I find it interesting that parts of the Christmas story, as popularly portrayed, are completely wrong.

It begs the question of why we are so bound to tradition that we can’t represent the truth. Might this be one of the bricks in the wall of doubt and derision that the unbeliever struggles with when viewing Christianity from the outside?

Take the three kings appearing at the stable on the day of Jesus’ birth.

• First, where do we come up with the number three?
• “Kings?” No, more appropriate is “magicians.” This is the same term used to describe Simon the Sorcerer in Acts.
• They didn’t appear at the stable on his birth day, they appeared at his house more than a year later.

All the text says is:

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:1-2)

I think I like the Swahili version…