Do you ever wonder why an “X” replaced Christ in Christmas? As long as I can remember that’s the way it has been. I have always been told that it was just the way to shorten it up. Christmas was just too long to write out in a Christmas card. Is that the real reason or have we been fed a lie that we have eaten and never looked back?
I think that I was about 16 when I realized that something was wrong. My family was all sitting around the Christmas tree passing out presents having a good time. All but maybe one or two of us didn’t go to church but we all claimed to be Christians.
It seemed odd to me that no one wanted to talk about “Religion.” It didn’t go with the mood of the festivities.
“Didn’t go with the mood? Wasn’t Jesus the reason for the Season?”
“We pray over the meal, that’s enough.”
That was it. I never approached the subject again. I watched over the years, as we would continue to get together. The tree was there dressed to perfection, lots of silver and gold echoing off the walls. Always a star on top of the tree lighting the way. Lighting the way…
A Star was born.
The Angel said, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today, in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests (Luke 2: 10-14).”
If the news of a Savior is so good, how come we have forgotten it? Maybe it’s not that we have forgotten but we don’t want the hassle of offending someone that doesn’t believe in Christmas. After all, the Bible does tell us to live at peace with everyone.
Living at peace with our neighbors doesn’t mean that we have to give up our values and our beliefs. That’s like standing out in a busy freeway telling the oncoming traffic that you are just like them. It will not be long till someone runs you over for trying to be like the rest of the crowd.
Could it be that we are just too afraid to stand up for what is right. Every year we hear of the same things. Friends and neighbors get threatened because they put a Nativity Scene on the front lawn. It quickly gets taken down.
We used to be able to sing “Joy to the World” and other Christmas songs that talked about the birth of Jesus. It turns out now that by doing so in school we are endorsing a religion. It’s all right to teach kids how to be Muslim extremist on how to hate Jews and Christians but dare mention the word Jesus and ACLU just might come and sue you.
In the name of tolerance, we have allowed Christmas to become the biggest holiday moneymaker. It is so much easier to tell our kids about Santa than Jesus. That must be the church’s responsibility. We take our kids and what do we find… Santa passing out toys to the good girls and boys.
For unto us a Child is born… He will be called Immanuel, God with us.
So, where is He? Is God really with us? In the past year, we have seen some devastating things on TV. Take the killer tsunami in Asia last December or even closer to home, hurricane Katrina and Rita. There are mudslides in Central America and earthquakes in Pakistan.
Do you get the feeling that God took his ball and went home leaving us to fend for ourselves? Of course that is not possible because He will never leave us or forsake us. Why should we expect God to do anything else? We don’t want anything to do with Him until something happens that we can’t handle. In our desperate hour, we call out to God to save us.
On our knees we look up to the bookshelf where we stuck God. He is covered with dust and soot. With delicate hands we pick up the little box we put him into, blow off the dust and set it down. The lid comes off just enough for God to see through, just to get a glimpse of what kind of mess we got our self into this time. If God doesn’t move fast enough for our liking we throw the box back on the shelf until next time we call.
It’s Christmas time again. The glitter and glamour is screaming for attention as I walk down the aisles at the store. There are lots of Santa’s and reindeer waiting to be put on the lawn. Tucked away almost hidden from view is a small nativity scene. It’s just too simple, Mary and Joseph with the baby Jesus in the manger. God used a strange way to save the world. Don’t miss Jesus this year. Don’t believe the lie that Christ is no longer in Christmas.
When that magical day comes on Christmas Eve or Christmas day, look up at that star atop of the tree. It took a star to lead the wise men to Jesus. This Christmas, may it take a star to bring you back to Jesus as well.