SENTIMENTAL
Definition of sentimental:
1a : marked or governed by feeling, sensibility, or emotional idealism
b : resulting from feeling rather than reason or thought
It’s hard to dispute: Christmas is the most sentimental time of the year. Jewel colors, sparkling tinsel, evergreen bows with faux snow, twinkling lights, and sweets galore at both home and work—the sights and sounds of the season are meant to sweeten our hearts and gentle our disposition, making us kinder, more generous people, at least until New Year’s.
For the most part, there’s nothing wrong with sentimentality, but when we allow good feelings to rule entirely, the truth can be pushed into the back seat. When we feel good about something, sometimes the truth doesn’t even matter. That’s politics and the current media—tell people what they want to hear, whether it’s true or not.
When it comes to Christmas, truth and sentimentality can be challenging to keep apart. As a pastor, I delight in the Christmas season. People come close to being their best selves at this time of year. However, all that good, sentimental glee can detract from a correct reading of Scripture. I tread very lightly here because even as a diligent, committed teacher and preacher, I fear and tremble at the thought of messing with Christmas. But I shudder even more at the misrepresentation of Scripture, as I should. Can I address the errors of our sentimentalist Christmas traditions and do Scripture justice without walking all over everyone’s positive Christmas feelings? Hmmm, we’ll see.
1. There was no inn and no innkeeper. Luke 2:7 says, “no place for them in the inn,” but “inn” is a wrong translation. The Greek word katalumati refers to the guest room of an ordinary house. Rightly read, there was no place for them in the “guest room.” The only place the word “inn” appears is later in Luke (10:35) in the parable of the Good Samaritan, where the victim is taken to the inn (Greek pandoxeion, literally “all welcome”). That place—the ancient equivalent of a hostel—had a pandoxei, or “innkeeper,” but nothing in Bethlehem.
2. No wise men visited baby Jesus in the stable. How many Christmas creches have you seen with wisemen (at least 3) standing around the manger? Even one is too many, for Matthew clarifies that the Magi came much later, at which time the holy family was in a house [Matthew 2:11]. There—in the house—they delivered royal gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The shepherd boys and animals were long gone.
3. December 25 is not Jesus’ birthday. Sorry, but it’s more likely Jesus was born in the spring, when a Roman census would have taken place (think April 15 as a modern parallel). Why then December 25th? In the Roman world, paganism ruled. Two of the biggest and most unruly festivals occurred at harvest time and at the beginning of winter around December 21st. The harvest festivals celebrated the fruitful profits of an agricultural year, and Saturnalia, named for the god Saturn, marked the return of the light after the shortest day of the year. Saturnalia likely culminated around the 25th with much wild partying. Masters would serve dinner to their slaves (Boxing Day in England has preserved this custom).
When Christianity became the official Roman religion, leaders still had to manage the Roman people’s very popular (and very sentimental!) holidays, so they turned them into Christian feasts. November 1 became “All Saints Day,” wherein all people reverently honor the saints with their celebrations. Saturnalia became the most important mass of the year—the Mass of Christ—or, you guessed, Christmass. The pagan booze-ups were transformed into religious holidays. With time and sentimentalism, we came to call December 25 the birthday of Jesus. True, we celebrate his birth on the 25th—God’s gift of the Christ/Messiah—but it was not and is not his birthday.
So, you’re wondering, are we expected to change everything now? Get rid of the misconstrued creches and change all the children’s plays and programming?
In short, no. While it’s important to know what’s correct, accurate, and Scriptural, it’s not essential to split too many hairs over it. The good feelings of the Christmas season do translate into acts of kindness and generosity, and it is better to have those qualities uplifted than to undermine them by being a fussy and cranky Bible teacher. Which is to say, I’m working on it, but Merry Christmas to you and yours. Let us all make it the best celebration we can.