Christmas Mourning
by Keith Green
I'll never forget the incredible joy and expectation of Christmas. Our house
smelled like a Douglas fir. The tinsel and ornaments sparkled in the colored
lights. Friends and relatives came to visit... all with smiles and laughter...
and all with presents!! The season was full of life, warmth, and giving. They
are the very best memories of my childhood. The air outside was cold and crisp.
And inside, always the smell of something baking. If anyone asked me to describe
"joy" in one word, it would have been Christmas.
I remember taking a drive to an area of town where a whole street prided itself
on their Christmas displays and lights. The whole neighborhood spent thousands
of dollars to light up their front lawns with scenes of snow, Santas, reindeer,
and mangers. I always used to wonder what the manger had to do with Santa, candy
canes, and jingle bells, but it didn't bother me enough to ask.
When I was about 10 or 11, I noticed the word "Xmas." I wondered what the "X"
was for. I concluded it meant "criss," as in "crisscross." It never even entered
my mind that it replaced "Christ"! Yes, there were school Christmas plays and
other things that talked about the birth of Jesus having something to do with
Christmas, but it never really was the main emphasis in my young mind. I only
wished that it would be Christmas all year, and Jesus had nothing to do with it!
But when I was 21, I met Jesus, and since then it has been Christmas all year...
and Jesus has had everything to do with it!
The Origin Of Christmas
In the third century A.D., a wonderful thing happened. Constantine, the Roman
emperor, became a Christian. For almost 300 years the Christians had been
praying for their emperor's salvation. Nobody believed it was true! But then
came the royal decree... Christianity was made the religion of the state.
Everyone was strongly urged to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and only deity.
At the risk of seeming uncooperative (and believing that it would be safest
politically and socially), almost everyone in the empire made "professions of
faith" in the new religion. This, of course, delighted Constantine.
After a while there arose a great problem. What were they to do with all their
other gods? And what about all the great feasts and celebrations, especially the
winter solstice and the spring equinox? Before Constantine's conversion, the
whole empire would lustily celebrate these festivals to their gods and
goddesses. What would they do now? Constantine knew that, although almost
everyone had outwardly confessed Christianity, they were in no way prepared to
give up their cherished celebrations. What he had on his hands was a kingdom
full of "unconverted converts"!
As the restlessness and dissatisfaction of his people grew, the emperor knew
something had to be done. So, in desperation, he declared two major "religious"
holidays. They would correspond exactly to the times of the old great
celebrations. He declared December 25 (for centuries celebrated as Saturnalia,
the birthday of the sun) as the celebration of the birthday of Christ. (Although
historians say that Jesus was probably born sometime in October.) A great mass
or religious service would be held in honor of Jesus' birth on that day (hence,
Christ-mas). He also declared the old holiday of the spring equinox to be the
celebration of Christ's resurrection. (The old emphasis of the festival was the
worship of the goddess of fertility-which is where we get the Easter Bunny.) The
grumbling masses were thus quieted when they realized that they could once again
celebrate their great holidays. Oh yes, the festivals might be called something
different, and they might have to go to some "religious ceremonies," but for the
most part, things could get back to normal, and their old festivities could
again be heartily resumed.
St. Nick
The history of the man Nicholas (who was later made a saint by the Roman Church)
is vague and sketchy. But one thing stands out about his character - he loved
the poor and needy, and at every Christmas he used to give gifts to the widows
and orphans. He was loved by all, especially children. This is how the tradition
and practice of gift-giving was started. The folklore fantasy called Santa Claus
grew over the centuries and now is the central image of a secular Christmas,
where an average of over $150 each is spent on gifts for every man, woman, and
child in the United States alone!
The True Meaning Of Christmas
I've heard a lot of talk (especially by Christians) about the true meaning of
Christmas. I've seen Christians go in for all the trappings and trimmings. They
spend hours, even days, in department stores trying to figure out what to buy
for friends and relatives who already have everything they need ... sitting
around the tree and watching nervously while someone opens up the present you
got them, as they try to look surprised and squeal with delight... parents
teaching their young what they call "a harmless fairy tale" - the story of Santa
and how "he's gonna bring you lots of presents, so you better be good." And all
the while, a world full of starving, deprived people are silently, invisibly
looking in through your living room window begging for a scrap of food, a rag to
keep them from shivering to death, and an answer to their misery, suffering, and
oppression.
When we consider all the money spent by all of us, during a season that's
greatest meaning is the Father giving us His only Son to come live and die for
us, we must cry out against the injustice of an American, Christian people, who
have so much and do so little. The true meaning of this season should be to give
ourselves to the work of spreading the Gospel. Proclaiming freedom to the
captives! Giving them bread to eat, then pointing them to the Bread of Life, to
fill their hungry souls.
Some Suggestions
As a part of your Christmas celebration this year, we suggest taking your
children to a ghetto, to a hospital, to an orphanage, to an old-age home. Teach
them the meaning of giving. Teach them it is foolish for us to spend money on
things we don't need, and on things that others don't need. Let them spread joy
to those who are miserable! Let them give a smile to an old woman's face, whose
own children have forgotten and abandoned her in a convalescent hospital. Let
them empty their piggy banks and send the money to missions and the poor. Let
there be giving! Costly giving! Let us give our Lord Jesus the whole world for
His birthday! The world and the Lord await our response...
LHO Notes: This was an article written by the Late Keith Green back in the Latter 1970's or early 1980's - and while we agree with most of what is written here, there are some points where we diverge and that could be made clearer.
For example: on Constantine, the Roman emperor, becoming a
Christian - we believe that Constantine was never in fact saved and his version
of Christianity was false from the beginning.
and concerning "the true meaning of Christmas" - there are a couple of things to
say here:
1. The actual meaning of the word "Christmas" has to do with catholic mass - a
perpetual repetitive sacrifice of their false Christ (based on Baal worship)
2. The true meaning of the birth of Jesus - there is a lot to say here, from
both a historical context, and more importantly a spiritual context
a.) for example, historically Keith points out that the actual birthday of Jesus
wasn't in December, but probably in October, (or more likely September)
b.) TBD - Article discussing the significance of the birth of Jesus - Our ONE
and ONLY savior - who was born to die for our sins and set us free!