Smoodock's Blog

I’m sure some of us have heard the argument showing Jesus was not born on December 25^th, and this would be true. I have even said as much in some of my earlier blogs pertaining to modern false charges that the Gospel narratives are myths and mere copies of stories of pagan gods whose births some claim to celebrate on this date. Jesus was actually born in late summer on what is called by the Jews: Rosh Hashanah (the Feast of Trumpets). However, my blog today is not to prove the truth of this statement but to ask what many critics who know when Jesus was born are asking: should we celebrate Jesus’ birth on December 25^th? The long-story-short is: yes! We should celebrate December 25^th at least to point to Jesus’ becoming man, and now I’ll explain why.

First of all, Paul claimed in the first chapter of Romans that at one time in the distant past everyone knew God, but men sought to remove him from their knowledge. Originally in the first chapter of Genesis, God had appointed that the heavens would be for signs and seasons so man could measure the days of his life. There is reason to believe God wasn’t referring only to the weather changes and ages of history, but also that the heavens would point to seasons of man’s relationship with God viz. the Jewish Holy Days of Leviticus 23. The problem is man began worshiping the creation rather than his Creator.

Secondly, Acts 15 shows Gentiles do not have to become Jews in order to become Christians. There is nothing wrong, therefore, to reclaim seasons used for pagan worship that were originally used to point to God. For example, it is well known that the Christmas season celebrates the rebirth of light. The nights are at their longest and days at their shortest, but as the sun begins its northerly direction (as viewed from earth) light in the northern hemisphere begins to overtake the darkness – a rebirth so to speak. In polytheism this meant the longer days pointed to the hotter and fruitful days of spring and summer. However, in the Scriptures we read that Jesus is the Light of the world. He came into our world when we were at our darkest, spiritually speaking. There are parallels here. Moreover, if one would count backwards from the Feast of Trumpets one would find the normal gestation period of 9 months would bring us to about the time of Christmas. While I am not defending every practice done in the name of Christmas, I am defending the idea that it is not wrong to reclaim this season for God to whom it originally pointed.

Finally, we are called not to leave this world and become hermits, but to bring Christ to the world. The celebration of the winter solstice (December 25^th) had always been one of celebrating excess, lust, greed and overindulgence. People need a reminder that there is something better, and this cannot be done by staying in our homes in protest of an immoral celebration. If we celebrate the coming of the Light of the world—our Savior, the world is able to consider the contrast. If we celebrate giving out of love and not out of participation in the excesses of the season, the world is offered a contrast to consider. It is all about Jesus—even if he was not born at this time of year. As mentioned above, the normal gestation period points to the angel Gabriel coming to Mary about this season to announce the eminent birth of Jesus through her and into our world. This is a thing worth recalling and fixing our hearts and minds upon, celebrating the coming of the King, the birth of Light into our spiritually dark lives.