Anybody out there seen Christmas Yet?!

The decorations are all up. The flyers are in the mailbox. The 'Special' programs are all on T.V. You can't get away from the 'Seasonal' music at the malls or on the radio. The Christmas cards are all addressed and ready to mail. Your presents are all bought and the planning for the family Christmas dinner has started in the back of your mind. But have you seen Christmas yet?

Didn't think so!

Amazing isn't it!? We spend all year planning for December and by the time it's all over we can't seem to shake the feeling that we missed something. Something important!
What we miss is the true message of Christmas, the anunciation and incarnation of the Christ child.

Let's be honest here folks, Christmas is no longer primarily a 'Christian' holiday . Christmas is now a cultural holiday. Which is to say, that the meaning of the time of year has been co-opted from the Christian message, of the arrival of God in human form, to the secular message of the arrival of Santa and a big honking load of presents and fun!

The irony is that those many years ago our New Testament forefathers co-opted the pagan festivals of the time to celebrate the birth of Christ. Now the pagans have once again claimed center stage in our culture and the Christians don't seem to have a problem with that!

As a matter of fact I suspect that Christians are just fine with the abject practices of financial lust and physical gluttony that our pagan friends preach to us at this time of year. Let's face it nothing says 'I love Jesus' better then maxing out our credit cards and gaining 10 lbs from overeating does it?!

Oh we smile and some part of us may agree for a second, but then we get distracted, "Oooooooh! Pretty shiny lights!" and we go merrily on our pagan way with a hearty "Merry Christmas!" to our unsaved neighbors, as if they actually understood the meaning of those two words.

Even in the Church we now cater to conspicuous consumption with our "Seasonal Seeker Sensitive Extravaganzas!". Gone are the Sunday school pageants and the Choir Christmas Hymn sing. Now we need festivals of lights and the highest quality 'productions!'

"Oooooh look a flying angel! A live cow! A live sheep! Wow that guy can really rock the house! Just look at that set!"

We justify these flights of fancy with that old gem, "If you build it...really, really, really big...they will come!". And come they do! Wesleyans and Baptists and Pentecostals and Anglicans and Catholics and independents... oh my! ...for one night, maybe two, some even sign a card that says "I believe!". Oddly enough come January there's nary a new face to be seen in the Morning worship.

The question must be asked 'Why do people come, because of the message of Christ or because of the production values?' Here's a way to determine it, drop the production values for one year! And see who comes.

To paraphrase Canadian philosopher Marshal McLuhan the medium has become the message. Is it possible that people are so overwhelmed by and in awe of, our 'Broadway production values' that the message of the Christ child becomes secondary?
So dear reader what exactly, in all this clamor and strife that our culture calls Christmas, are we missing?

Are you ready? You may want to go get a piece of paper and pen and write this down! Go ahead I'll wait!

Ready? Here we go!

That which we are missing so much is the essential message of the angels to the Shepherds:

Luke 2:8: And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. KJV

The incarnation of the Christ produces and abundance of three things in human beings when rightly recognized & celebrated:

1. Glory to God. God wants you to worship Him.
2. Peace. God wants you to be in harmony with Him.
3. Grace (God's good will.). God wants you to know again how much He loves you.

These are the gifts of meaning. These are the gifts worth desiring at this time of year. These are the gifts that determine if we are celebrating a Christian or pagan holiday.

So have you seen Christmas yet?

There's still time! Don't let the pagan medium drown out the Christ centered message of 'Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace, good will..." to you!