By: Dustin M. Walters
Introduction
As adults, we easily forget the wonder, belief, and joy we had as children at Christmas time. We have become disinterested, doubtful, and miserable, and it is Christmas time rekindles a flame inside of us that we thought was extinguished long ago. Christmas softens even the grinchiest of hearts and invites wonder, belief, and joy back into the hearts of those celebrating the season. Theology is for life and Christmas is a part of life, so it is imperative that we develop a theology of Christmas based on the wonderful truths God reveals through His word and His son.
As challenging as it can be, a step back is needed from all the commercialization of Christmas. I think it is appropriate and helpful for us to develop a theology of Christmas and to allow that theology to shape our perspective this holiday season.
A biblical theology of Christmas explains the human longing for happiness and enhances our understanding of ourselves and our understanding of God. A right theology of Christmas gives us hope as we live in the age between Christ’s ascension to the Father and his return and the establishment of his kingdom of peace. In this blog post, I will discuss three components of the biblical theology of Christmas.
Christmas and The Doctrine of God
It is important to develop a theology of Christmas that proceeds from the reality that God exists. That is no doubt a presuppositional commitment-that God exists rather than that He does not exist. We all have presuppositions, and we should seek to test whether our presuppositions match up with reality. More important than that, we should test our worldview to determine if it measures up with what God’s word teaches. There is an undeniable connection between a true worldview and real reality.
Understanding Christmas means that we need to go back much further and understand our existence. To understand our existence, we must consider the existence of God.
Everything within us cries out with longing for something more than just living, paying bills, and dying. The existence of a personal God who loves us more than we can imagine and desires a relationship with us is the foundation for our theology of Christmas. Without a biblical understanding of who God is, we cannot make sense of who we are or why we need Christmas.
One of the things that should happen during the Advent season is more intentional time to reflect on the beauty, wisdom, and love of God that makes Christmas a reality for us as believers.
Christmas and the Human Condition
Christmas not only points to the grandeur and beauty of God and His existence, but it also humbly invites us to consider the human condition. There are three foundational aspects of Christian biblical anthropology:
- Made in God’s Image and According to His Likeness (Created)
- Fallen State in Union with Adam and Eve (Lost)
- Relationship with God Restored-Implications on All of Life (Saved)
A theology of Christmas emphasizes both the darkness brought on by the Fall of humanity into sin and the light brought through the babe in the manger. The overwhelming darkness in our world and in our hearts results from our depravity and separation from God. At Christmas time, we greet each other (unless you are Ebenezer Scrooge!) with the greeting “Merry Christmas.”
Christmas is no doubt a time where joy is encouragedl. Perhaps it feels superficial when we use that phrase, yet we know that the reason we have joy this season is because we understand the significance of what God has done for us in Christ.
Christmas and the Incarnation
The Christmas season is reflective for the Christian because it invites us to consider again God’s nature and our darkness that results in separation from God. Christmas, though, is all about the Incarnation of Jesus because, without it, nothing else matters.
The doctrine of the Incarnation is the Christian teaching that the divine put-on human nature to ransom and redeem humanity. It was necessary that the Messiah be what the Hebrew scriptures described as a Goel or kinsman redeemer. The sacrificial lamb had to be without spot and blemish to atone for sin, yet the lamb also had to identify with humanity uniquely or he could not make the necessary sacrifice to cover sin. Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin as the writer of Hebrews reminds us[1] .
Christmas invites us to reflect on the person and work of Christ in a more intentional way. Jesus is the son of Mary and Joseph who was conceived by the Holy Spirit. There has been no greater person nor will there ever be one like Jesus Christ. His person is intricately connected to his work that is rescuing, redeeming, and restoring. He is still freeing captives which is possible because of his resurrection. Without the resurrection, Christianity would be only a dream. The Resurrection confirms that indeed all of God’s promises find their “yes and amen” through Jesus.
Conclusion
A right theology of Christmas gives us hope as we live in the age between Christ’s first advent and His second.Though peace on earth is coming, we must not be discouraged. Longfellow painstakingly observed that,
And in despair I bowed my head:
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.” [1]
As we think about all that is wrong with the world, let us not forget what is right. May we not forget that Christmas changes everything. Our theology of Christmas invites us to wonder, believe, and experience joy in fresh new ways.
[1] Henry W. Longfellow, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”, 1864.
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