Pagan Holiday, Spurgeon on Christmas, Christmas Symbols
12/22/2023
AN IDEA FROM ME
“Christmas is a Christian holiday which in [one] sense has pagan origins, but which upon further investigation represents the Christian takeover and redemption of heathen celebrations, co-opting them and bringing them under the authority of Christ.
Further, Christmas fulfills what the pagan holidays were longing for but could not provide, i.e. real peace, light and hope in a dark and hopeless world. Today, we are faced with two alternatives: the chaotic cacophony of “Xmas” and its rampant commercialism, and the solid, true, peace of real Christmas, which commemorates the coming of God in human flesh to save His people from their sins and transform the world.”
Read more about why Christmas is not a pagan holiday here. Listen to the podcast episode here.
A QUOTE FROM SOMEBODY ELSE
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given” (Isaiah 9:6).
“Is it true that unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given? It is a fact that a child is born. Upon that I use no argument. We receive it as a fact, more fully established than any other fact in history, that the Son of God became man, was born at Bethlehem, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger. It is a fact, too, that a Son is given. About that we have no question. The infidel may dispute, but we, professing to be believers in Scripture, receive it as an undeniable truth, that God has given his only begotten Son to be the Savior of men.
“But the matter of question is this: Is this child born to us? Is he given to us? This is the matter of anxious enquiry. Have we a personal interest in the child that was born at Bethlehem? Do we know that he is our Savior?—that he has brought glad tidings to us?—that to us he belongs? and that we belong to him? …
“I shall now help you to answer the question.
“If this child who now lies before the eyes of your faith, wrapped in swaddling clothes in Bethlehem's manger, is born to you, my hearer, then you are born again! For this child is not born to you unless you are born to this child. …
“Only men who are born again can claim the babe in Bethlehem as being theirs. "But" saith one, "how am I to know whether I am born again or not?" Answer this question also by another: Has there been a change effected by divine grace within you? Are your loves the very opposite of what they were? Do you now hate the vain things you once admired, and do you seek after that precious pearl which you at one time despised? Is your heart thoroughly renewed in its object? …
“Are you renewed within? For mark, my hearer, the new birth does not consist in washing the outside of the cup and platter, but in cleansing the inner man.”
—Charles Spurgeon, “A Christmas Question,” 25 December, 1859, The New Park Street Pulpit, accessed 20 December, 2023 at https://archive.spurgeon.org/sermons/0291.php.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
Christmas symbols and their meanings:
Christmas lights remind us that Jesus is the light that came into the dark world, “and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5b).
The Christmas tree reminds us of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 2:9), by which our first father Adam sinned, as well as the Tree of Life which is waiting in the New Jerusalem for us (Revelation 22:2). It also recalls the cross on which Jesus Christ died for our sins.
The ornaments on the tree remind us of the forbidden fruit which Eve took, and of course of how our Savior was hung on a tree, taking the curse that we deserved (Galatians 3:13).
The presents we give and receive remind us of the greatest gift of all, when God gave His one-of-a-kind Son, so that everyone believing in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
Even Santa Claus has his origins in St. Nicholas, the ancient pastor and theologian who gave gifts to the needy and (reportedly) socked the heretic Arius in the face for denying the divinity of the God-man Jesus.
As for Elf on the Shelf, I’ve got nothing. You’re on your own with that one, my friend.
From myself and The Think Institute team, Merry Christmas!
Warmly,
Joel Settecase
P.S. We recently dropped the monthly cost of our learning fellowship, the Hammer & Anvil Society. The new course on Family Discipleship starts soon, and it’s only available to members. So if you’re thinking about joining, now’s your chance. Tap here to learn more about it.