An American Christmas

By Rev. David Petersen

The world has stolen Christmas. It is not a celebration of the Incarnation. It is a mass retail event. Its goal is to close the year with a feeling of goodwill. Good works are encouraged. Some sort of spirituality is also desired, but it is not the kind for which the martyrs died. All of America likes a chubby little baby in a barn, especially on the mantle or side table. They are also in favor of angels. But the innkeeper’s rejection, Mary’s trauma and pain, the unsanitary conditions, the blood and the mucus in the straw—that is all missing. Most significantly, God becoming man to be a sacrifice for our sins, to bring peace between heaven and earth, does not come into the picture. At best it seems that Jesus was born to encourage us to behave and to be nice to one another.

Consider some standard American fare: It’s a Wonderful Life. It’s a Wonderful Life is a beautiful film. I love it. It certainly seems wholesome compared to the holiday offerings of Adam Sandler and David Spade. But it teaches that upon death men become angels. They earn their wings by acts of mercy. And finally, our worth in this life comes from helping others. There is no Jesus, no incarnation, no divine forgiveness. It is heartwarming. It is cute. It is fun. But it is certainly not Christmas according to Luke 2. Its doctrine and message lead straight to hell.

There are other texts for an American Christmas.The film A Miracle on 34th Street should be mentioned.The poem The Night before Christmas, the animated film Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and the British novel A Christmas Carol are also definitive as to how we think of this holiday. So are Norman Rockwell paintings and Hallmark greeting cards. Not all those things are equal. And I am not saying they never mention our Lord in any way at all or can’t be enjoyed at all. A Charlie Brown Christmas gets as close to Christian as just about anything ever shown on network television. But again, nostalgia rules. Even there the message is that we should work together and offer something to God, rather than a clear proclamation that God came to earth to suffer and die for us.

The sad thing is not that these cultural events and stories teach some dopey things like a shepherd boy who impresses God with a toy drum, but that they obscure and hide the birth of God to take up our flesh and be our Savior. The world embraces ribbons and bows, sugar plums and elves, but rejects the very foundation of our faith. If Christ were not born a man then He did not die. If He did not die, He did not rise. And it is written,“If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” Any talk of our Lord, including talk or celebration of His birth, apart from His atoning work is either speculation or deflection. He is not known apart from His death and resurrection. His being born out of doors is not romantic. It is the beginning of His suffering. His path to the cross and His rejection by men begins with the innkeeper and Herod the Great. Christmas preaching must be a preaching of Christ crucified. There is no other preaching.There is no other hope, no other salvation.

It is tough to find Christmas cards that carry this message. I know—I’ve tried. But it is worth looking. Maybe you’ll just have to make your own. Whatever cards you send this Christmas, I suggest you make a clear distinction between an American Christmas with school parties, Santa Claus, eggnog, and mistletoe and the Christian celebration of our Lord’s incarnation. They are not the same thing. I am not saying there is no place for eggnog and candy canes or even for Rudolph or Mr. Heatmeiser. But we must keep eggnog and the Blood of Christ distinct and clear. All that being said, here is my Christmas card to you: Jesus Christ is come in flesh.Thus are you of God. Hallelujah and Amen.

Rev. David Petersen is pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana.