As Christians, I believe, we have been making a mistake when it comes to celebrating the saviors birth. i tell a lot of people that I dislike Christmas, and what it has become. Many of the answers I receive are, "It's whatever you make it," or "It's just about getting together as family." I may have missed something, but the last time I checked Christmas was not something that was to be made, or what family members' company you may enjoy. Christmas is about Christ. Some may argue that Jesus was actually born in the summer, and we just picked the date we wanted so it does not matter if Christ is less involved. However, if we are going to celebrate a day focused on Jesus' birth then that is solely what it should be about. Do not get me entirely wrong, all of those things are great! I love my family, I enjoy spending time with them, and I enjoy the season. However, even when we put something as great as family in front of Christ then we are wrong. Watch a Christmas any Christmas movie today and the theme you will find is not Christ. They talk about the "spirit of Christmas," but their "spirit" is focused more on family, attitudes, decorations, or things such as those. Again those are all great, but they are nothing compared to the glory of Christ. The farthest we tend to get is the Christmas story at church the Sunday before, one or two subliminal Christ messages in a movie or two, and then a nativity scene. It's so easy to get caught up in decorations, or whose house you spend Christmas in, or even if people will like their gifts. If I had my way I would have people do without all that for one year so that maybe we can focus on the truth of the "spirit of Christmas." That "spirit" is that one day a perfect baby was born into the world so that man, who only deserved death, could live forever. He would live a perfect life, and die a tragic death so that those who believe in him can enter into the kingdom of God. This is the truth. Imagine how much different the holidays would be if we were to solely focus on THIS truth. Sometimes I am a little too much like scrooge in the matter. However, I just become frustrated when everyone gets caught up on the wrong thing and takes nay amount of glory away from the savior. I know that in my family, with my kids, I am going to make sure that every Christmas in our household is full of food, family, joy, and even the gift of giving. Most importantly though, it will be full of the love of Christ and ample time spent dwelling on the perfect gift given to us by the Father. "For God so loved the world that He gave his only son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life!" - John 3:16 Try you best to focus on the real reason for the season as we come upon the holidays. With love for all. Merry Christmas.
-Joshua
