Christmas is Coming

In just a few more days the big day that all the kids are looking for will be upon us. So pervasive is the influence of this holiday in our culture that Christians can hardly avoid being affected by it. To help us maintain our Christian perspective amidst all the clamor and pressures, we offer the following thoughts:

1. Remember that Christ’s Mass is a religious holy day of human origin. See the article in the Americana Encyclopedia.
2. Therefore, we cannot participate in it in a religious fashion. (Galatians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 4:6; Revelation 22:18-19).
3. In our culture December 25th has become a secular holiday as well. We can enjoy the seasonal holiday and its festivities so long as we do not confuse it with the religious aspect.
4. We must not forget the importance of financial responsibility. Many are tempted to overspend, and deeply indebt themselves during the holidays. This often leads them to take away from God, monies they had committed. We must never forget our stewardship in material things. (1 Corinthians 4:2).
5. It is always a temptation to overeat in the feastings of the holiday season. A Christian seeks to live a temperate life on all occasions. (2 Peter 1:6).
6. Some will be tempted to compromise their principles at this time of the year. Many times at office parties there will be the spiked eggnog or the salesman’s gift of a bottle of liquor. We must be strong to stand our ground and abstain from the very appearance of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:22).
7. We need to take time to explain to our children the facts about the Catholic origin of the Christmas holy day and why we as Christians do not observe this. It is not uncommon to see young Christians who really see nothing wrong with a religious connotation to the day.
8. We need to learn how to maintain the joy, good will and generosity of the holidays throughout the year. Surely God’s people do not need bottled spirits and extravagant festivities to make them do good unto all men. (Galatians 6:10). Our joy springs from our being right with God and our hope of heaven, not from artificial means. (Romans 5:1-2). Our religious devotion is not an annual affair based on a Pagan-Roman Tradition but on a lifetime commitment to Christ. (Matthew 16:24).
9. As we enjoy the good things of the season with our loved ones, let us remember Him for whom all blessings flow. It is so easy for modern man to look at his home, his possessions, his life and think “My hands have accomplished all of this.” For such an attitude, God severely punished King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. (Daniel 4:30-32). Be ye thankful for every good and perfect gift which comes down from above. (James 1:17).
10. May we never allow our remembrance of our Lord Jesus to degenerate to a once a year extravaganza such as we see in so much of Christendom. Rather, let us live each day as a celebration of thanksgiving and joy to the Savior that became flesh that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

-John Waddey