Christmas Then and Now

Christmas is a holiday that receives global homage every year. Supposedly meant to commemorate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ; it is appreciated across the divide by both the pious and impious. It just can’t be ignored. Christmas can’t be hushed away even when the economy is lying on its sides.

Therefore, it goes without saying, that people have some arrangements towards Christmas celebrations however meagre it may be.

However, things have changed a lot. There is a huge chasm between Christmas now and Christmas then. I experienced my boyhood when Christmas was still Christmas. Oblivious of the dates and timelines, we used natural phenomena and human behavior to determine the dates. I fondly remember my life as a little boy. We danced to the tune of the season. Ignorant of dates, especially when out of School, we could still not miss out on Christmas.

First, the natural world had a grand annunciation in the form of the migration of birds. We used to call these birds “Magungu” in our local dialect.

So as little kid, our response song was “Magungugungu kalo, Kirismas chiegni“, loosely translated as: “Magungugungu are passing, Christmas is nearing”. And because they fly in colonies, there’s no way you could miss out on their presence. These were the first signs that set up the tones of the festive season.

Outside of these, there was human activities. You could see families redoing their mud houses and introducing the newest patterns and decor.

This was usually collective and very enjoyable. No one was left out, and people exchanged ideas. Little children worked hard in household duties. They hoped to secure some coins to help them spoil themselves with the goodies of the season. Such gangs were a common sight in all local towns:

To secure such privileges, we could finish our assignments in time.

In fact, we could introduce a new grazing method to the cattle; instead of herding, we could do either tethering or zero grazing. This was to ensure we appease our father to whom the welfare of the herd meant a lot compared to our need of mirth and healthy reveling.

Hanging out with the cool kids could give a better refrain to our holidays, as it meant more coins at our disposal.

But things have changed so fast. There is no bubbling around Christmas anymore. I don’t want to blame it on the economy, for even the little kids who care less about macroeconomic equilibrium have lost it. No expectations are scampering for their attention. Even the few mud houses that can be seen in the village, have no appearance of novelty seen in the years past.

Despite the gap, a few things have not changed.

One thing has withstood the test of time. It is the portrayal of ridiculous and discordant notes in dens of revelry and gaiety. Men and women claim to celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, they engage in activities unacceptable to the Lord.

He was not a reveller, nor did He ever fail the sobriety test. But in his name, people are getting drunk and disorderly. In his name, gatherings of flirtation occur. They disregard His matrimonial pattern set in Eden. In his name, hedonistic feasts are organized. Meanwhile, the poor are left languishing, wanting even a morsel of coarse bread. There is something about human behaviour around Christmas that betrays the Lord whose day they claim to commemorate.

How do you behave around Christmas?

While scripturally Christmas cannot be established, it is a good news that the world has paused to recognize the birth of Christ. The world is doing it the worldly way. Pagans have made it paganistic, traditionalists have made it a mere tradition, but it ought not to be so.

How do you celebrate Independence Day? Do we do so by curtailing the freedom of the people and strengthening the hand of neocolonialism?

How do we celebrate the World’s AIDS Day? Do we do so by encouraging unprotected coital contact?

How do we celebrate Men’s Day? Do we do so by subverting the concept of manhood?

Christmas ought to have more meaning than is usually practised. Christ must be presented as the only way to get out of the mess in this World. He must be presented as the Savior of the world, and the one who receives sinful men. He must be crowned king in our lives both publicly and privately. Otherwise, we are piling the guilt of dethroning the king of kings. If we mean it, then he must be fixed well.

Christ does not require us to celebrate the day of His birth. He would want us to remember Calvary instead. We should spend a thoughtful hour each day reflecting on the closing scenes of His life. This helps us understand the cost of our redemption. He wants us to remember Gethsemane. We should recall the ignominious treatment he endured from crude men. This way, we may learn to prize aright the privileges unlocked by Calvary’s virtue.

However, we have been so generous to even think of His birth ( not on the exact date though). By deciding to practice Christmas not from Christ’s requirements, we are obliged to ensure we do it to His glory.

It is a mockery of an immeasurable degree to celebrate somebody’s birthday and do everything that spoils his day and betrays His ideals.

I know of the many paganistic feasts that surround this day, but I just don’t care about them. The fact that such feasts must hide in the innocence of the lamb, is reason enough that they are not going to withstand the test of time.

I don’t have a problem with anyone who plans not to celebrate Christmas especially if one does so in the Spirit of Sola Scriptura. It is safe for a Bible Christian to avoid anything not authorised by Scriptures. However, if you decide to celebrate, then you must remember a few things:

You’re not at liberty to do whatever you want in the name of Christmas.
There’s no religious obligation for Christmas and if you decide to practice it, then you must be careful to do what glorifies Christ. Being drunk and disorderly is not one of them.

It is a mockery to Christ to pretend that you are celebrating His birth, and engage in unchristian behaviours.

May this Christmas Season be a time to reflect on Christ and what He has done for you and me. He is coming soon, to interfere with sin and its propensity. Prepare to meet your Lord