“God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
-John 3:16
“Bah, humbug!”
-E. Scrooge, Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”
The Holy Trinity is among the most bewildering of all the religious doctrines that human beings have ever conceived. It supposes a God-head in three parts, specifically denominated the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost (or Holy Spirit in most Protestant denominations).
The idea is that Jesus, the Son of God, was also God incarnate, conceived (literally through the womb of the Virgin Mary) by the creator God (the Father) as His gift to offer salvation for humanity. Thus, early Christians worshipped a dualistic God, which seemed somewhat heretical in terms of Judaic teachings, which stressed monotheism over the competing polytheistic religions of the day.
For reasons that those far more versed in the history and sanctity of the religion may be able to explain, the early Christians determined to broaden this view of God even further. And so, in the years following the establishment of a society of Christ-worshippers (probably in the third, fourth and fifth centuries), the concept of a Holy Trinity took root. It envisions a God that has the three forms of Father, Son and Holy Ghost, although any further definition of these forms has always been as amorphous as the very idea of God itself must inevitably be.
Still, for Christians throughout the world (saving only those—principally the Unitarians—who reject the concept) the picture exists of a Michelangelo-type “older” God, typically with a long grey beard, sitting next to a younger Jesus at the head of a table of attending angels, archangels and other celestial types. The Holy Ghost is rarely shown in these depictions, since it is “wholly” spiritual, and thereby, presumably, incapable of being envisioned at all.
Ironically, the celebration of the birth of Christ has developed into a trinity of its own. Call this one the “Unholy Trinity.” Like the three-in-one Christian God, in which each form is but a part of the whole, never entirely separate from the other, yet distinctly recognizable (or at least definable), the celebration of Christmas has also assumed a three-in-one identity in which each form is also distinctly recognizable.
Yet, as with the Holy Trinity, each form of Christmas tends to meld into the others, with the result that the whole is something less than the sum of its parts: unholy, as it were. And so we have the following distinct and yet wholly joined ways that Christmas is observed in the United States:
o Religious Christmas – The birth of Jesus is one of the great Biblical stories, complete with melodrama (no room at the inn, birth in a manger), spectacle (witnessed by shepherds who saw a great star over the site, visited by three kings who brought gifts for the new-born child) and joy (the redemption of God’s promise to the long-suffering children of Israel).
In Religious Christmas, the words from the Gospel of John are recalled and cherished. God’s greatest gift is recognized in the birthday of his son, but not in the sense of human birthdays, which celebrate the joys of parenthood and childhood and life. Christ’s birth is celebrated in Religious Christmas for the hope it provides humanity for deliverance from the sins of life and for the promise of life everlasting in the company of God Himself.
o Secular Christmas – The sense of hope that Religious Christmas provides promotes the general feeling of good will that is the hallmark of Secular Christmas. Greeting cards that speak of peace and joy and that wish all the best to friends and family are part of Secular Christmas. “Merry Christmas,” said in greeting as a substitute for “Hello,” speaks to the sense of optimism that pervades all but the grumpiest of Scrooges.
Secular Christmas also includes the parties and dinners that saturate the season. The holiday, joyous and uplifting as it is, naturally promotes fellowship and conviviality, and these, in turn, suggest, indeed dictate, social occasions.
But note the lack of anything truly religious in these celebrations. The frivolity of an office party, the casual bonhomie of a “Merry Christmas” and those occasionally interesting, more often mildly annoying, “here’s-our-year-in-review” Christmas letters have little to do with the essence of Religious Christmas, even though they are meant to commemorate the same event.
o Commercial Christmas – The economic side of Christmas is nothing less than awesome, especially in a later-stage capitalist society such as exists in the U.S. today. Gift-giving is more than a ritual (as in a ceremonious reminder of a deeper spiritualism). It is a requirement of the season. Gifts are expected, partly in return for those given, partly because our economy is built around them, and partly as a natural outgrowth of Secular Christmas.
The American economy is dependent on Commercial Christmas, even though it has little to do with the birth of the babe in the manger. Oh, retailers will claim there is a link. The wise men, they will remind us, brought gifts to the newborn, and from that point they will stress that Christmas is for children (which is a sales pitch that few parents can ignore).
But in truth, Commercial Christmas is largely about many things that Religious Christmas is not: greed (retailers aren’t giving their merchandise away), selfishness (children aren’t taught “’tis better to give than to receive”) and decadence (how many toys does any child really need?) In Commercial Christmas, Christ’s birth has been desecrated, first by being lost, and then by being forgotten.
And yet Commercial Christmas is but a logical outgrowth of the original Christmas story. It is no less a part of our culture now than the greeting cards that celebrate His birth, while at the same time promoting the greed-laden, corporation-controlled economic system that ignores His birth.
A cynic might think God would be laughing at our foolish abuse of His greatest gift. But, hey, it’s Christmas, and far be it for me to detract from the joys of the day.
And so, with the bustle of the season now fully upon us, “Merry Christmas,” in whichever form you choose to celebrate it.
You know, Ed, in some parts of the world they don’t even have one type of Christmas celebration. Here in our great nation we get three ways to observe December 25. Shouldn’t we all be grateful for the bounty that is the USA? You don’t have to observe all three, but wouldn’t you be missing out if you did? I say make time this year to recite Luke 2, 8-14 (just like Linus van Pelt), attend your office “holiday” party and shop Walmart.
The Mystery of our redemption goes way back to the beginning…
Solving the Riddle of the Sphinx or Why Christmas More Than a “Holiday”
In the Book of Genesis, Adam named the animals and was told to be the steward of the Earth. God named the stars “for signs and seasons and times (Psalm 147).” Ancient Wisdom has been passed down in those star names since mankind’s disobedience, something far greater than the mythologists and the musings of astrologers. At the Tower of Babel, the languages of men became confused over their attempts to gain world power through interpreting the movement of the stars, constellations and planets. In 332 BC, Aristotle complained that Greek mythology was a perversion of then Ancient Wisdom. The Thread of Truth was always there, but we are lauded for our ignorance of it.
The pure Thread of Truth, that Ancient Wisdom, was passed down in the stars to all men of all time. The Seed of the Woman of Virgo, the Redeemer, would be wounded in conflict with the evil one, but would crush him. It would take His own pure, blood sacrifice, prefigured until His coming by the ritual offering of a spotless animal.
Perversion entered into that hope with the jealous murder of Abel by Cain and every brother that murdered brother since. Civilizations, especially their infants, virgins and captives have suffered from distorted religion and power lusting mankinds free will ever since. The technology and means have changed, but the sinfulness has not.
DNA tracking has proven we all came from one set of parents in East Central Africa. Science found our true Adam and Eve. (see http://www.nationalgeographic.com/genographic ) – Our belief systems also apparently came from an original source. The ever present Thread of Truth remained as mankind migrated around the world. From the beginning a simple, wonderful and mysterious hope will ultimately be the basis for mutual respect and common goals among us.
Night-to-night, the brilliant awe-inspiring stars told a story to countless generations. The hope of promised Redemption was passed on as sages and parents taught their children about the hope and cycles of the seasons. The star names and symbols were recorded by wise men of old. To bring mankind’s hopes into focus, the message was implanted in the Tribes of Israel, in their signs, their symbols, and was reflected in their movements. Their prophets recorded it in their sacred Scripture. The world hated them for the innocent challenge imposed by covenant with God.
The Magi astrologers (the “Three Kings of the Orient”), ones who knew how to read the meaning in the stars, saw signs in the heavens that alerted them to watch for a major happening among the people of Israel. A brilliant star appeared in what some say to be the constellation “Comah” in Virgo (now Berenice’s Wig!), pictured in the ancient zodiacs as a virgin girl holding a small boy. He was known as “Shes-Nu”, the Desired One.
He was born in Bethlehem, as the prophet Micah foretold, in the 65th week of years of the prophet Daniel, of the Tribe of Judah, from whom the scepter would never depart. He died on a Roman cross 33 years later, ending the 69th week of Daniel the prophet.
The stars kept their God-given appointment as two, of the ancient constellation of “Aries, the Lamb”, were visible next to the darkened sun as the Redeemer gave up his spirit. The stars, “Al Natik” and “Al Sheratan”, meaning “the pierced” and “the bruised”, shown as the Temple curtain was torn in two, and the earth shook in the darkness. The Perfect Sacrificial Lamb had delivered Himself up for sacrifice on our behalf. Isaiah, the prophet, prophesied, “…He was wounded for our iniquities; He was bruised for our sins. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His bruises, we are healed.”
48 constellations in the sky and 200 star names tell the whole story of redemption. Its order solves the ancient “Riddle of the Sphinx.” In the Temple of Esneh, there is a zodiac circle around the base of the temple dome with a woman faced sphinx resting between Virgo and Leo, thereby showing where the story told in the stars is bound together.
Modern astrologers still promote the confusion of the ancient wisdom identified by Aristotle in his time. That ancient wisdom is the hope handed down in the oral tradition, in the ponderings of wise God-seeking sages of all ethnicities and religions. From Adam and Eve to the Hebrew prophets the pure thread of hope ultimately focused on the death and resurrection of the Desired One of Virgo and the triumphant eternal King in Leo. The ancient star names and constellation names and positions tell the whole story and make it clear that even pagan religions and human sacrifice were terribly confused carriers of that ancient wisdom. Mankind’s blessed hope of the ultimate pure blood sacrifice was never lost among those who longed for the love of God and a peace that passes understanding.
This hope, embodied in Jesus the Christ, was passed down through the ages, into the Covenant God made with Abraham, first to the Jew, then to the Gentile, fulfilled in the Child the Magi sought and found.
Muslims too, believe in the virgin birth of Christ and hold his mother to be the greatest woman in all history. Perhaps she is the ultimate vehicle of peace among us. We don’t know the day or the hour that Jews or Muslims will agree with this hypothesis; or that the world will turn to the ultimate Source of Beauty and Love. Jews have paid a terrible price for carrying the signs of our redemption. Their eternal reward must be great.
This Christmas, rejoice in his birth, the Word of God becoming flesh, to become sin for us, to offer Himself as the fulfillment of the priesthood of Melchisedech. Rejoice that He died, rose, and will come again to the ecstatic Jew who sees his hope fulfilled, and to the grafted in Gentile to enjoy Eternity with Him.
Rejoice in your personal decision to know, love and serve God.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS! HOW GO ENJOY YOUR SHOPPING IN A TRUE SPIRIT OF GIVING
Paraphrased from GOD’s PROPHETIC ZODIAC, Gerald V. Todd, 2007, Bakersfield, California – [email protected] http://www.lulu.com for print and download copies.
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