Musings on the "Paganity" of Christmas...

Have any of you read Peace Child? It was a very popular book in the late 70s and early 80s.

It was a missionary/anthropologist telling of his experiences relating the gospel to a tribe in New Guinea. The tribe had never been exposed to the Gospel.

The author believed that God has put into every culture myths and stories as hooks to connect. Seeds of the gospel. Whispers and echos.

Paul did this on Mars Hill in Athens, relating God to the Unknown God. I think if many church goers heard that sermon with current Evangelical ears, they'd accuse Paul of being New Age.

That is what the early church fathers did when they came into an area. They are accused of "baptizing" holidays. Perhaps some did for ease and for purposes of diluting the gospel and increasing numbers.

But most of these people were sincere lovers of God, followers of Jesus. They longed to communicate their faith to a world that did not understand, just like we do.

But how to do it? Holy days and resident myths were perfect ways to do that, just as Paul had done.

Need to explain Christ's death and resurrection? Link it to the new life stories of spring and easter.

Need to explain light shining into darkness as Isaiah refers to the Messiah? In the middle of winter talk of Christ's birth. Link it to the Winter Solstice, a celebration of warmth and light in the midst of darkness.

The traditions got merged, yes. But at the HEART of what the church did is the Gospel.

I'm reminded of Narnia.

I had a favorite English pastor who would visit our Bible Conference, C. St. Clair Robinson (even his name was so veddy British). I asked him once about his opinion of Lewis. My favorite thinking writer then as now. He shocked me. He doubted Lewis' salvation. Narnia was a pagan erotic paean, so he said.

Sure, you could see Narnia that way. Apparently Tolkien saw Narnia that way. But with a baptized imagination (Lewis' term) you can see Christmas in all it's wonder, with the seminal myths that God wove into those very pagan cultures just SO Christianity could take root and flourish, and His Word come to us.

All truth is God's truth wherever it be found.

D--