What’s a Pagan to Do at Christmas?

Celebrations of the birth of Christ create a challenge for those who embrace non-Christian, pagan, beliefs.   This is not a new challenge at all.  Soon after the historical birth of Christ, pagans were some of the first to wrestle through how to respond to this supernatural baby.  The accounts from The Gospel of Matthew make clear pagan astrologers who had no connection to the Jewish heritage of Christ were drawn to Him.  Actually these “Magi” who were experts in magic and astrology were blatant violators of the Jewish law.  Yet even these sincere pagans were drawn to the supernatural nature of Christ’s birth.  They brought gifts, showed Him respect, and investigated who He might be. 

So how’s a pagan to respond today?  In our modern antagonistic society, many who embrace non-Christian beliefs are encouraged to throw “the Baby” out with the bath water.  May I suggest instead pagans today should take the same trek the early pagan Magi ventured on showing him respect and investigating this supernatural birth which lead to a supernatural life, death, and yes, a supernatural resurrection.