This year, I would like to look at the celebration of
Christmas from a slightly different perspective. As a Christian, Christmas is both a wonderful
and dreadful experience. It is wonderful
because of the reality behind the celebration. It is dreadful because of the pressure to buy
gifts, not because we want to, but because it is expected. Too often, as it has been said time and time
again, the wonderful part of Christmas is overlooked and consumed by the
dreadful part of Christmas.
The question I have asked myself many times over the years is, is it worth it? Is it worth dealing with the long lines at the mall? Is it worth worrying about the perfect present? Is it worth wondering if you should buy a gift for this person or that one? Is it worth going to party after party?
Let’s face it, the things of Christmas often become the focus of Christmas, and when this happens my conclusion is that it isn’t worth it. Going into debt to buy presents isn’t worth it. Running ourselves to the point of exhaustion isn’t worth it. Standing in line after line isn’t worth it. When we make the things of Christmas the point of Christmas, this holiday is just not worth celebrating. When Christmas becomes about decorations and gifts, then the point of celebration is gone and we might as well forget about this wonderful holiday.
A part of me wouldn’t mind forgetting Christmas altogether. Jesus never told us to remember Him by celebrating His birth. And besides, we don’t even know what time of year Jesus was actually born.
Since there isn’t a biblical mandate to celebrate the birth of Jesus, then we don’t have to celebrate Christmas. So I want to give you permission not to feel guilty about not living up to expectations of the holiday. We don’t have to celebrate Christmas, and we can be good Christian people even if we decided not to celebrate the holiday.
Having said all that, I do think Christmas is an important holiday to celebrate. One of the reasons I feel this way is because of all the excitement that was going on at the time of His birth.
The question I have asked myself many times over the years is, is it worth it? Is it worth dealing with the long lines at the mall? Is it worth worrying about the perfect present? Is it worth wondering if you should buy a gift for this person or that one? Is it worth going to party after party?
Let’s face it, the things of Christmas often become the focus of Christmas, and when this happens my conclusion is that it isn’t worth it. Going into debt to buy presents isn’t worth it. Running ourselves to the point of exhaustion isn’t worth it. Standing in line after line isn’t worth it. When we make the things of Christmas the point of Christmas, this holiday is just not worth celebrating. When Christmas becomes about decorations and gifts, then the point of celebration is gone and we might as well forget about this wonderful holiday.
A part of me wouldn’t mind forgetting Christmas altogether. Jesus never told us to remember Him by celebrating His birth. And besides, we don’t even know what time of year Jesus was actually born.
Since there isn’t a biblical mandate to celebrate the birth of Jesus, then we don’t have to celebrate Christmas. So I want to give you permission not to feel guilty about not living up to expectations of the holiday. We don’t have to celebrate Christmas, and we can be good Christian people even if we decided not to celebrate the holiday.
Having said all that, I do think Christmas is an important holiday to celebrate. One of the reasons I feel this way is because of all the excitement that was going on at the time of His birth.
Let me give you three examples of what I am talking
about.
The first example is found in Luke 2:8-20. There were some shepherds out in the fields watching the sheep, and then an angel shows up and tells them about the birth of a special baby in Bethlehem. And then, here is when it gets interesting, the armies of heaven show up, praising God. The shepherds, only aware of what the angel said, found the baby boy just as they were told. They worshiped Him and then told everyone they met what had happened. So, there was excitement stirred up about Jesus when He was born.
The second example is found in the rest of chapter 2 of Luke. According to Jewish custom the baby Jesus needed to be presented at the Temple on His eighth day after birth to be dedicated to the Lord. Joseph and Mary took Jesus to the Temple, where they encountered an old man. This old man was named Simeon and he was a very righteous man. God had revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he saw the Messiah. When he saw the baby he took Jesus from the arms of His parents and praised God, saying, “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:21-32)
The first example is found in Luke 2:8-20. There were some shepherds out in the fields watching the sheep, and then an angel shows up and tells them about the birth of a special baby in Bethlehem. And then, here is when it gets interesting, the armies of heaven show up, praising God. The shepherds, only aware of what the angel said, found the baby boy just as they were told. They worshiped Him and then told everyone they met what had happened. So, there was excitement stirred up about Jesus when He was born.
The second example is found in the rest of chapter 2 of Luke. According to Jewish custom the baby Jesus needed to be presented at the Temple on His eighth day after birth to be dedicated to the Lord. Joseph and Mary took Jesus to the Temple, where they encountered an old man. This old man was named Simeon and he was a very righteous man. God had revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he saw the Messiah. When he saw the baby he took Jesus from the arms of His parents and praised God, saying, “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:21-32)
Mary and Joseph were amazed at what was being said about
their child, but if that wasn’t enough there was also an old lady named Anna. She was a prophetess, and pretty much lived at
the Temple. And while Simeon was
praising God for Jesus, Anna began telling people about the arrival of the new Messiah,
the long awaited King of Israel. (Luke 2:36-38)
Then there was excitement stirred up about Jesus at the Temple.
The last example is found in Matthew 2:1-18. Some wise men from the east saw a star. They apparently had some knowledge of Jewish teachings, because they connected this star with the birth of the Messiah. They began to travel west in search of the promised King. They could have been traveling up to two years in search of this special child. And when they finally found this small family in Bethlehem they presented the tiny King of Kings with special gifts.
Angels, shepherds, special prophecies, a long journey by gentile scholars, and expensive gifts are but the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the excitement stirred up about Jesus. From the biblical text it is apparent that the excitement stirred up about Jesus over His birth was because people believed He was special. And I believe the same is true today.
The last example is found in Matthew 2:1-18. Some wise men from the east saw a star. They apparently had some knowledge of Jewish teachings, because they connected this star with the birth of the Messiah. They began to travel west in search of the promised King. They could have been traveling up to two years in search of this special child. And when they finally found this small family in Bethlehem they presented the tiny King of Kings with special gifts.
Angels, shepherds, special prophecies, a long journey by gentile scholars, and expensive gifts are but the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the excitement stirred up about Jesus. From the biblical text it is apparent that the excitement stirred up about Jesus over His birth was because people believed He was special. And I believe the same is true today.
The only way we will cut through all the distractions of
Christmas and focus on Jesus is if we truly believe He is worth the effort. As
our culture becomes more cynical, and the Christmas season becomes more
commercialized, people who love Christmas for spiritual reasons are tempted to
downplay their appreciation of the holiday, for fear that they will be seen as
part of the problem.
Yet, in an age
of increasing hopelessness, let's honor the One in whom hope will never be
disappointed. Light a candle. Sing a carol. Give a helping hand to someone in
need. In other words, be a special blessing this time of year. If those who
have “received Him” can’t celebrate His coming, who will?
May God bless
you and yours this Christmas season!
Can God change your life?
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to know Him, and experience an amazing
change in your own life.
change in your own life.
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with God.
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