Throughout church history, local churches have celebated the birth of Christ in a variety of ways. For some, the story of the birth of Christ is simply read from Scripture. For some, the story is presented in the form of a Christmas play or pagent. For some, the story is communicated by way of a Christmas musical production or cantata.

Is it wrong (sinful) to change the Christmas story so that it will be more pleasant and/or more entertaining? We know Hollywood does that all the time, even when making a film based on a true story. Hollywood changes the storyline or setting in order to create a more entertaining show. Their priority is not to be accurate or truthful but, to make something that people will pay to see. But, what if the church does the same thing...is it wrong...is it sinful?

Remember the story of the little boy who was asked by his mother what he had learned in Sunday School. 'Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt . When He got to the Red Sea , he had his army build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely. Then, he radioed headquarters for reinforcements. They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved.' 'Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher taught you?' his mother asked. 'Well, no, Mom. But, if I told it the way the teacher did, you would never believe it!'

Oh, I forgot. If you read the fine print at the end of the film, Hollywood adds a 'disclaimer' stating that not everything in the film is necessarily true and accurate. Should the church do the same thing...add a disclaimer to what we teach or preach or present in other forms such as a drama or musical that what is communicated therein may not be necessarily true and accurate when compared to the Biblical record? What a horrible thought! But, if what is communicated does not match the Biblical record, then isn't a disclaimer appropriate? Or, would it be better to correct any errors or misleadings in what is being communicated so that it DOES match the Biblical record?

So what part of the Christmas story is not necessarily true and accurate when compared to the Biblical record? Let us take a look at two major elements of the Christmas story when presented other than simply read from Scripture--setting and characters.

Setting

• The most common setting is a stable in the form of a semi-modern barn (or at least a shed) with a nice roof. It appears to be open and airy with lots of soft hay to lay on and/or feed the animals with...a seemingly pleasant setting. Is this the kind of place where Jesus entered the world?
• Biblical historians tell us that the stable was most likely a cave, dug out of a hillside. It was simply a place of shelter for one's animals.
• It was not bright and airy...it was dark and dreary. It was not roomy and somewhat of a pleasant place to spend the night, it was just better than spending the night outside without any form of shelter at all...especially with the pending birth of a baby.
• What does it matter if the stable used in presenting the Christmas story is a much more pleasant and more modern setting than the original? Well, when we do the Easter story, why not use the setting of a modern funeral home and a silk-lined casket to bury Jesus in rather than a cave carved out of a hillside with a large rock to cover the entrance?
• Jesus Christ was not born in the best facility. He was not born in the maternity ward of a hospital. He was not born inside a nice warm house. Jesus Christ was born into this world in the surroundings of poverty and lowliness. And to cover that up by trying to improve on the historical setting is to compromise the truth of His humanity here on earth!
• A stage setting of a small tomb is used at Easter. Why not a larger tomb-like stage setting to represent the true Christmas cave/stable?

Characters

• Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus = main characters in the story as described in the Biblical record.
• Angels = additional characters in the story, also described in the Biblical record.
• Shepards = additional characters in the story, also described in the Biblical record.
• Animals = sheep? donkeys? camels? cows? The Biblical record does not detail the specific animals or if, in fact, there were any animals at all. But, being that it was a stable and that the inn was full, it is a safe presumption that there were several animals present.
• Innkeeper = a character in the story whose compassion to offer the stable is many times overlooked.
• Wisemen, also known as Magi = Near the end of the Christmas story presented by most churches, three special characters show up bearing gifts. They are sometimes referred to as 'Wisemen' or 'Magi.' Who are these characters? What are they doing here? Do they really belong in the Christmas story?

To get the wisemen to the stable, we would need Joey's help in making the story more believable as the wisemen lived very far away. "When the wisemen saw Jesus' star in their telescope, they had their pilot warm up their private jet plane for a fast trip to the Bethlehem airport as they did not want to be late for the manger scene." NO, travel was very slow around the time of Jesus' birth. The wisemen came from a long distance and long distance travel was usually by caravan which took many many months plus the extensive preparation before the trip began. They did not just quickly pack a suitcase and catch the next flight out.

The 'Wisemen, or Magi' DO NOT belong in the Christmas story when included in the stable scene where Jesus is a baby. They were not there! They did not appear before Jesus until much later, almost two years later. And, herein is the major lie communicated by churches around the world at Christmas. So, what does it matter if churches "stretch" the truth a little to dress up the Christmas story a little? Why do we need the wisemen in the Christmas story anyway?

What do the wisemen represent? Are we impressed by their faith, and that they believed the Old Testament prophecies? Or, are we impressed by their commitment to make such a long and expensive journey to see Jesus, a trip that would take many, many months during which they would be exposed to all kinds of danger? Or, could it be their gifts, their presents! GIVING! That must be it! Where would Christmas be without presents? Giving at Christmastime is a major element in the world's economy today. Why do we give gifts at Christmas...because the wisemen did--right? Why do we take up special offerings and call it giving to Jesus...because the wisemen did--right? Take the wisemen out of the Christmas story and a church's budget might suffer.

When did the wisemen appear before Jesus? The Biblical record tells us (1) that Jesus was a child, not a baby and (2) that Jesus was in a house when the wisemen came, not in a stable. We also learn from the Biblical record that the King Herod sought to kill Jesus and ordered all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under to be killed by his soldiers. Jesus was a toddler when the wisemen came before Him to worship and present their gifts.

What message is the church communicating at Christmas? What are we teaching our children? Is our message about the love of GOD, demonstrated by the virgin birth of His Son, born in the humblest of human circumstances, who came into this world to save us from our sins? Or, is the message a lot like that but, then dressed up a little, Hollywood style, to remind everyone that Christmas is a time of giving so be sure and give all you can--to your parents, to your children, to your family, to your friends, to your neighbors...oh, and yes, give to your church...because, you see, the wisemen did. Has the church detracted from the central truth in the Christmas story?

Why not leave the wisemen out of the Christmas story, the Christmas play, the Christmas pagent, the Christmas musical, the Christmas cantata. Take the sin out AND let the real Christmas story shine through!

May GOD bless you as you endeavor to serve Him throughout each day, in every activity you are doing!