Merry Christmas!

It was originally my intent to write a nice upbeat piece about the origins of the word Christmas and how it all really centers on Christ. In an effort to keep my facts straight I decided to do a little internet research. Typing the phrase “origin of word Christmas” in Google brought me some interesting and unexpected results. Not so surprising was the online dictionary definition of the word Christmas derived from the Old English words Cristes moesse, 'the mass or festival of Christ'. What caught me off guard was the list of searches I found condemning the celebration of Christmas. Even more shocking; the articles condemning Christmas were written by “fundamentalist” Christians. I guess I should not be so surprised. Unfortunately, experience has shown me Christians can, at times, be poor witnesses for Christianity. Yet I do still find myself a bit taken back in my discovery. In an ironic twist of fate, these articles relate the struggle of Christians to unite in celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ Himself; the central figure of our own faith. Seemingly, in an arrogant attempt at self gratification, the history books are meticulously searched in an effort to find every bit of information linking Christmas to pagan practices. Once linked, this information is used to denounce anyone and everyone celebrating Christmas as we now know it. This criticism is then directed towards what can be inferred as “so called” Christians. The heart intent of this research and inference is an obvious effort to elevate ones self far above all other professing believers.

The diversion of these articles combined with the lack of reliable information found on the internet have left me uncertain of what the word Christmas may have meant to the Romans five hundred years ago. Frankly, at this point, I no longer care. I am only certain of what Christmas means to me right here and now. Like most, in my depravity, I will find myself distracted from the true meaning of Christmas in the hustle and bustle of the season. Yet my depravity is the specific reason Jesus was born. Despite any negative connotations of the origin of the word Christmas and any links to pagan practices and despite any objections from atheists, secularists, agnostics, or even fundamentalist Christians, I can think of no better reason to celebrate than the birth of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. So there it is…Merry Christmas!