Christmas not as the World Celebrates
The old traditional Christmas carol says, “‘Tis the Season to be Jolly.” The entire song of Deck the Halls speaks of much merriment and celebration without ever stating the reason for all the singing and joy. All are invited to join in the chorus even if the weather turns bad. Another song says, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” Historically Christmas has been a season of sharing and giving. Our Christian celebration reflects the nature of the greatest Gift ever given. Joy and gladness come as a byproduct of imitating the example given to us by God to love, and to give out of a heart of love. This most wonderful time of the year is now characterized by parents fist-fighting in department stores, people literally getting trampled to death in a mad rush to buy the best Black Friday deals, and bad attitudes in the checkout aisle. How literally disgusting it all is, but a fitting object lesson of the lives of men when Christ is absent.
Ironically, the coming of the very One who gives us reason to sing and rejoice is lost in the shuffle of greed and getting. Let’s make the conscientious effort to not celebrate Christmas the way the world has chosen to do it. The angels were the first to sing the good tidings of comfort and joy to lowly shepherds on the countryside near where Jesus was born. It was a joyous message that the long awaited Savior had been born. Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift! Joy to the world! Go tell it on the mountain!