Why do Christians celebrate the birth of their King on December 25? 

Here’s what George Grant has to say about that…

Christians have celebrated the incarnation and nativity of the Lord Jesus on December 25 since at least the early part of the third century—just a few generations removed the days of the Apostles. By 336, when the Philocalian Calendar—one of the earliest documents of the Patriarchal church—was first utilized, Christmas Day was already a venerable and tenured tradition. Though there is no historical evidence that Christ was actually born on this day—indeed, whatever evidence there is points to altogether different occasions—the conversion of the old Pagan tribes of Europe left a gaping void where the ancient winter cult festivals were once held. It was both culturally convenient and evangelically expedient to exchange the one for the other.

And so joy replaced desperation. Celebration replaced propitiation. Christmas Feasts replaced new Moon sacrifices. Christ replaced Baal, Molech, Apollo, and Thor. In other words, it wasn’t that the new Christian calendar was an accommodation to the old Pagan calendar, it was that Christ had begun the process of converting the culture. Glad tidings of great joy, indeed.

G. K. Chesterton once quipped: “Paradox is truth standing on her head to attract attention.” Consider the many paradoxes bound up in the Christmas story…

“Infinite, and an infant. Eternal, and yet born of a woman. Almighty, and yet hanging on a woman’s breast. Supporting a universe, and yet needing to be carried in a mother’s arms. King of angels, and yet the reputed son of Joseph. Heir of all things, and yet the carpenter’s despised son. Oh, the wonder of Christmas.”

That was Charles Haddon Spurgeon. He describes paradoxes much better than I do.

But actually it really doesn’t require poetic genius or piercing insight to detect the riddles of Christmas. Just consider the story again, taking care not to rush over its magnificent irony. 

Like a star exploding, the glory of God bursts over a group of shepherds as a whole host of angels heralds the good news of the New Born King. But when the shepherds make their way to Bethlehem to see this awe–inspiring thing that has happened, they find that they have to push their way through a crowded stable to catch their first peek of the Fulfillment Of All The Promises Of God.

If the inn was packed by the time Joseph and Mary arrive, we can imagine that the stable was maxed out as well. Think of the stench and the humidity of all the barn animals and all the beasts of burden with out–of–state license plates.

Yes, this is the environment in which the Son of the Most High God makes his appearance. He’s wrapped in cloths and placed in the kind of box from which cows and donkeys eat their dinner.

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I’m occasionally asked about our cool logo…

OK, actually I’ve hardly ever been asked about our cool logo.  But we do have one.  In my book it ranks right up there with the very subtle but cool logo that Fed Ex has in the negative space between the “E” and the “x.”

Take a look at our logo.  It’s found on the top of the page.  You can see a clearer picture of it on our website home page by clicking on “Home” above.

One of our elders designed it, and another one of our elders wrote up the following explanation for it:

Christian history has always been rich with symbols that serve to identify and unite believers in their faith.  Cornerstone’s logo reflects our connection to this rich symbolic heritage and to countless believers — past, present, and future — with whom we are one in Christ.

The cross of Christ is at the center of the logo, as Christ Himself is at the center of our faith and life.

The Chi–Rho [pastor’s note: this is the “P” with the “x” through the bottom half of it] represents the first two letters of the Greek word “christos,” meaning Christ.

The fish was one of the earliest and most recognizable symbols of the Christian faith, since many of Christ’s first disciples were fishermen by trade.  Also, the Greek word for fish, “ichthus,” could be made to stand for the phrase, “Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior.”

The letters C and P [pastor’s note: the “C” is blue; the “P” is gray], standing for Cornerstone Presbyterian, complete the logo and tie us into the great Body of Christ down through the centuries.

This explanation is also found in our church brochure, complete with pictures separating out the individual pieces of the logo.  Pick one up on Sunday!

In the year 1219 A.D. — as the Medieval Crusades were raging — Francis of Assisi, a Christian minister, sailed to Damietta, Egypt, where crusaders were besieging a Muslim fortress.  It was not his intention to join in the bloody conflict; rather, he hoped to speak to the local Muslim prince about the gospel of Christ.

So, in the very midst of the battle, Francis and one of his companions found a way to cross the enemy lines and ask the Muslims to take them to their leader, Sultan Malik al–Kamil.  Sounds crazy, but it worked.  They were ushered right into al–Kamil’s presence.

When questioned by the prince, Francis replied, “We are telling you in all truth that if you die in the law which you now profess, you will be lost and God will not possess your soul.  It is for this reason we have come.”

The sultan’s counselors were enraged: “Lord, you are the sword of the law: you have the duty to maintain and defend it.  We command you, in the name of Allah and Muhammad, who has given us the law, to cut off their heads here and now, for we do not want to listen to anything they have to say.”

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Gathering his people to the mountain, the King kindly assures each one of them, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5.1,2,4).

John Stott points out, “It is plain from the context that those here promised comfort are not primarily those who mourn the loss of a loved one, but those who mourn the loss of their innocence, their righteousness, their self–respect.”

Jesus is here making promises to those who know the sorrow of genuine repentance.  As Paul would later say (in 2 Corinthians 7.10), this is the kind of sorrow that leads to salvation without regret.

An old Christian prayer includes this statement:  “We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness.” But, do we?  Do we “bewail” our sins?  I can’t remember the last time I bewailed.  But that’s probably because I still “think of sin but lightly.” I need to sing more…

“Ye who think of sin but lightly nor suppose the evil great here may view its nature rightly, here its guilt may estimate.  Mark the sacrifice appointed, see who bears the awful load; ‘tis the Word, the Lord’s Anointed, Son of Man and Son of God.”
—Stanza 3, Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted

But whether our sorrow for sin approaches bewailment or not, Christ has promised real comfort to those who mourn their sinfulness and repent.  Repentance is not a dry doctrine.  It’s not a threatening, frightening message.  It’s not a morbid form of self–abuse. 

It’s a gift.  It’s a gift which God grants us so that he might lead us into life.  Real life.

And the “comfort” which Christ promises here is the only comfort that can relieve the distress of sin… the free and full forgiveness of God. 

Genuine repentance of one’s sins is nothing less than ultimate honesty, and one hasn’t gotten very far in the Christian life without it. 

“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.  Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.”
—The Prophet Isaiah