by R.C. Sproul
That question comes up every year at Christmastime. In the first place,
there's no direct biblical commandment to celebrate the birth of Jesus
on December 25. There's nothing in the Bible that would even indicate
that Jesus was born on December 25. In fact, there's much in the New
Testament narratives that would indicate that it didn't occur during
that time of year. It just so happens that on the twenty-fifth of
December in the Roman Empire there was a pagan holiday that was linked
to mystery religions; the pagans celebrated their festival on December
25. The Christians didn't want to participate in that, and so they
said, "While everybody else is celebrating this pagan thing, we're
going to have our own celebration. We're going to celebrate the thing
that's most important in our lives, the incarnation of God, the birth
of Jesus Christ. So this is going to be a time of joyous festivities,
of celebration and worship of our God and King."
I can't think of anything more pleasing to Christ than the church
celebrating his birthday every year. Keep in mind that the whole
principle of annual festival and celebration is deeply rooted in
ancient Jewish tradition. In the Old Testament, for example, there were
times when God emphatically commanded the people to remember certain
events with annual celebrations. While the New Testament doesn't
require that we celebrate Christmas every year, I certainly see nothing
wrong with the church's entering into this joyous time of celebrating
the Incarnation, which is the dividing point of all human history.
Originally, it was intended to honor, not Mithras or any of the other
mystery religion cults, but the birth of our King.
Incidentally, Easter can be traced to Ishtar in the ancient world. But
the Christian church coming together to celebrate the resurrection of
Jesus is hardly something I think would provoke the wrath of God. I
wish we had more annual festivals. The Roman Catholic Church, for
example, celebrates with great joy the Feast of the Ascension every
year. Some Protestant bodies do, but most do not. I wish we would
celebrate that great event in the life of Christ when he was raised up
into heaven to be crowned King of kings and Lord of lords. We celebrate
his birth; we celebrate his death. I wish we would also celebrate his
coronation.
Taken from Now, That's a Good Question!
©1996 by R.C. Sproul. Used by permission of Tyndale.
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Tags: Christmas, R.C. Sproul
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