Killjoys Go Away !

I like the Puritans in general . Much of what they wrote and taught is spot on, but one blind spot they had was the celebration of Christmas. So concerned to make sure they cut themselves off from any accommodation to Catholic dogma  and all the Popish traditions , they rejected any form of celebration of Christmas. Sorry guys but I don't get you there.

Now I know many Christians even today will rain on the day , telling us that the 25th wasn't the day , that the scripture doesn't give any clear commands to celebrate Jesus birth , all the pagan traditions that have been absorbed , well you get the picture . The constant barrage is constant and annoying to be honest to someone who loves the day set apart to declare , something amazing had happened , the Messiah has come.

So let me list a few things that I hold that indicated that its not only alright to celebrate the coming of Jesus but that it is a good  and  wonderful thing to do so .

If a day is to be special , even in culture , announcements are made and signs are posted to let others know that something cool is going to happen. Well going all the way back to Genesis 3 , right after the fall of Adam and Eve , God promises a coming of a Messiah that would redeem and crush the evil ones head.  Jumping ahead to Abraham , God promises to make him a nation through one to come , who's descendant will not be able to be counted. The prophet Isaiah tells us a virgin will conceive and bare  a son and His name will be wonderful counselor , Mighty God , Everlasting Father , Prince of Peace . Micah promises one who would rule would be born in  Bethlehem . There are  more promises of the coming of the Messiah but its clear that a major event was being foretold to the people that God was going to do something amazing .

Jumping to the New Testament there is a huge amount of activity . The appearance of Angels to numerous people is astounding . Lets look at them. Zecharias had an Angel appear to him in the temple to tell him Elizabeth would have a son and his name would be John . He would be great in the eyes of the Lord and be the forerunner. Then the Angel Gabriel appears to Mary and announced  that she would conceive and bare a Son , by the power of the Holy Spirit , fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah about a virgin conceiving a son. The Shepherds are told  of the great news of a Savior born in the city of David ( Bethlehem ) and a multitude of the heavenly host praise God over the birth of Jesus. The Shepherds make haste and go to Bethlehem and see the a babe , telling others of the wonders they had seen .   Add into the mix both Simeon and Anna  rejoicing over Jesus  , all of these events have a celebratory nature . A proclamation of something great , awesome and amazing had occurred.

Then the magi enter into the scene . Having scene "His star " they traveled to find the one who was born King of the Jews so that the could worship Him . How many Magi or wise men there were is never mentioned but we do know they came baring gifts of frankincense , myrrh and gold . In this part of the story we have a major celestial event , a star and a group of wise men who came to worship and give Him gifts.

Consider also the appearance of Angels . Typically they only appeared when something major was about to occur and they are all over the birth of Jesus. Can one read the story of the Shepherds and marvel that perhaps thousands of Angels praise God in unison over this birth. Is that not a celebration.

So stepping back and looking at all the rejoicing , the heralding and the joy of this good news of the Son of God coming , I do not think its a leap to say , to celebrate the birth of Christ is not only a good thing to do but although not explicitly commanded , taking all the promises of Jesus birth and the actual joy over His birth ,  I believe and hold its the right thing to do .

So to all the naysayers and "humbugs" out there within the flock of God , go back and re read the promises , the fulfillment and see a pattern of expectation and rejoicing when Jesus comes . Christmas is awesome not for family , for kids ,for gifts , for food , for decorations but for who came over 2000 years ago so that sinners like you and me might be reconciled to God . Christmas is a marvelous and amazing story of God showing His love and grace to a fallen world . If you can't celebrate that , then you don't get how awesome the birth of Jesus was.