Busting the Myths of Christmas

While many of us know and love the traditional Christmas story, there are several popular myths that have become intertwined with the biblical account. When we examine Scripture closely, we find that Mary and Joseph likely arrived in Bethlehem with time to spare before Jesus' birth, rather than frantically searching for lodging while Mary was in labor. The Greek word "kataluma" that we often translate as "inn" more likely refers to a guest room, suggesting Jesus was born in the main living area of a relative's house where animals were brought in at night, not in a separate stable.

We should also reconsider our mental image of angels at the nativity. The biblical angels appear in human form without wings, and while they praised God at the announcement to the shepherds, the text doesn't say they were singing or hovering overhead. As for the wise men, we don't actually know that there were three of them, they weren't kings, and they likely came from Persia rather than the Far East.

While these particular myths aren't theologically significant, they remind us of the importance of distinguishing truth from myth in our faith. We need to be like the Bereans, examining Scripture carefully to ensure our understanding aligns with God's Word. There are more dangerous myths in our world today - ideas that all people are inherently good, that being a good person earns us heaven, or that God's primary concern is our happiness and prosperity.

The actual Christmas story needs no embellishment. It tells us that Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, came in human form, lived among us, died for our sins, and rose again. He brings us hope, peace, joy, and love - represented by our Advent candles. All of God's promises find their fulfillment in Christ, and it's only through him that we can find true hope, peace, joy, and love.

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