When did you last celebrate Christmas?
As "the most wonderful time of the year" is upon on us, I am bracing
myself for more "Christian" slogans about keeping Christ in Christmas
(the word, not the actual season or day).That is what makes me laugh about all the social media posts and rants (quite
like this one). It's so easy to post this and that but what about in the real
world? This idea of bumper sticker/sloganized religion is probably not what
Christ had in mind when He said, “Love your neighbor."
Are we really
keeping Christ in Christmas just by our posts and words?? What about the old
saying "actions speak louder than words??" Or are we, as “professed
Christians” in the virtual world, actually turning more people off to Christ in
Christmas than we are showing Christ? Christmas is not celebrated just one day a year; it's not celebrated with even
the craftiest Pinterest creation; the tastiest holiday cookie; the rich hot chocolate
or even the hottest deal on a gift; In fact, I would dare say that celebrating
Christmas isn’t even in reading the Christmas story on Christmas Eve (a family
tradition that I love and will carry on). I will note here that I am a
Christian that does believe we celebrate Christmas as the birth of Christ;
however, we have gotten so off track.
Christmas is
a matter of the heart that should be celebrated all year round. The magic of
the season is truly found within. So, what about a campaign to keep Christ in
our lives 365 days a year, rather than in a phrase that man has come up with? I
am willing to bet that more of an impact would be made that way, rather than
superficial slogans. If you really want to keep Christ in Christmas, then live
it 365 days a year. “Religious Christmas is a great tradition, but it doesn't
start and stop on December 25th- if that's the case... then the pagans have
just as much right to the day as we do!” Furthermore, Jesus never excluded
anyone, in fact didn’t He associate with “the least of these,” and society’s
rejects?
“We should
celebrate the life of Christ- the Death, Burial & Resurrection each and
every single day- for without ALL parts of that story, we are incomplete. Jesus is the most supernatural thing that
humanity has ever experienced face to face since the fall of mankind and THAT
is something to celebrate each & every single day.”
This is a
challenge for me as well as my handful of readers. And please know, I will deck
the halls and roast chestnuts and enjoy the hustle and bustle of the season,
however, I beg you to ask yourself, “When did you last really celebrate
Christmas?”
OH and just
for fun, research what the “X” in X-Mas stands for…You might be surprised! (and
no, I do not usually go to Wikipedia, but in this case this entry is valid
according to my other research.)
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