THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

Pastor Jeffrey Khoo

Christmas season is a special time of the year celebrated by both Christians and non-Christians. What really is Christmas all about? In order for us to observe Christmas correctly we need to know the meaning of Christmas.

The word “Christmas” is composed of two words: “Christ” and “Mass”. Christmas is one of those festive days when the Roman Catholic Church conducts a special mass. There are other days like Michaelmass. What is the mass? The mass is the Catholic form of Holy Communion where the elements—the bread and the wine—are magically turned into the actual flesh and blood of Christ. It is an idolatrous practice. It is also anomalous to celebrate the death of Christ on the day of His birth!

We do not observe Christmas the way the Catholic Church does. We do not engage in idolatrous worship, but spiritual worship by remembering Christ’s first coming on this special day. The Christ child was named “Jesus” because He was born to “save his people from their sins” (Matt 1:21). His name spells gospel or evangelism. It is a time for us to spread the good news of peace on earth and good will toward men through Him who is Prince of peace. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:1).

Not Date but Event

Was December 25^th the day when Christ was born? It is unlikely. The Bible does not reveal to us exactly when Jesus was born. We can be quite certain of the year of Christ’s birth which is 5 BC, but not the precise date. As such, we do not celebrate the date but the event. It is a historical fact that the Lord Jesus was born 2021 years ago according to God’s appointed time. “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Gal 4:4-5).

Now Christmas has become quite worldly with all the revelry and debauchery. Should we as Christians then take part in it? There are two extreme positions. The first is secularism which celebrates Christmas with the spirit of carnality and idolatry. We see this in Orchard Road and Marina Bay filled with Christmas lights and sounds tempting people to spend and splurge, to drink and party. The Chinese see it as the worship of the shopping god. Someone penned this poem (to the tune of Jingle Bells):

Dashing through the streets,
Snarling as you go,
If someone’s in your way,
Shove the so-and-so.
Whizzing through the doors,
Charging down the aisles,
All the Christmas faces wreathed
In tense and nervous smiles.
Oh, buy our stuff! Buy our stuff!
Empty out your purse.
Christmas is a spending time
That steadily grows worse.
Oh, we have got lovely gifts
For each him and her.
If we’re out of frankincense,
Buy our dandy myrrh!

This is not the spirit and the kind of Christmas we want to have.

The second is isolationism which condemns any and every observance of Christmas. There are those who abhor Christmas and abstain from even mentioning its name or celebrating it in any way, not even holding a church service to commemorate the event, no carolling either. Someone wrote carolling off this way:

Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, sleeping tight.
Then yon carolers come from afar,
At four a.m. songs from mouths ajar.
Disturb the neighbourhood peace,
Disturb the neighbourhood peace.

Our choirs do engage in evangelistic carolling from house to house and are sensitive to the neighbourhood peace. Praise the Lord.

Biblical Commemoration

Christmas can be kept in a biblical way. We need to understand biblically what Christmas truly means. We do not want to keep Christmas with a spirit of commercialisation or worldliness, but with a spirit of commemoration and worship. Christmas is not about Santa Claus, Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer, Frosty the snowman, jingle bells, mistletoes, shopping, partying etc. It is about Jesus Christ and what He had come to do.

If we put Christ back into Christmas, Christmas becomes meaningful. Will God be angry at His people when they gather together for worship on Christmas day, read the biblical accounts of the virgin birth of Christ, sing the Christmas hymns, and preach the good news that Jesus came to save? Will God be angry if we go for Christmas carolling to bring the good news of salvation to those who need it? As Christians we can make a difference on how people view Christmas. When we commemorate Christmas and observe it biblically, it becomes a good way to teach and reach others for Christ. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor 10:31).

God’s Love and God’s Son

It is important to know the meaning of Christmas. Christmas is about God’s love and God’s gift: “For God so loved the world that He gave…”. It is about God’s Son: “His only begotten Son.” The uniquely begotten Son of God is known by His names: (1) Christ (Matt 1:16) or Messiah, the Anointed One who will come as Prophet, Priest and King who is God Himself and the King of kings and Lord of lords; (2) Jesus (Matt 1:21) which means Saviour for “He shall save His people from their sins.”; (3) Emmanuel (Matt 1:23), “God with us”. The Lord Jesus “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” (Phil 2:6-7). This is what Christmas is all about—Jesus Christ, God Himself becoming Man to save us from our sins.

Know that Christmas is not just about the past, it is also about the future. Jesus is the greater Son of David, King of the Jews. The first advent of Christ points to His second. Jesus must one day rule over the whole world as King of kings and Lord of lords. He must fulfil the promise of God to Israel and to His Church that the Son of David will sit on the throne in Jerusalem and rule for a millennium. As we remember Christmas, we should not only focus on the past, we must also look to the future; Christ is coming back, and it will be soon. We must renew our resolution to be prepared for the Lord’s return. This Christmas, let us think about the Lord’s return, and how we may live our lives in light of that great day. May the Lord help us and bless us. JK

RESORT LAUTAN BIRU

Recently, the Young Adults Fellowship had their retreat at the Resort Lautan Biru (RLB), Mersing. They enjoyed themselves thoroughly. Right after Christmas, the Young People’s Fellowship will have their annual Bible camp there, from 26 to 30 December 2016. RLB has become their “homeground”, truly a home away from home.

The RLB is a most conducive place for physical rest and spiritual refreshment. It is a serene and scenic place fronting the South China Sea. It offers clean and well furnished rooms and dorms. The food is catered and cooked by a Hainanese chef, really authentic and delicious Hainanese cuisine. Nasi Lemak, Johor Pau and Roti Chennai for breakfast. Goreng Pisang and Keropok Lekor from a Malay beach stall just outside is a real treat at teatime. The famous chendol and old-style coffee in town are not to be missed.

Let me encourage our fellowship groups to book the RLB for their retreats and camps. Why pay high prices to camp in hotels with all the noise and distraction when you can have a campsite all to yourselves in a safe and peaceful environment. Your children will enjoy it. They can play chess, carom, table-tennis, basketball, badminton, captain’s ball or soccer. The resort can take a hundred campers easily. Just two hours from the Causeway.

Mr and Mrs Raymond Tan have managed the resort most faithfully for the last 16 years. They always welcome campers with a smile. Email: resortlb@gmail.com. JK