Just what is Christmas? What is its origin? And what is its meaning for today?
If these questions seem puerile, consider them in connection with the results of a word-suggestion test which a college professor gave to twenty members of a psychology class. Among the words used in the test was “Christmas.” As this word was pronounced, each one was asked to write down the first thought that came to mind on hearing it. When the professor collected the slips of paper, he found that “Christmas” had prompted instantly such words as “tree,” “presents,” “holly,” “shopping,” “plum pudding,” and others of the like kind. Not a single person out of twenty had written “birthday of Jesus,” or any other word of strictly Christian significance. A number of the class submitted afterward that this connection would have come to them on second thought but, as only one word was permitted in the test, the reaction was exactly as stated. Evidently Christ’s Advent is not the first and outstanding thought in the minds of many persons when Christmas is mentioned.
If this test could be extended to all Christians, what would the ratio be? Is it possible that not one professing Christian in twenty would instinctively remember the birth of Jesus first on hearing the word Christmas? These questions deserve serious consideration on the part of those responsible for Christian leadership and religious training. Let us be honest with ourselves and face these personal questions: Is my own reaction to Christmas truly Christian? Is my observance of the day a tribute to Christ or is it merely a respectable, pagan festival? Do I rejoice in the fact of Christ’s entry into the world? Or do I concentrate “on what to buy to give to whom, and how many courses to have for dinner and how many had better be invited”?
The time when Christmas was first observed is not known with certainty. It is spoken of in the beginning of the third century by Clement of Alexandria, and in the latter part of the fourth century Chrysostom speaks of it as of great antiquity. There was also considerable diversity as to the day on which it should be celebrated but, by the time of Chrysostom, the Western Church had fixed on December 25 though, at that, time, no certain knowledge as to the day of Christ’s birth existed; and the Eastern Church, which had favored January 6, gradually adopted the same date. Among the factors determining the selection of December was the custom of celebrating heathen festivals in that month. Many objects now inseparably associated with Christmas, such as the Yule log, holly, mistletoe and candles, had their origin in paganism.
In this connection, it is interesting to note that the actual birthday of Christ, according to the chronology of the Great Pyramid, is October 6. But Great Pyramid chronology has been developed in comparatively recent years and is not now generally known and understood; therefore our generation will probably continue to observe the traditional date. Since the Lord looks on the heart and judges the motives of men, He will be pleased when we celebrate His birth in the right spirit, even though it may be done on the wrong day.
The word “Christmas” is derived from “Christ-mass” – the Christ in whose honor the day is fixed and the service of the Christ-mass, or Holy Communion in which He is remembered. Christmas commemorates God’s greatest gift to mankind. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Rebellious humanity had no right to expect or demand the gift of Christ to the world. Men have never merited such a holy sacrifice; it came as an expression of the Father’s infinite grace and love.
Christmas is an invitation to accept the gift of God and to experiment with the possibilities of Divine love and grace in our own lives. Christmas is an adventure into: a new life with Christ. Christmas is a heavenly song of hope in the souls of troubled men; it inspires believing Christians with confidence and courage; it enables them to find peace and joy in the midst of tribulation.
Let all Christians look not to the tinsel and twinkling lights but to the Holy Land, birthplace of our Lord Jesus for the hope of this world is in His second coming and it is to Palestine He will come to establish the NEW Jerusalem.
“Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.” Rev. 3: 11 & 12.
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