Read Mark 7:6-8

ALSO IN SCRIPTURE
“Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.” (Colossians 2:8 NLT)

We’ve all seen the bumper magnets and bulletin signs urging us to “Keep Christ in Christmas.” While well-intentioned, this phrase often misses the mark. It focuses on preserving a commercialized image of “baby Jesus” rather than embracing the full, transformative power of Christ in our lives. The real challenge we face isn’t just keeping Christ in a holiday—it’s keeping Christ in Christian.

Part 3: Don’t Mistake Tradition for Truth. In 1984, a controversial Christmas-themed horror film called “Silent Night, Deadly Night” was released, sparking outrage among many Christians and parent groups. The film, which told the story of a traumatized young man who goes on a killing spree dressed as Santa Claus, was met with protests, pickets, and even condemnation from film critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert.

Kathleen Eberhardt of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, formed Citizens Against Movie Madness (CAMM) to protest the film. Demonstrators held signs with slogans like “Santa ain’t no hitman” and “Deck the halls with holly not bodies.” Some psychologists warned the film could cause irreparable harm to children, even suggesting it might cause regression in toilet training.

The irony is that many protesters hadn’t actually seen the film. They reacted to marketing materials and assumptions about its content. In reality, “Silent Night, Deadly Night” tells a moralistic tale about the consequences of childhood trauma and the dangers of strict, unforgiving religious upbringing. The film’s director, Charles E. Sellier Jr., was raised Catholic and incorporated critiques of rigid religious practices into the story.

This controversy highlights how easily Christians can mistake tradition for truth. The protesters were more concerned with protecting the image of Santa Claus – a largely commercial figure – than engaging with the film’s actual themes about trauma, abuse, and the dark side of religious authority.

Throughout history, Christians have often elevated traditions to the status of essential truths. We see this in various aspects of church life, from worship styles and music preferences to sermon formats and dress codes. It extends to practices like baptism and communion, where debates over method and frequency can divide congregations. Church governance structures, views on end times, and beliefs about spiritual gifts have led to denominational splits. Even preferences for certain Bible translations or the observance of religious holidays can become points of contention.

Perhaps the most visible example is the perceived “culture war” at Christmastime. Some Christians become upset over the removal of nativity scenes from public spaces or the use of “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” However, historically, Christmas wasn’t widely observed by early Christians. It became an official holiday on December 25th under Constantine, blending Christian and pagan traditions.

The truth is, the observance of Christmas is ultimately secondary to Easter in the Christian faith. Many of our Christmas traditions, including the date, have more to do with cultural adaptations than biblical mandates. Yet, we often see Christians getting rude and confrontational, insisting that “Merry Christmas” be used, as if this phrase were a core tenet of our faith.

Jesus often challenged religious leaders who prioritized tradition over genuine faith and compassion. In Mark 7:8, He says, “For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.” Paul warns in Colossians 2:8 against being captured by “empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking.”

When we mistake tradition for truth, we risk losing sight of what’s truly essential in our faith. We may become more concerned with preserving cultural practices than embodying Christ’s love and grace. We might alienate others who don’t conform to our particular traditions, forgetting that the body of Christ is diverse and multi-faceted.

As followers of Christ, we’re called to continually examine our beliefs and practices. Are we holding onto traditions simply because they’re familiar and comfortable? Are we elevating non-essential doctrines to the status of core truths? Are we more concerned with defending our customs than demonstrating Christ’s love?

Let’s remember that while traditions can be meaningful and valuable, they should never overshadow the central truths of our faith: God’s love, Christ’s sacrifice, and our call to love others as ourselves. By focusing on these essentials, we can truly keep Christ in Christian, embracing a faith that’s both grounded in truth and open to the diverse ways God works in our world.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
“Tradition is the living faith of the dead, traditionalism is the dead faith of the living.” – Jaroslav Pelikan

PRAYER
Loving God, help us to discern between essential truths and mere traditions. Give us the wisdom to hold loosely to our customs while clinging tightly to Your love and grace. May we always seek to keep Christ at the center of our faith and practice. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Devotion written by Rev. Todd R. Lattig with the assistance of Perplexity AI.