Christmas is less than a week away. Every year our society becomes focused on Christmas in both the religious and secular sense. If we are not careful, we can become more focused on the secular celebration of Christmas than what Christmas is really about. Earlier this morning, I came across a person on Facebook defending their church’s decision not to have church services on Christmas day. In their opinion, Christmas is for families. This is a secular view that has crept into the church and will have spiritually harmful effects.
Christmas does have a family element
Before I get accused of contradicting myself, please read what I am sharing. All through the Old Testament, beginning with the first Passover, God has set some basic concepts in place. The first of these reads, Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb (Exodus 12:3-4). This is the basic teaching found in every other celebration of God’s provision and grace throughout the Bible.
Christmas, like Passover and other Jewish festivals mentioned in the Bible, is to be a time when we are to open our home to those who do not have families. For that moment, while worshiping the Lord, we are one family. It is within this context where God places the next concept: And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever (Exodus 12:14). We are to teach the younger generation, and to remind others present, what the real meaning of the holy day we are observing. At Christmas, we are to focus on what Christmas is – the day Christians have set aside to honor the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus.
The meaning of Christmas is to be shared with all at our table
The more time I have spent studying the similarities God instructed the Jewish people to observe the holy days and celebrations with the Christian observances, I become more convinced about their importance. If Christians were to focus on the meaning of Christmas as in the way of the Old Testament celebrations and observances, we would truly see Christmas miracles happen. Some families will read the Christmas story before opening presents, as ours does. This year, I’ve contemplated actually reading the story a second time right before we begin to gather around the family table, just as Passover is celebrated and observed in Jewish homes.
With the Passover Seder, children are encouraged to ask questions about the meanings and reasons behind the celebration. Every element of these special celebrations focus on the Lord. Each one focuses on reminding the elder generations of God’s testimony. They also give an opportunity to teach the younger generation about the goodness and holiness of the Lord. I’m beginning to believe my family and I need to adopt a similar attitude towards Christmas where it becomes an opportunity to teach about God’s love for mankind.
The Passover was to be observed in perpetuity by the Hebrews
There are several places in the Old Testament where God commands that holy days be set aside. It was also to be observed by future generations so that the testimony of the Lord would not be forgotten among His people. In Numbers, a commandment given to Moses is restated: Even all that the LORD hath commanded you by the hand of Moses, from the day that the LORD commanded Moses, and henceforward among your generations (Numbers 15:23). Not only did this include the Law, but the observance of Passover. There were never to be any question of the reason Passover was celebrated. There was never to be any question about the way and traditions within Passover. It was simply to be observed as a memorial to what the Lord had done for Israel.
