The birth of Christ

In a couple of recent letters to Highlands Today, local writers referred to the celebration of the birth of Christ as "the reason for the season."

If history is to be our guide, then Dec. 25 is the reason for celebrating, but not for the birth of Jesus; the odds that He was born on that day? One in 365.

There is nothing in Holy Scripture to authenticate the birth of Jesus on any particular day. The current 12-month calendar we use today existed in Roman times. If a scribe of the era wanted to document His birthday, he would have had the means at his disposal to do so.

Why then use Dec. 25? The reasons are multiple and a reflection of the cultural diversity of the Roman Empire. The Jewish Hanukkah ("Festival of Lights") was first recognized almost two centuries prior to the birth of Christ. Since He was born Jewish in a Jewish province of Rome and is frequently referred to as "rabbi" in the New Testament, the festivities would have been in place at the time of His birth. Happy Hanukkah has roots deeper than Merry Christmas and occurs at the same time of the year.

Outside of Palestine, the party was on for a variety of reasons. The Greeks used 12-25 as the birthday of Apollo, the God of Wisdom and Light. The Persians recognized it as the day to celebrate Zoroaster, founder of their religion which preached ethical monotheism, the same basic principle behind Judaism and Xianity.

The date had significance outside of religion. It coincided with the winter solstice and the Feast of the Saturnalia. Saturn was the Roman God of Agriculture and the rite to celebrate the end of harvest lasted several days and included the exchange of gifts and the closing of schools; sound familiar?

For all the above reasons, early church leaders decided if you can't fight 'em, join 'em.

The main lesson from all this is not historic but moral. The birth of Christ can be celebrated any day of the year, as can his main teachings, to love God with your whole heart, soul and mind and to love your neighbor as yourself. There is no need to check the calendar to practice these simple Xian teachings.

As I stated in a previous letter on "The X in Xmas" to the martyrs of the past, to the believers of the present, to saints and sinners alike, I wish you all a Merry Xmas.

Ed Engler
Spring Lake