Christmas: NOT a Silent Night

by William T. Pelletier, Ph.D.

America's Logically Conservative
Political Analyst and Commentator

When was the last time you heard the word "Christmas" uttered in public?

Pressure to avoid "the C-word" is epidemic today. Christmas is an embarrassment to the politically correct because Christmas focuses attention on a visitation of the planet by its Creator. This is inconvenient for those who prefer to ignore the Creator. In this day of tolerance for everything except the truth, the real meaning of the Christmas season is intentionally obfuscated and ignored. People are subtly encouraged either to ignore the true meaning of Christmas or to replace it with socially acceptable alternatives.

How often do you hear people say "Merry Christmas"? Instead they grunt "Season's Greetings" or "Happy Holidays" or "Celebrate the Solstice" or "Have a good Winter Break." Sometimes this is due to an intentional avoidance of the word "Christmas." Sometimes people speak this way in order not to offend someone else's sensitivity about celebrating Christmas. Frequently it is due to an unconscious accomodation to the secularizing drift of our culture. This approach is even more common in the marketplace; the C-word rarely if ever appears in stores anymore. A large upscale mall near my home has completely replaced all reference to Christmas with "The Giving Season." Santa Claus has become the dominant character of Christmas.

That first Christmas in Bethlehem was a night neither silent nor inconspicuous. It is absurd for those who know the reason for the season to suppress the truth in silence. Those who have something so magnificent to celebrate should celebrate vigorously and without apology. This is no time to be timid; the world needs the news of the Savior more than ever.

Christmas commemorates a fantastic event far beyond human comprehension, namely the human birth of the Creator, Sustainer, and Ruler of the universe. Far from being an unobtrusive or even neutral event, the original Christmas was a stunning invasion of the human race as God Himself became man! How could such a momentous event not be remembered and celebrated?

Despite the title of the famous Christmas carol, Christmas was NOT a silent night. That first Christmas night resounded with noise both natural and supernatural. Nothing was silent about the birth of Jesus to Mary of Nazareth 2,000 years ago in the land of Israel. All the voices of the animals in the stable, the sounds of childbirth in primitive conditions, and the vigorous cries of a newborn baby filled the night. Even the heavens exploded with joy and excitement over the event as recorded in Luke 2:8-20:

And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.

And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger."

And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."

And it came about when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us." And they came in haste and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.

And when they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. . . . And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

Did the shepherds quietly go back to sleep after the angels left? No, they hurried to Bethlehem to check out what the angels said. Did the shepherds meekly keep this to themselves? Did they avoid mentioning this unsettling event to others? Absolutely not. Outbursts of fervent praise characterized the shepherds' journey back to their flocks. The historical record reveals that they broadcast the news, so that all who heard about it were electrified. The clamor of voices in animated discussion continued into the night and through the days to follow. The shepherds' exuberant witness provides a compelling model for our own enthusiastic testimony during the Christmas season.

The glory of Christmas demands a keen focus on its purpose: to honor the birth of the Savior of the world. How can this best be done? In the Old Testament, God gave explicit directions for commemorative occasions which the Israelites were to celebrate annually (Leviticus 23), and these instructions suggest ways to honorably celebrate Christmas today. Feasts, rejoicing and celebration, rest from labor, and times of worship, praise, and thanksgiving were common elements of these Hebrew celebrations. This pattern suggests that appropriate commemoration of Christmas can involve holidays from work, fun, feasts, worship of the Creator, and joyful celebrations. Such activities involve planning, discussion, work, financial expenditures, and NOISE.

The remarkably singular life of Jesus considered in the context of world history mandates commemoration of His birth, whether one accepts Christ's claims of deity or not.

He was born into a poor peasant family in an obscure village in one of the tiniest countries of the world. He labored as a carpenter until about the age of 30 when He became an itinerant preacher. He never held an office. He never traveled widely. He never had a family nor owned a house. He didn't go to college and never wrote a book. He had no credentials but Himself. He was only 33 when the public turned against Him. His friends ran away. He was turned over to His enemies and endured the shame of a false trial. He was nailed to a cross and hung between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for His clothing, which was the only property He had on earth. His body was laid in a borrowed grave. Twenty centuries later He is still the central figure of the human race. More books have been written based on His life than on any other subject. The date of every newspaper and the copyright date of ever book testifies to the uniqueness of this Life. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever convened, and all the kings that ever reigned have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that one solitary Life.
(Adapted from One Solitary Life, author unknown.)

"As the centuries pass, the evidence is accumulating that, measured by His effect on history, Jesus is the most influential life ever lived on this planet. That influence appears to be mounting."

If the births of Presidents and civil rights leaders are celebrated with national holidays, then surely the birth of Christ is deserving of unapologetic and enthusiastic celebration. Timidity and embarrassment are unthinkable at Christmas. Be bold! Use the C-word frequently! The incomparable majesty of Christ mandates active and outspoken celebration of Christmas.

Will you be bold enough this Christmas to break the silence of our Christ-less culture's Silent Night?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

WTP 12/6/96, 11/12/97

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