'a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law-
36 a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'

37 "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Are you willing for Him to take over your life - anew? Are you willing to put Him first - even above family? It seems almost anti-Christmas, but it is the true gospel: Jesus first. As long as we keep Jesus out of Christmas everything is fine and peaceful, but with Him there is no peace except through Him.

3. He comes to give us good direction, for us to make Him our Lord, then make us whole - are we willing to let Him in to do the work? (6)

Mary: Endured shame - and a promise of joy and sadness

Luke 2:34-35
34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."

When we let Jesus take over it means change, painful change as we get rid of the flesh and take on His character. Following close to Jesus can mean our hearts are pierced.

Are we willing to let that pain in, to let that change happen, to let Him truly be the driving force in our lives?