War on Christmas

A few years ago there was a push to boycot stores that said Happy Holliday’s rather than Merry Christmas.

The narrative was that Political Correctness was coming head to head with Christian tradition to undermine and attack our religious beliefs.

And then last year Fox News 50 ft Christmas tree was set on fire and it and was seen as an attack on everything we hold sacred.

Truth: it was a homeless guy that had exposed himself to reporters 3 days prior.

Not and evil general in the war on Christmas.

This morning we are going to look at the first battle in the War on Christmas and how we should respond.

Christmas Tradition

Jesus was not born on December 25th.

Middle of Winter was celebrated in Scandinavia (Winter Solstice) YULE

Large Log would be burned for up to 12 Days.

Winter was when most Cattle in Europe were slaughtered and when most wine had been fully fermented.

Fresh meat and wine.

Germany: Oden (of whom they were terrified) would fly over his people and see who was good and who was bad and would determine who would prosper and who would perish. (Stayed inside)

Rome Winter time celebrations would be when slaved were temporarily set free and treated a equals.

Mirtha (Child God) was born on December 25th and they celebrated Juvenalia (kids would get gifts. )

Christian tradition: Easter was the holiday that was celebrated.

Pope Julius I is credited for declaring December 25 as the day we celebrate Jesus’ birth around 35 BC

By the middle ages, Christianity had replaced most of the pagan religions and Christians would go to church on Christmas and then celebrate in a Madi Gras type drunken festival. LORD of the MISRULE. The poor would go to the houses of the rich and demand their best food or deliver mischief.

In the 17th Century Oliver Cromwell (Puritan) put an end to the holiday in Europe.

Charles II reinstated the Christmas holiday.

The Pilgrims around 1620 banned Christmas in Boston while In Jamestown John Smith reported that it was celebrated.

In the 19th Century in America it changed from a carnival type holiday to a family centered one.

1828 Gangs of New York (Upper class changed the way it was celebrated)

In 1819 Washington Irving (Scetchbook) depicting a peaceful Christmas celebration.

Charles Dickens (A Christmas Carol)

Santa Claus

280 AD A Turkish born monk named St. Nicholas gave up his family fortune and traveled the countryside helping the poor and sick. He became the Saint of Children and Sailors.

In the 18th Century Dutch emigrants would gather and celebrated the death of “Sint Nikolaas” (Dutch for Saint Nicholas), or “Sinter Klaas”

In 1822, Episcopal minister Clement Clarke Moore wrote a Christmas poem called “An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas,” (Twas the night before Christmas)

In 1881, when political cartoonist Thomas Nast drew on Moore's poem

Traditions are set by people. You get to set the traditions you celebrate and how you celebrate them.

The Declaration of War

Matthew 2:1–20 NASB95

1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: 6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For out of you shall come forth a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ” 7 Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.” 9 After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way. 13 Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.” 14 So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. 15 He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” 16 Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi. 17 Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she refused to be comforted, Because they were no more.” 19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, 20 “Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.”

Job 42:2 NASB95

2 “I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.