I have got a mighty cynical edge about Christmas. To me, it's like taking the most sacred thing on earth, dressing it up in whorey clothes and making it dance around to entertain a bunch of rich people. The Rudolph songs, the glittery houses, the bringing a tree into your living room (think for a sec how weird and irrelevant that is), the TV ads, the fat, jolly man. It's sick. It's rude. It's ridiculous.
But I know there are so many good intentions. I know that people meet Christ during Christmas time. I know that in a lot of households He is glorified and magnified more than usual during this gaudy holiday. And I know that this tradition does a mighty good job of bringing families together. But on the whole I am repulsed by what our culture has done to this precious story, this intensely beautiful act of sacrifice, this divine miracle. I am shocked at how a day that should celebrate selflessness, crazy love and truth, seems to focus so intently on material possessions and food and false appearances.
I'm so worried what Jesus thinks about what has become of His birthday. I wonder if He is appalled, embarrassed, angry... or amused, grateful, maybe even joyful about how we 'remember' what He did for us. I am reminded that it's not what we do, but why we do things. The Bible says that "The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart”(1 Samuel 16:7b). So surely God does not make a clean sweeping judgment about our modern day Christmas. He searches each of us, tests our motives, examines our hearts, and checks what our eyes are fixed upon.
This year, I pray that you truly would remember what December 25 stands for. I pray you would celebrate freely and joyfully with your loved ones the greatest gift you will ever receive, the only one that will last for eternity.
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