Evening star., 1949-12-25
Christmas q ChuIIenqe

Christmas this year carries greater
challenge than ever before in the expert
ence OF many people. The annual observ-
ance of the birthday of the founder OF
Christianity is not merely festival or
feast Thinking men and women realize
that much of the celebration is purposeless
in its effect-simply a jollification which
lacks religious significance because 1t has
no spiritual motivation. But they under
stand too, that the Yuletide season is
period of reaf11rmation of fellowship and
charity which are in principle akin to the
doctrines taught by Jesus. The story OF
the original Christmas still moves human
hearts and minds. Perhaps, taking into
account the improvement Of facilities for
its retelling, it is more impressive and
reaches q wider circle than at any time
in the past.
Not everybody accepts the story without
question. There are many who just do
not believe the Gospel account OF the
Nativity. For these doubters the narrative
of the journey to Bethlehem, the appear
ance of the guiding star, the pilgrimage
of the Wise Men, the announcement to
the shepherds, the cradling of the Holy
Child in manger-all this is fiction. They
consider the accounts in Matthew and
Luke unworthy of credence. In their
estimation the whole theology Of the New
Testament is an accumulation of myth
and legend, theory and supposition. The
challenge of Christianity to them is
matter of purely academic attraction.
But what are the alternatives? If people
are not to have faith in Christ, in what
other teacher or leader are they to have
events are asking is nothing more than
the traditional one of choosing between
Caesar and the Saviour. The people Of
the middle portion of the twentieth cen
tury are required to take sides. Either we
stand with the materialists or we stand
with the idealiSts. There Is no neutral
ground We elect to follow the "least
resistance" of secularism and live our lives
on a dogma of expediency or we prefer
the traditional allegiance symbolized on
the Cross. The Christmas story is the start
OF that conflict. It was the beginning, it
still is the commencement of the claim
of the Messiah on the souls of all men and
women of good will.
VI course, rival CidlIuS dlSO dic ICStotcAc cu
Jesus Himself was challenged when they
brought Him the tribute money, and He
answered: Render unto God the thirs'
that are Gods" At Christmas we do that.
Through the remainder of the year we are
apt to compromise with what the modern
pr .gmatists call economic determinism."
The temptation is provocative. Whole
nations succumb to it. On the other hand,
great numbers of people are being educated
into new conceptions of Christian phi
losophy, not merely in doctrine but In
terms of service Opposition is bringing
out the best of the teaching OF Jesus. The
faith of the faithful is growing strong
because there is need for it to grow IN
power; and conceivably the deniers OF the
Holy Child are losing some OF their
observation-disclosures the logic OF human
instinct is against them.
Anyway, the Gospel story should be read
In the light of our own burning times,
compared with other appeals to our minds
and hearts, pondered as an element OF
guidance in deeply troubled world. Ana,
choosing Christmas rather than the con-
tradictions of it with which the entire
planet is rife, we may be proud OF our
~~lH1;,,. oooordipo