If a foreigner with no knowledge of American customs asked, “What’s Christmas about?” how would we answer?
We might mention decorating the tree, wrapping presents to give to others, or getting a special gift ourselves. Maybe Christmas lights come to mind, or holiday songs playing in the stores. Maybe favourite movies like Miracle on 34th Street or It’s a Wonderful Life with Jimmy Stewart.
Of course, we know that Christmas is really about the nativity, the birth 2000 years ago of Jesus Christ. Yet this fact alone does not amaze us until we consider what is special about that birth. The Old and New Testament tell us that the birth of Christ was to make people glad! Think about the Christmas message spoken by the holy angel to the shepherds… as recorded in the book of Luke: “Behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the town of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.”
Why did the angel say, “I bring you good news of great joy?” He answers in the next sentence—“for unto you is born this day… a Saviour.” Does that message give us joy? If it doesn’t, then we have totally misunderstood what Christmas is about.
The Christmas message is that God so loved you and I that He gave us the gift that would give us the most joy. He gave us His only son, born to become the only Saviour, God’s bridge to us so we could know the beauty, the power, and the joy of having God’s Spirit live in our hearts and be free from the guilt and the penalty of our moral failures. God did not send us His Son to make us religious. He sent His Son to make us free from all the little gods we worship (like self-reliance and comfort) and replace them with what will really bring us lasting joy—Himself.
2 comments:
I look at the traditional Christmas a little differently than some. For instance, Christmas Trees and gifts seem to turn some Christians off.
I don't happen to be one of that group. I believe that the custom of gift giving at the nativity was born from the three wise men, bearing gifts. True, the giving of gifts tends in some respects, to ignore the birth, but still, there is a thread of reality and tradition in it all. As to the Christmas tree, that tends to be a tradition born in Germany, where the tree represents the manger that Christ lay in. In short, these are not pagan rites, just abbreviations of the real deal. So then, all we have to do is fill in the blanks without turning everyone off.
Good summary Dad. While I respect the desire of some Christians to avoid what they consider pagan elements, I think Christians have a lot to celebrate, which can include some traditional customs. The real focus anyway should not be my experience of Christmas, but instead the One we supposedly worship.
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