...And Knowing Is Half the Battle...

I think it's a well known and well established fact that I'm a Christmas Junkie!  For me, the only problem with Christmas is that it only comes once a year.

When some people hear me talk like this, they think I'm into Pagan rituals at worst, or too secular at best.  I suppose there may be truth to the secular thing, but really...If you think I'm going to worship a pine tree (no matter how well it's decorated), you are more crazy than I am (and trust me...I have issues).  If you think I'm going to pray to Santa Claus as my personal savior, then am I really the one with the problem?

Yes, Christmas does have some pagan traditions thrown into it.  Christmas is not a pure celebration of Jesus' birthday.  But, do you really think I can't separate the secular from the religious?  Does anyone really think that I bow down to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?  If you do, then kindly send me a letter or e mail with the following line:  "Dear Tom:  The purpose of this correspondence is to sever all ties between us.  Within the next few days, you will receive any and all items that I may be borrowing from you, and I ask that you reciprocated this gesture."

So...How does a Christian navigate the pagan stuff and the Jesus stuff?  How do we enjoy the secular parts of Christmas while still celebrating the birthday of the Lord?  Honestly, I don't think it's that hard.  So, I've neatly packaged some Frequently Asked Questions so that you too can enjoy the Christmas season and not have to feel guilty.

Can I still have a Christmas Tree and be a Christian?  
The long answer is "yes."  The short answer is "yes."  The first Christmas Tree that has been documented was put up in 1441 in Estonia.  In the Middle Ages, German Churches often used an evergreen tree in their Christmas Plays and called it a "Paradise Tree."  The Paradise Tree was often used to depict the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil from the Genesis account of the Garden of Eden (Hardly a pagan tradition!).

Some will say that the Christmas tree originated as an Asherah Pole (a pole dedicated to a Pagan Canaanite goddess).  I can't rule out for certain that there isn't any crossover, but see the following images and decide for yourself:

Christmas Tree

Asherah Pole

Well, what about Merry Xmas...Isn't that taking Christ out of Christmas?

Well, in English that may be the case...or at least appear to be the case.  But technically, Merry Xmas may be more correct.  Try to follow me;

1. X is also the Greek Letter Chi.

2. Chi is the first letter in the word Christos (Greek for Christ)

3. The New Testament was written in Greek.

Therefore, while English speakers may have trouble seeing Merry Xmas, I would guess that Greek speakers (or those that know the above facts) would understand that Xmas = Christmas.

And while we're on the subject.  Jesus' name wasn't Jesus.  Try to follow this:

Yeshua

1. Jesus name in Aramaic (a cousin language to Hebrew) is Yeshua (a name that we would translate as "Joshua" in English).

2. When the New Testament was written in Greek, the name was translated into Ieasous (basically pronounced ee-Ay-sous).

3.  When Latin became the official language of the church, his name was translated to Iesu. (The jump from Greek to Latin isn't as easy as I described, but this will do for now).

4. Then, the name was translated into English, and we get "Jesus."  Again, it didn't happen as neatly as it appears here, but this is only a basic answer.

Well, someone may say, "The debate over Xmas isn't about the name "Jesus," but about the name "Christ."  OK...here goes:

1.  Christ (Christos in Greek) means "covered in oil," or "anointed."  Like I said before, the New Testament was written in Greek.  Jesus may have known Greek (It was the primary language of the Roman Empire after the fall of Alexander the Great's empire), but he would have spoken in Aramaic (similar to Hebrew) which was the "local language" in Israel.  

2. When the disciples and others realized who Jesus was, he was called "Messiah" (mashiach in Hebrew/Aramaic).  Messiah means "anointed one."  

3. When the New Testament was written, Christ was the closest Greek word to the Hebrew/Aramaic "maschiach."  

Jesus - though He probably didn't look much like this.

So, in all honesty, English speakers don't call Jesus Christ by a name that he would have been called back in the 1st Century. 

What about all the gift giving?  Isn't that a little too secular?  
Yes...you're right on that one.  This practice is probably from the Roman Custom of giving gifts on the New Year.  But, it's been adapted into Christian practice from the Gifts of the Magi (the 3 Wise Men).  Definitely, Americans tend to go overboard in gift giving and receiving.  This is where Christians must step back and realize that giving gifts is OK, but it's not the purpose of Christmas.

Isn't the Date of Christmas from a Pagan Holiday?
Maybe...and Maybe not.  First of all, I'd have to ask you which date are you talking about?  Different Christian traditions celebrate Christmas on different dates.  In the Eastern Orthodox Churches, Christmas is on January 6 (others celebrate on January 7 or January 19 - all this is because of the use of different calendars).  I'm guessing that if you're reading this, you're probably wondering about December 25.

December 25 is probably not the date of Jesus' birth, but it was set as the date of Christmas somewhere in the 4th Century.  There are 2 theories as to why (I tend to believe that both have some truth to them, but having not lived in the 4th century, I don't know for sure.

1.  December 25 is exactly 9 months of the Church's Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  Babies wait 9 months to be born in normal circumstances.  So, maybe when they saw the date of the Immaculate Conception, they counted 9 months and gave us Dec. 25.

2.  December 25 is also around the time that the Pagan Romans would celebrate the Winter Solstice.  It's possible that the date was set to bring Pagans into the Christian religion.

If you're a Christian, how do you justify engaging in practices that may be pagan?
Well, first of al, I don't engage in pagan activities.  All aspects of Christmas point me back to Jesus.  When I put up my Christmas Trees (yes, that's plural) and look at their beauty, I'm reminded of Jesus.  When I give gifts, I see Jesus in the eyes of others.  What some people call the "Christmas Spirit" (OK, I use that term too), I see as the Holy Spirit at work in our lives.  

If you need more justification, read 1 Corinthians 8.  Paul is talking about eating meat sacrificed to idols.  He basically says it's not a sin to eat this meat as long as you know the idol is nothing and that God is God.  But, he says that you shouldn't eat it if by eating it, you would cause someone else to worship an idol.  So, using that reasoning, as long as I know trees, gifts, Dec. 25, etc. are all because of Jesus; I'm not worshipping a pagan god.  If, however, someone comes to visit me and would start to worship one of my Christmas Trees, then I'd cover it up because it's causing that person to sin.

What about people saying "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas?"First, "Happy Holidays" doesn't offend me because I know why I'm celebrating the holiday.  Second, most likely this person is just giving a customary greeting without much thought behind it.  For example, when someone says "How are you?" to me; do they really want me to tell them how I am? Or, am I just supposed to say "Fine," and move on?  Third, "Happy Holidays" can be a short-cut to saying "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year" since they're so close together.  

Now, do I say "Happy Holidays?"  Not usually.  Actually, I can't think of a time I've said it.  But, I don't rule out that I may say it.  But, again, if I say it, I really mean "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year."  

What if I'm speaking to a Jewish person? I'd probably wish them a Happy Hanukkah.  But that's not evangelizing the Gospel some would say.  Well, you don't get people to the faith by offending them.  God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) are so good that I don't think we need to scare people or offend them into the faith, but rather show them how loving the faith is.  Insulting them is not a way to show how loving Christianity is.  Plus, we humans really don't convert anyone...that's God's job.  We just spread the message.  If it's a message of love, then there is no fear (1 John 4:18).

Is it a coincidence that Santa and Satan have the same letters?
Go away!

Merry Christmas!!!!