'Twas the Night Before...

'Twas the night before the "holiday" and all through the house
Not a mention of Jesus, nor could the Story be found.
There were mountains of presents and a big bright tree,
A quick annual church visit for it is all about me.

Somewhere in the midst we had lost the true meaning
Of the story of Christmas and the angels singing,
"Glory to God in the highest and peace on whom his favor rests!"
Let's just leave that to Charlie Brown, his boy Linus says it best

So another "Holiday" gone by and I have what I want
Too bad my new iPod broke, I want a refund!
Through all the bulbs and bows, lights and festivity
Do I have any idea about the real Christmas tree.

For there were no lights and no stars, no bulbs and no tinsel
Rather pierced hands and feet and a crown of thistles
It's here that the baby from the manger cried out
"Father! It is finished!" that's what the "holiday" is all about.



Have we lost it? Is Christmas really dying in America? What about in the world? Is Jesus really that offensive to people? I always leave my Christmas shopping to the last week before Christmas. This year I waited until two days (yesterday) before Christmas to hit the malls with the crowds. I finally felt the "holiday cheer" when I stepped into the Mall and heard the generic Christmas Muzack playing throughout the mall. I went into the toy store to see if I could find a little something for my kids and I immediately began to laugh to myself as I saw the many people holding toys in one hand and the cell phone in the other to make sure they were picking up the "right one". "These people are desperate!" I thought to myself. That was until I reached the Care Bears and was immediately lost. What color did my daughter want? What did my wife tell me. I looked around to make sure no one was watching and slowly took out my own cell phone as I dialed for my wife. "Honey..." I immediately started laughing. Now I am the desperate Christmas shopper.

As the day went on I realized that every merchant wished me a "Happy Holiday". Being a preacher, I couldn't help but respond with "Merry CHRISTmas to you too!" I left the mall only to return late that night. I wasn't done consuming yet. I needed more stuff to give away. I was finally done as I purchased the last gift--a little heart pendant for my 4 year old. The jewler gave me my receipt as the noise level had died down at 11pm and I could tell she was beat. As she handed me my bag she said, "Have a happy holiday." I said, "Merry Christmas!" and began to walk away but something stopped me. I turned back around and said, "Could I ask you something?" She nodded, "Sure." I went on, "Do they--I mean, your bosses--do they require you to say 'happy holidays'? Are you allowed to say, 'Merry Christmas'?" She laughed, "Of course, but I just don't feel like gambling on the customers. Some people get offended. Not many, but that one is enough to ruin my day." I smiled and said again, "Well then, Merry Christmas to you." She smiled in return, "Thank you, Merry Christmas."

You know we really think we have it bad. We think persecution is if a few people get upset about a few words. We think the whole world is going to hell in a handbasket if a manger scene is taken down because our "Christian" government wants to be politically correct. There is no doubt in my mind that here in America, we have it easy. They could take Christmas out of every department store and government building and the Kingdom of God would just grow and expand. Did you ever wonder why the Church grew so rapidly in the early centuries? One Word--persecution.

But I say all that to say this. Have we, the church, lost our perspective on Christmas. Is it more than words? Is it more than feeling? Is it more than nostalgia? Is it more than gifts and receiving and giving and Christmas trees and lights and a special time to go to church? Is it more? Tomorrow I am going to preach on John 1:1. Just one verse. One verse that lit up the world. "The Word became flesh". This is Christmas. This is the true meaning of what we celebrate.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became man with all of our infirmities and qualities so that God would make him a sin offering. He did what the law was powerless to do--save us from our sins. This is Christmas.