Christmas! What’s it?

Is it the birthday of Jesus, the Son of God? Do you know not every Christian subscribes to the historical accuracy of the December 25th birthday of Jesus? My church, Seventh-day Adventist, is one of the most outspoken among those who question the accuracy of the date. In line with their “thus says the Lord” mantra, they approach Jesus' birth date with not just cynicism. In fact, they even try to proof the date as historically untenable. But could you believe there are words coming out of the Savior's own mouth that render moot the debate over the accuracy of the birth date? Jesus broke bread at the last feast with His disciples, referred to as the Last Supper, gave it to them to eat and said “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). The Communion Service, henceforth, became a tradition of the Christian church that serves to commemorate the legacy of Jesus (Read 1 Corinthians 11: 23-25; Acts 2:42). Yet not a single injunction of Jesus or His disciples relates to the observance of His birthday as a memorial, probably the reason some Christian churches like the Pentecostals, including Seventh-day Adventists, don't organize church services on Christmas Day but do so with much enthusiasm the Sabbaths that culminate the Christmas week. Simply put: Concept not a commandment of the Lord.

However, should the contention over the veracity of the birth date take away from the significance of the occasion? Absolutely not! In other words, isn't it sad if Christians should shy away from celebrating their Lord's birthday while embroiled in a controversy over the exactness of the date, or over the fact that Christ never asked to be remembered by it? Why then would they, with gusto render their civic duty of observing the Independence Day or the President's Day (US) for example? After all, neither Christ nor the disciples mandated such celebrations. Could somebody tell me if there was another time in the year when the bell over the Messiah's name or legacy was tolled louder than Christmas time? Christmas therefore remains forever a humanly-instituted birthday of Jesus that is highly significant because it bears the name of the Savior.

Permit me therefore to drive home my point by likening it to the response of the Vatican to the naming of the Pope as Time Magazine's person of the year 2013 as paraphrased below: Pope Francis is “not someone who seeks fame and success” by being given such a recognition, yet he would be really happy if the choice would mean people have understood the message he is spreading about the gospel. This analogy which by no means attempts to compare the highly exalted bishop, a carnal human being, to Jesus, the divinity, implies that although Jesus did not seek to be venerated by His birth date he would be happy if the celebration helps in etching his great name in the memories of mankind. Consequently, what group or individual among Christendom could claim innocence for not sharing in the ecstasy and euphoria surrounding this great occasion?

For this reason, the Seventh-day Adventist church, to the best of my knowledge, is probably the first among all churches to mount a Christmas tree at her global headquarters (General Conference) in Silver Spring, Maryland. And this culture, year after year, is replicated in most of the major institutions of the church. Furthermore, our official hymnal is replete with Christmas carols, whiles almost all Christian traditions like sharing of cards, gifts, sermons etc, are performed with the special coloration to honor the occasion. In the light of this revelation about my church, tell me if anyone who claims this group doesn't celebrate Christmas won't be lying?

For me, as a person, it's the carols that blow me away because there is no other moment in my life when the air around me gets so soaked by Christ-centered melodies like it happens during Christmas. And now, as the seasonal events unfold, all I do is allow them to sink in. However, we should not lose sight of the fact that the music, the tangible gifts, and the merry-making only speak to the letter of the Christmas, and that there always remains what I call: The spirit of the Christmas--mercy, love, justice, kindness, forgiveness… in short, altruism. It wasn't enough for Christ to provide bread to feed 5,000 people, for example, but he crowned all that with the offering of His own life as a ransom for the salvation of His friends, pleading in behalf of those who pierced his palms: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). This, undoubtedly, should be the focus of our Christmas message and conduct.

In this day and age when all that feels good for preachers to do is join the chorus in singing: “All roads lead to God,” what is expedient for Christians is to hone in on aspects of our Savior's legacy that sets him apart from the Gods of other religions—Our Jesus is the only prophet that still lives! Yes, we love our Moslem brethren, our Hindu brethren, and all brethren of other religions, even as we believe any religion professing faith in God is better than no religion at all, yet the power to show our Jesus off as the One name above all else is intractable. Jesus laid down His life and picked it up again. He is the Only and One way to reach God. Yes, He's a living God.

Some of my non-Christian friends lead morally upright lives. Don't ask me how God will deal with them in judgment, for that is a subject I shudder to broach, having been commanded by God to leave it out for Him, except to say: He who denies the Son has neither the Father nor life (I John 2:23; 5:12). The truth is, morality is one thing, Christianity, another. For us Christians, it begins with accepting the Son, dying to self, putting on Christ and having good morals as an added bonus (if only one did really die to self and put on Christ).

The irony is, by earthly standards, one may be well-devoted to his God, performing religious duties with zeal-- fasting, praying, and showing generosity to the needy, which is good. But these in themselves cannot win the favor of God. To the God of heaven, our righteousness (good morals) may fall so short, comparable only to “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). Righteousness resides only in Christ Jesus who died but now sits on the right hand of God. This is His birthday, let's come together to make this day great.

Pastor John Randall, of A Daily Life radio ministry narrated a story last Sunday of a Moslem convert who was asked why he made the switch to Christianity. The new convert speaking proverbially about his decision said: Suppose there is a traveler who having lost his directions gets to a fork on the road and is seeking help to choose the right way to go, and, lo and behold, he finds two men ready to assist him decide which way to turn, but realizes to his amazement that one of his assists was dead, the other alive, whose direction do you think this traveler would follow, the dead man's or the living's?

Without controversy, the God we serve is living and Christmas offers a great opportunity for Christians to share this good news with the world.

Invitation: This Christmas message, evidently, is my personal perspective on the subject, but it is intended to start a conversation on this important topic. I invite all friends to express their opinions, comments and counter-arguments, on my facebook page or via [email protected]. Aficionados of the blogosphere could sound off on my blog:” To God be the glory!” Osofo Kwadwo ni, Blessings and merry Christmas to you all!