Why America is still okay with "Little Baby Jesus"

“Little Baby Jesus”

Somehow along the way of the largest profit-based holiday in the world, one icon still has an annual appearance: “Little Baby Jesus”. 75% of Americans say they believe baby Jesus laid in a manger. 66% say that He was born of a virgin. Christmas certainly has become the greatest marketing opportunity of the winter season. However, despite the proponents of secularism that surround the “Christian” holiday, what is its identification of Jesus?

Christmas has certainly done a terrible Biblical and theological injustice to identifying the “Christ” of Christmas. Consumers purchase merchandise by the masses that read, “Joy, peace on earth, noel”. Even the most liberal of Hollywood producers do not have a problem delivering a cut scene which features a traditional Nativity. What percentage of America that does remain to “celebrate traditional Christmas” still attempts to undermine the Divine-Identity of Jesus Christ. The liberality of American modernism has no issue with “Little Baby Jesus”. If we conversationally keep Jesus in that manger and intentionally defer our language from the cross, the burial, and resurrection then they’ll hold our hands in the unity of Christmas celebration.

Certainly, the birth of Christ is an overwhelmingly prophetic, Messianic, and historic event. His dwelling on earth was announced of the angel with these words, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” (Luke 2:10b) The Holy Ghost had revealed to one called Simeon, that he wouldn’t see death until he had seen “the Lord’s Christ.” (Luke 2:26b) When he seen the child (Jesus), Simeon announced his readiness to depart in peace, “For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,” (Luke 2:30). The reality of The Messiah being born of a virgin and dwelling among us is more than worthy of celebrating.

Why does the contemporary culture insist we do not escalate our celebration beyond the “Little Baby Jesus”? Simply, the spirit of anti-Christ would insist that we speak of Jesus as merely a monumental birth that is no more significant than the birth of Buddha, Muhamad, Gandhi, or some other religious figure. Our rejoicing is not simply in the arrival of the Christ child, but rather who Jesus Christ truly is. Look at the prophet Isaiah’s description of Christ, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) In Matthew 1:23 His name is “Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Jesus told Philip, “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father;” (John 14:9b) Christ, God in the flesh, didn’t come to be the focal point of a Nativity scene. “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:19) Christ offered Himself as the propitiation for sins, was buried, and resurrected on the third day. The joy and peace announced on the first Christmas night was the announcement of salvation. Christmas has its joy in the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ and salvation alone in Him.

Furthermore, we as Christians do not worship an infant. Christ by His own Divine doing grew in the stages in life in which He dwelt among us. Yet, the Christology of The New Testament loudly delivers that “It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (Romans 8:34b) Before Stephen’s martyrdom, Acts 7:56 records, “And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” John records falling at the feet of the glorified Christ. “And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” (Revelation 1:17-18) Is it a sufficient response to the Christ of Christmas to merely include Biblical pieces on our decorations? Is it sufficient enough to “wish Him happy birthday”? The response to the Christ of Christmas is to repent of our sins and place our faith alone in The Risen Christ.

This Christmas we rightly revisit and celebrate the night in which the glorious prophecy of Messiah’s coming was fulfilled in Bethlehem. We are not prohibited from decorating our trees, buying gifts, and enjoying traditions with our family. However, we do not conform to the secularized limitations of a liberalized holiday that confines our celebration in “Little Baby Jesus”. Christ IS and WILL FOREVER be King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is sovereign over all and is the only way of salvation. No truly Christian holiday can be celebrated in Biblical truth if its celebration is not in the fulness of The Gospel of Jesus Christ. He does not only beckon the worship of shepherds and wise men. Philippians 2:9-11 says, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Works Cited

The Holy Bible The Authorized King James Version. R.L. Allan and Son Publishers .

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/12/18/5-facts-about-christmas-in-america/