As I was reading some Christmas
articles by Hal Borland, author of Sundial of the Seasons, I was struck
by the following statement: “Not the least of the wonders we commemorate this
week was the simplicity surrounding the Birth itself.”
How very true! And if we hold
strictly to the commemoration of those events, our so-called Christmas
celebrations will be noted for the same simplicity. But it will hardly be so.
The world has just about taken matters over in that respect; and, all too often,
Christians take up the world’s pattern, making a virtual confusion complex out
of the whole thing. Perhaps the term “holiday festivities” is a better
description; yet, since the word “holiday” is derived from “holy day,” it is
still quite presumptuous to associate much of today’s revelry with Christmas, if
we truly mean that it is being done in honor of Jesus the Christ.
In the Bible proper, it does not
take many passages to tell the Christmas story. The world wasn’t in on it. They
knew nothing of what was going on. In fact, it is amazing how few godly people
were permitted to share the blessed event. And whatever fervor those few may
have exhibited at the time seems short-lived, unless we turn to our
imaginations for more.
Luke goes into some detail, and Matthew
considerably less. What there is to read is glorious beyond words, but we must
agree that the simplicity of it all was striking. Of course, the visitation of
the angels and the guiding star were heavenly spectacles to be wondered at. But
the “fanfare” was almost nil.
The settings for the scenes were
simple and unembellished—a Judean hillside where sheep and shepherds were the
everyday “cast of characters”—a manger in a stable in the backgrounds, and in
one of the smaller villages—“the house” where the Wise Men paid their visit,
undoubtedly sometime later. The swaddling clothes, the hay-mattressed
manger-bassinette, and the sacrifice offering of “a pair of turtledoves, or
two young pigeons” (Lev. 12:8), acceptable to God because they were not
able to bring a lamb, all added to the sublime simplicity—God condescending to
become flesh for a time and to dwell among men.
Many have felt that the true
spirit of Christmas is almost totally lost in the mountains of religious
tradition and heathen customs—and the mingling of the two. Poets and essayists,
who apparently know little about the Bible narrative, write things altogether
unscriptural and present them as truth. Thousands read them and believe them,
never thinking to check them against the written Word of God. And people who
have every reason to know better are often heard to misconstrue certain phases
of the birth of our Saviour.
Over and over we read of the
shepherds following the star; or both the shepherds and the Wise Men being
guided by the same star. We read of the angels singing their “Glory to God in
the highest” over the manger instead of to the shepherds on the hills of Judea.
Again and again we read of the Wise Men arriving in Bethlehem on the night of
Jesus’ birth, and while the shepherds were still there; but there is really
nothing to indicate that this was the case.
All sorts of imaginary happenings
have been set forth as being authentic, seemingly to increase the awesomeness and
the mystery surrounding the already beautiful story. The fabricated legend of
Saint Nicholas has encompassed the world, under one name or another, and is
loudly proclaimed as “harmless” even by thousands of Christians who allot him
more glamour than the Christ Child. Reindeer; fireplaces with stockings hanging
by them; wreaths fashioned from pine and holly, fruit, birds, or any sort of
gloss and glitter; Christmas feasts; Christmas brandy; Christmas trees and
candles everywhere—all of these, and many, many more, have become indelibly
imprinted among the things which are supposed to represent Christmas, the
birthday of earth and heaven’s King. In fact, it is very difficult to find
(even in many Christian homes) even a trace of the real Christmas story among
all the array of other things.
The laughter and merrymaking passed
off as legitimate celebration grows louder and more boisterous year by year. It
is as though the world were trying to out-shout itself. And, God forbid, but it
seems that the children of God feel that they must drown out the worldly din
with an even louder one. While we would not condemn an honest hearted try, we
have to wonder if, in times like these, it might not be better to “strike a
lower key”—one that would be ear-catching for its reverent simplicity and
“unlikeness” with the world.
After all, there is something to
be said for the admonition, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will
be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psa. 46:10).
Remember, when Elijah couldn’t hear or recognize God in the “great and
strong wind,” the “earthquake,” and the “fire,” God spoke to
him in “a still small voice” (1 Kings 19:11, 12).
Many people in this world are
being driven to mental breakdowns—some of their own even call it “noise
pollution.” Now, hold your peace! No sane mortal will ever tell the Church of
God to quit shouting and rejoicing—that is, in the Spirit of God. Spirit-filled
people are always going to be too full to remain quiet. But if the world is
going to monopolize “every key but the low one,” we may have to get the
Christmas message through on a different level.
Songs like Silent Night and
The Night Was Still are among the immortals of inspiration. They
bespeak the simplicity of the first Christmas night. They still bring
worshipful tears to our eyes and catch us up above the cheap, commercial glitter
of this world’s traditional, superficial Christmas. Even that blessed carol, Hark!
The Herald Angels Sing, says much to us before we get beyond its title.
“Hark!” Be still and listen! Let the angels sing! “Hark!” Give heed to the
message they bring. “Hark!” Be still, and let God have a word!
Another writer enhances Hal
Borland’s thought with another. Wilferd A. Peterson speaks of the “inside of
Christmas.” He presents it as a sort of challenging exploration, made necessary
by the more “visible outside of Christmas.” He says, “And when we get inside of
Christmas, Christmas will get inside of us.” If it isn’t there—well—it just
isn’t Christmas.
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