Nate tackles Christmas story apologetics and modern cultural absurdities.

Is the Christmas Story True? Census, Virgin Birth & Genealogies

Tis the season for skepticism, where internet historians suddenly become experts on first-century Roman taxation policy. In this episode, Nate tackles the gauntlet of Christmas story apologetics, dismantling the common claims that Luke botched the census or that “virgin” simply means a young woman who had a totally natural pregnancy. But we don’t just stay in the first century—we also fast-forward to a “Queer Apocalyptic Nativity” that features a lesbian Mary and “Jo” bickering in flannel. It is a wild ride from biblical defense to modern absurdity, ensuring you are ready for both theological debates and cultural chaos this holiday season.

Christmas Story Apologetics: The Biblical Bottom Line

The credibility of the Gospel accounts often comes under fire during December, specifically regarding the census of Quirinius and the genealogies of Jesus. Nate breaks down the historical plausibility of Luke’s account, noting that Roman governance was rarely as rigid as modern critics demand, and offering satisfying explanations for the governorship timeline. Furthermore, we address the “virgin vs. young maiden” linguistic gymnastics. As the text makes clear, Mary’s question—”How can this be?”—only makes sense if she had not known a man; young women giving birth is hardly a biological mystery.

The episode also explores the alleged contradiction between Matthew and Luke’s genealogies. We review a breakdown of Eusebius’s explanation involving Levirate marriage, which harmoniously resolves the lineage through Joseph’s legal and biological lines without breaking the curse of Jeconiah. For more on the foundational texts, you can read Luke 2 for yourself.

O Tannenbaum, O Pagan Idol?

Nothing says “Merry Christmas” like being accused of idolatry for putting up a pine tree. We open Jeremiah 10 to debug the annual claim that Christians are worshipping wooden idols by decorating their living rooms. Unless you are fastening your tree with nails so it doesn’t topple while you pray to it for salvation, you are probably safe from being a pagan. Speaking of paganism, we react to a Lutheran church’s “Queer Apocalyptic Nativity” shared by Protestia. Featuring a catfighting lesbian couple in a display that makes the actual stable look luxurious, it is a prime example of why St. Boniface felt the need to chop down Thor’s Oak in the first place.