Bah Humbug!: A Biblical Response to Contemporary Evangelical Versions of Ebenezer Scrooge

So Sunday Morning I plan to preach a short sermon on this topic - A short overview is posted here to just add a little mistletoe under the SI Christmas Tree. Merry Christmas everyone!

Straight Ahead!

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Consider with me Luke 2:16-20. This passage is found within the larger text of Luke 2:8-20. Here the angels in celebration of the birth of the King of the Universe appear to shepherds. Notice the thrill and response of these participants of the “First Noel.”

Introduction – Occasionally I run across a believer who has a problem with celebrating Christmas because of the commercialization or because of its mixed roots with either the sacramental church (notice the “mass” end of Christmas) or because of its mixture with what I’ll call “yuletide legends and fantasies.” As a result, some NT believers “boycott” Christmas as a way of trying to demonstrate their contention against these excesses. Personally I have little respect for the boycott approach to Christmas. Especially those NT believers who have a judgmental attitude (which is what I’ve noted in most individuals who take the boycott approach) toward the rest of us who enjoy the Christmas season. At the very least we have Romans 14:5 that notes, “One person esteems one day above another…Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.” There is an implication with this verse and those of us who believe a Christmas celebration is not only socially exceptable but also weaved into our corporate, individual or family expressions of faith. While there are no doubt sincere Christians who have taken this route, I fear that too many take this approach out of a legalistic and twisted view of self-righteousness. Their approach misses the fact that the central theme of Christmas is not only worthy of celebration, but can and is often a tool for personal growth and sanctification.

Consider – OT saints celebrated Passover, The Day of Atonement and a hosts of other celebrations that looked forward to the coming and accomplishments of Messiah. How in the world is it therefore irresponsible for NT saints to look back by way of Christmas (and Easter for that matter) in what the God-man accomplished by his last coming? It seems to me that NT Christians who refuse to celebrate the coming of Jesus, elevate themselves above the ranks of believers who before the coming of King-Jesus utilized the various celebrations of feasts and holy-days as a part of their growth in faith.

Yes you could make the case that Christmas is tainted by the commercialization of the holiday. Fine, don’t spend money! You might disagree with the “sacramental” aspects of the way some have marked the day. Fine….don’t go to mass! You might disagree with the ancient pagan attachments one might be able to find in connection with certain “yuletide legends.” Fine…stay away from Santa, don’t put up a tree. However, if you do take the “boycott approach,” remember several cults mirror your own response, so that hardly marks you out as “righteous” by way of a NT witness. Also, If you are a believer in Jesus, be for something…or better yet, be for someone!

Be for the finding of Jesus (v. 16) - The Shepherd’s were zealous about the finding of Jesus.

Be for the sharing about Jesus (v. 17-18) - The Shepherd’s were zealous about sharing the news.

Be for the worship of Jesus (v. 19-20) - The Shepherd’s worshipped.

Conclusion – Over the years, when I’ve had the displeasure of bumping into these “evangelical fruitcakes” who make a big stink about Christmas, what I’ve noted is that I don’t smell in its place a pleasant odor of the gospel, worship or evangelism. Something’s wrong when you’re more against Christmas than you are being for “Jesus of Nazareth!”