Christmas is a time to celebrate the coming of God in human flesh to our planet. He came to pay the ultimate price to rescue His creation from death. John 3:16 succinctly says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him will have everlasting life.” Matthew 20:28 says, “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
The diverse ways of celebrating the season reveal the division in our culture. Some will refuse to say “Merry Christmas” and prefer “Happy Holiday”.
The choice of words holiday over holy day is telling. It is a holiday, meaning that many people are free from work for a day or more to celebrate in remembrance of the coming of Christ as a baby. The secular focus is on the time off and the activities associated with the day: travel, food, drink, music, decorations, exchanging gifts, and participating in family traditions. They may never stop to reflect on the holy reason for the season. The secular world has stolen the holy day, made it a holiday, and developed its own way of using the time to entertain itself without any spiritual significance.
From the Christian view, it is a holy day that has been set aside to worship Christ, especially his advent or coming. Churches conduct special services for believers to unite their voices in praise and worship of Him. Many families will gather and read the Biblical story of the birth of Christ. Some will go from house to house singing Christmas carols. Others will give offerings to feed the hungry and visit nursing homes to bring cheer to the residents.
Some of the activities are shared between Christians and unbelievers. The exchanging of gifts is an example. When one receives a gift, a gift is expected to be given in return. The idea of a gift is destroyed. A gift is given with no expectation of receiving anything, or else it is not a gift; when the obligation of the recipient is to give something in return, it becomes a trade. There is nothing wrong with a trading transaction, but the irony of the situation is that on the birthday of Christ, instead of giving Him a gift, we exchange “gifts” with one another. The focus is on us and not on Him.
I have often wondered what Jesus must think as we celebrate His birthday by exchanging gifts, and he receives nothing, sometimes even denying the reason for the season.
Christmas has become a lavish display of materialism. Children often ask, “What did Santa bring you?” Parents are often chagrined when another family gives their children more than they gave theirs. According to The Conference Board Holiday Spending Survey, US consumers plan to spend an average of $985 on holiday-related items in 2023, less than the $1,006 reported in 2022. Many retailers depend on Christmas spending to make a profit for the year.
The National Retail Federation (NRF) recently released its holiday spending forecast, showing holiday spending is predicted to set new records. Between November 1 and December 31, American consumers will likely spend between $957.3 billion and $966.6 billion, an increase between 3% and 4% from 2022. Source: The total is closing in on a trillion dollars spent during this time.
The big divide between the secular and the sacred celebration of the season is most evident in the narratives and symbols. For Christians, the focal points are nativity scenes, angles, shepherds, Wisemen, Mary and Joseph, and the Baby Jesus in a manger. Music abounds in praise and celebration of his coming. The narrative is about Jesus the Christ Child, Emanual, Savior, Light of the World, who came to earth at Bethlehem as prophesied. The story continues with the miracles of his conception, Mary, the one selected by God, and the message to her from the angles, Joseph and his story, the Wisemen from the east that saw the star and came to worship Him. The story is about how God, as an act of His supreme love, came to earth to be born as a man, to live among us, teach us, and to die for us.
The secular narrative is much different. It is the story of Santa Claus, his elves, and reindeer, miraculous gift-giving over the entire world in one night to boys and girls who have been good.
In my opinion Santa Claus is a kind of idol of materialism. In the secular narrative, he is given divine attributes: omnipresence (being everywhere in one night, and you see him in every story you visit.). Omniscience (knowing everything about you, “If you have been good or bad.”) Omnipotent (the power to give you whatever you wish for). He has his own version of angels, known as elves. He lives in a mythical, spectacular, remote place like the North Pole. Children are taken on pilgrimages to the local mall, where he appears on a throne in full dress, surrounded by elves and accompanied by music. Parents and their children stand in line to have an audience with the old man. At the proper time, the children are handed off to Santa for pictures and an opportunity to present their prayers (petitions for Christmas). So, the interpretation is that he appears as a god who encourages children to be good, or they will be punished with a lump of coal.
It is evident that at Christmas, we have two competing narratives one based on historical evidence, the coming of Christ. The other was concocted by secular and financially interested parties to extract the maximum profit during Christmas, which is a complete distortion of the reason for the season.
The celebration of Christmas demonstrates, like little else, the spiritual division between Christians and Secularists in our culture.
Many Christians and nonbelievers will participate in both narratives to some extent. At all costs, I attempt to keep Christmas Christ-Centered. I encourage you to consider doing the same thing.
Merry Christmas, 2023.