Whether or not tomorrow is really the day of our Savior's birth is something we can go round and round about - forever. Whether all the glitz and glimmer of the season has anything at all to contribute t recognizing the nativity is doubtful. And certainly the power of Mammon is clearly demonstrated by the frenzy and stress of the season.
It's a high time for suicide, abuse, extremes and depression. Interesting is it not - that the supposed season and celebration of the coming of the Savior should be attended by so very much that is contrary to everything He would have us be and do. It is curious that this time of year is a time of pretense and hypocracy in so many relationships.
In WW I there was a Christmas where men on both sides just refused to fight. They left their trenches to meet in no-man's-land to celebrate the Nativity. Many were court-martialed and some were even were even executed. But the recognition of the celebration of the nativity stopped the fighting even if it was just for one day.
We have no idea what day Jesus was born on. The "day" was set by a Roman Emperor who made good use of the "faith" to expand and consolidate his power. He also picked a day that was a real "biggy" in his pagan pantheon of days.
The tree? Don't get me started. Presents - oy vey! The shallow and brief "good will towards men?" Don't even go there.
We really have to face the fact - sooner or later - that Christmas is more a travesty than a triumph.
Ahhhhh but there is good news!
The celebration of the Savior coming into the world is a good thing. To celebrate the initiation of the final step in God's redemptive plan is a worthy thing. But, like so much else that pertains to the faith, it has been hi-jacked by the world, the flesh and the devil.
I guess that's my biggest objection. It's "our" celebration but it has been hi-jacked by hypocritical high-jinks. It has been - prostituted, pimped out by the evil that can't stand anything good, anything of Him.
The good news is that there's bad smeared all over our celebration of His coming. If it wasn't a good thing why would the world, the flesh and the devil try and turn and twist it? If it wasn't indeed an even worth commemorating why would the world, the flesh and the devil work so very hard to pervert it?
There was never a birth so magnificent in it's conception and completion as this one. This little baby was God and man. This little baby was born for us - to die for us. That was it. Certainly His life teaches us much but it is in His death and resurrection that His purpose was completed.
His is, perhaps, the only birth worthy of remembering and celebrating but we need to isolate that from all the - well - dung that has been attached to it over the years. I really feel this is imperative.
Santa Claus? Not hardly - to allow our children to "believe" in Santa Claus is deception. But, Niloloas of Myra, a fourth century Bishop who passionately contended for the faith and had a reputation for giving gifts secretly - well there's someone to look to.
Perhaps the saddest part of the whole Christmas thing - at least to me - is that it so centers around giving-getting-getting-giving - or Mammon. "Christ-mas," is the big "giving!" How have we turned it into the big "getting?" Why do we agonize over what we are able (or not able) to give - usually to people who have no real need?
Again - Mammon.
I am NOT anti-celebration-of-the-coming-of-the-Savior. But I am against this thing we call Christmas with its black-Fridays and cyber-Mondays. I am against the expectation that everyone needs some super gift - some meaningful gift on this one day. Hey, the "wise men" brought gifts for the Savior - not for everyone else.
So if there is any gift giving going on shouldn't it be gifts to Him? Gifts for His glory? Gifts for the demonstration of Gods kindness to all mankind. In other word, shouldn't it be "gifts" for people in need (of course I have to ask - "Just one day a year???").
Ni, I'm not a Scrouge - I am a man who has seen the awful results of the Body of Christ taking the hand of the world when the world wants to pervert the faith. I believe in celebrating the nativity and I have no big problem with Dec. 25th. But if we are indeed intending to demonstrate the magnificence of His coming should there not be more repentance preached? More benevolance shown? More compassion? Shouldn't there be less "me" in Christmas and more of Christ?
Oh, well - it's a battle Satan has won. Yeah, I do believe that. He and the world and the flesh have so prostituted the celebration of the nativity that, well, it sickens me.
but, it's "christmas" and we don't want our children to feel weird or left out -- God forbid we teach them to live apart from the world - in it but not of it.
OK - enough of my Xmas rant -
But, as you do all those good cheer things and give all those goodies to friends and family - just ask yourself - how does all we do really honor the birth of the Savior?
I'll stick with Simeon -
Luke 2:25-32 ESV
Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. [26] And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. [27] And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, [28] he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, [29] "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; [30] for my eyes have seen your salvation [31] that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, [32] a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."
Oh, by the way, it's Pentecost and NOT Easter !!!
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