I just love everything about Christmas. I especially love to listen to the Christmas carols, to hear the songs of old like “Hark the herald angels sing”, and “Joy to the World the Lord has come”. On my recent shopping trips through Bridgetown, I have witnessed angry outbursts with the most disgusting foul language in the stores and on the streets, and each time I’ve hastened to remind everyone, it’s the time of peace on earth, good will towards men.
Is this the true celebration of our Saviour’s birth? Do these outburst honour and bless the Christ of Christmas? Certainly not, but rather they cause dishonour and disdain to his name. Additionally, there is the continual effort to remove Christ from Christmas. Mankind will rather say season’s greetings or happy holidays, than to say blessed or merry Christmas. For to say blessed Christmas puts Christ back into Christmas. It is troubling that as the world tries to remove Jesus from the Christmas celebrations, the church remains divided over which day he was born and if it’s religiously correct to celebrate his birthday, on what was deemed a pagan holiday. The church has missed the point! Jesus was born! He was born 2000 years ago in Bethlehem of Judea to a virgin girl called Mary. He was celebrated by wise men and vigilant shepherds; they all responded with pure, unadulterated worship at His birth…all wise men should do the same.
Jesus came to the world as a babe for the sole purpose of dying for our sins, on the cross; He rose on the third day, as prophesied, to redeem all mankind back to Him, giving us the chance not only for salvation but of enjoying eternal life with Him. It is incumbent on the church to maintain her involvement in the celebration of His birth. We dare not allow the commercial world and the large conglomerates to win the war on replacing “Merry Christmas” with “Happy Holidays”. The Church must uphold the essence of Christmas; passing it on to future generations.
Those who have highjacked Christmas with a nefarious agenda would not have any mention of the Christ of Christmas, yet we must be reminded that the Christmas celebrations is all about Jesus’ coming as a babe in a manger. It’s more than just eating and drinking and partying, it’s about worshipping the King and showing love and care for each other. It’s when we return the Christ to our Christmas that the fear and terror of the happenings around the world would not faze us, but rather, we will look to this Christ of Christmas, the giver of peace, the Saviour of the world and our soon coming King. So, let’s celebrate the Christ of Christmas this year and always, let remind all around us that He is not a babe in a manger anymore, but He is alive and lives with us in our hearts and lives and that He our prince of peace and the Christ of our Christmas.
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