Angels can be problematic. There is a risk of making too much or too little out of their existence. Angelic appearances are highly concentrated in the Nativity narratives … so it’s fitting that angels are represented at Christmas time.
Part of the problem is that angels, while abundant during this season, are not well represented. What I mean is that the angels we see in Christmas displays and on trees have little or no resemblance to what the Bible teaches.
Resemblance … is a good place to begin. First of all, angels are not typically visible to human eyes. They were created and exist as spiritual beings in the spiritual realm (Hebrews 1:14). The Bible says very little about their actual appearance. One conclusion we can draw is that they are awesome beings. There may be some distinction among heavenly beings, but one of their Hebrew names is Seraphim, which literally means “burning ones.” The New Testament brings this across, “In speaking of the angels he says, ‘He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire.” There are several places where an angels appearance is so imposing that the humans first response on seeing him is to worship. Angels are always swift to redirect all praise and worship to God alone. John reports in Revelation 22:8-9, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel … But he said to me, “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”
Him? Another thing that’s odd about Christmas representations of angels is that they are predominantly feminine. The universal testimony of Scripture is that when angels make themselves visible, they either take the form of or are mistaken for men. Why that would be, I can’t say, but it is obviously God’s design as reported in His Word. Does anyone know where I can purchase a fearsome, shining manly angel for my tree?
