Three Ways to Survive Christmas Critics - And Not Become One Yourself

Every year, in the days leading up to December first, a meme begins to circulate. It shows Mariah Carey, decked out in her ‘Mrs. Claus’ mini-dress in a now-thawing block of ice, microphone at the ready, waiting to belt out, “All I Want for Christmas is Youuuuu.” Love it or hate it, it is a cultural phenomenon and a signal that the holiday season has officially begun. And you will be forced to endure Ms Carey’s tune until she is encased in her block of ice once more. 

But lurking just behind Mariah is another block of ice which contains an equally and perhaps even more obnoxious set of characters. We may not formally acknowledge them with memes but they too are thawing out and ready to pounce. They are the Christmas critics. You’ll find them appearing in a variety of forms. Some are atheists who have been waiting all year for the opportunity to attempt to disprove the validity of the birth narrative and trot out the same tired assertions used by generations before them. Others are fellow Christians who use this month to create a wedge between those who celebrate Jesus’ birth and those who let the season pass by with barely an acknowledgement of the arrival of our Saviour. All over social media you will find posts telling you that Christmas is actually pagan and its traditions. Or that we should limit the number of gifts we give our children. Or that we should GO BIG and give lots of gifts to really celebrate Jesus’ birthday. If you thought the fake or faux Christmas tree debate was intense, just try to publicly say something like, “Jesus wasn’t actually born on December 25th” and watch the meltdown unfold in your comment section. 

The Christmas season is ripe for disagreements and disappointments. It’s a month that can be very challenging for many as it often brings up painful memories and heartache. We are overwhelmed by commitments and expectations and far, far too many school activities. And when you add the judgements of endless critics, it can be tempting to embrace your inner Scrooge and say “Bah humbug” to the whole thing. So, allow me to offer you three ways to think about this month, survive the critics and celebrate all that is good and true about Christmas.

1. “There is Nothing New Under the Sun” (Ecc 1:9) : 

   The soundbite era in which we live has served to give every TikTok philosopher and religious ‘expert’ the opportunity to make false claims in the most catchy way possible. And while some of them may be new to you, the vast majority of them are as old and tired as Santa Claus himself. In every generation there will be those who think that they are asking a question that no one has asked before in all of history. They have uncovered some hidden truth or magic key that will unlock a new revelation. Humility is definitely not a hallmark of our current culture. So, as you encounter the doubters, heretics and pontificators remember that we can rest in the knowledge that the story of Christmas, of God incarnate, has withstood every skeptic and scoffer for all of history and will continue to do so until Christ’s return. 

2. Disputable and Indisputable Matters: 

   It took many years for me to understand that there are far more issues Christians encounter that are disputable than indisputable. While it would be incredible for the Lord to shine a light down and clearly show me the way in all things, that’s simply not how it works. Matters of salvation and living according to His commands are indisputable (even though many attempts are made to complicate this). But, beyond that, we have great freedom. If you feel that the decorations and gift giving distract from the true meaning of Christmas and you decide that it’s in the best interest of your family to limit those things then you are free to do that. If you feel that the decorations and gift giving are a way for you to celebrate and honor the true meaning of Christmas then you are free to do that. But, the question of whether or not you should doesn’t give you permission to bind the conscience of a fellow Believer.

3. Don’t Be a Tevye: 

   In the opening scene of ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ we meet Tevye, father of five daughters and a leader in his Jewish community. Through song, he laments the loss of the traditions he holds dear and the ways in which everything around him is changing. I relate to Tevye so much, especially as I am now in the season of motherhood where I’m being forced to hold onto our family traditions a little more loosely. Sometimes, the Christmas critic you encounter is actually you. It’s tempting to bemoan the fact that nobody cares anymore whether it’s their turn to put the star on the top of the tree. But without flexibility, even the most sincerely heartfelt and well-intentioned goals can become a burden. While the world around us is constantly tugging and pulling, making demands on our time and attention, traditions serve as an opportunity to bring us together. But, we must leave room for change or we risk our families dreading the season. 

Perhaps the best piece of advice I could give you is something I wish I had learned much earlier in my role as wife and mother. December is just one month. There are eleven other months of the year in which to disciple our children, practice generosity and develop a Biblical worldview. Eleven other months to study apologetics and learn the answers to the questions posed by skeptics. Eleven other months to open our homes and embrace new traditions while keeping some of the old. Let’s put the month of December in its proper place. It’s an opportunity to pause, reflect, celebrate and honor Christ who, while retaining His status as God, took on flesh and was the fulfillment of prophecy. He laid aside His glory “so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” (Hebrews 2:17) The more we live with the full understanding of this undeserved grace, the less likely we are to be affected by those who seek to divide and devour. So, as you prepare your heart and your home during Advent, may you experience all of the joy and beauty of the season knowing it was created by the One IS Christmas.