WHY CHRISTMAS?

The short answer:

‘It is the season chosen to celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ a little over 2000 years’ ago. 

The next question: “Why is that important?” 

The next slightly longer answer:

‘For the same reason that we celebrate anyone’s birthday—the fact that this anniversary day is important to the one celebrated and to us who remember and love or appreciate this person..  We want to honor the person named (and should, I believe, though rarely considered, the birthday person’s parentage).  In fact, Christmas is very important and looked forward to by several billion people who call themselves Christians and to many others who enjoy the spirit they feel or have felt of the season without, themselves, being avowed Christians.

The next question: “Couldn’t we celebrate ‘the season’ without mentioning ‘Jesus Christ’?”

Answer:

‘Many do.  They send out cards saying such things as “Happy Holidays,” or “Season’s Greetings,” or even “Merry X-mas.”  All of these types of cards in the words or symbols they use eliminate the real ‘reason for the season.’  Whether these people have given the day much thought, or if they are embarrassed by being labeled as or associated with Christians, or perhaps they really do not believe in the divinity of this man and thus choose not to honor Him they still  find something of value in the spirit of the season. They also may put up a thousand lights around their houses and a decorated tree or stick a plastic Santa Claus and elfs or the like in their front yards. They frequently like to play or listen to music such as “Jingle Bells” or “I saw mother kissing Santa Claus” or “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” or other songs of that genre. Most give a gift of some value to someone else they love or out of obligation or tradition they feel may expect it of them (but this person most certainly isn’t Jesus Christ).

But in all the above cases they are not really celebrating “Christmas," but simply participating in a shadow of it.  

Question: “So how do Christians celebrate Christmas?”

Answer: 

          ‘Perhaps in some of the same ways as non-Christians, but always, if they are truly Christians, by keeping the name of Christ in their thoughts, language, prayers, chosen music, and focus. They sing with thought and feeling songs such as “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” “Silent Night,” and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” They are moved by songs and performances such as “O Holy Night” and Handel’s “Messiah.” 

They remember and probably read or certainly listen to the Christmas story as recorded in the Biblical books of Luke and Matthew. They attend, where they can, a Christmas service in a Christian church and by their attendance worship Him.  

They hopefully resolve to try to better keep the commandments that Christ and Christian scriptures prescribed:  “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15); and “…love one another; as I have loved you…by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:34-35). 

For Christians the season is Holy; the Christmas Day is Holy; and they truly reverence their Redeemer and Savior as the only begotten Son of God in the flesh.  

The implications of His coming to this earth, to do what he was sent to do, are tremendously important for all of God’s other children (us) to understand.  They appreciate that. “O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.”

May you have Christ in your Christmas this year!