-Christmas and Attacks of the ‘Super Religious’

Sometimes it is Sunday worship, Tattoos, the name ‘Christian,’ contemporary worship with guitars and drums, or any Bible but the King James Version that gets them going.

But this time of the year it is Christmas that is under attack by those folks that I call the ‘Super Religious’ and ‘Knowledgeable’ -folks that know it all and believe that they are way more ‘spiritual’ than the rest of us. Kind of like the Pharisees that Jesus had to deal with.

I am sure you have all heard it by now from one source or another, Jesus was not really born on December 25 (Although some Bible scholars believe that he may have been conceived on or near that date). It was originally celebrated by the Romans as ‘Saturnalia’- the birthday of Saturn- one of their many gods. Also, the tradition of decorating trees comes from Druid pagan worship.  Therefore -‘Real’ Christians don’t celebrate Christmas nor decorate trees.

All that may be somewhat historically true and I guess if you are worshipping Saturn on the 25th of December and you have dedicated and decorated a tree to a pagan god then they may have a point.

First time I heard this line was way back in the early 70’s one Saturday when our family was decorating our tree. Then there was a knock on our door and a very fine couple from the Watch Tower (Jehovah Witnesses) proceeded to explain to us how what we were doing was really pagan. It wasn’t very convincing to me then and still isn’t now and I do know all of the history and the facts thank you very much.

Yes, Jesus was probably born sometime in the fall since the shepherds were still in the fields and the Wisemen didn’t show up till months later when they were living in a house, that’s why Herod had all the babies under 2 killed and not just the newborn. But the rest of the events and story we celebrate this time of the year is entirely true and recorded in Matthew (Mt 1:18-2:18) and in Luke (Lk 1:26-56, 2:1-40). However, Isaiah should never be ignored:

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Is. 7:14)

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Is. 9:6)

As usual on Christmas Eve our family will break out the Bible and read those passages about the first Christmas and when we come to the part of the angels appearing to the shepherds we will all probably look up at the angel at the top of our tree.

Oh yes, there will be no mention of Saturn or any other pagan deity—Jesus is the real reason for this season.