Celebration of Christmas

Last night I watched as my wife hung the last ornament on our Christmas tree. “I think this is the most beautiful tree we’ve ever decorated,” she said with a smile. I had to agree.

As we sat there taking in the green tree, red ribbon, colored lights, red and gold ornaments, topped with an angel wearing a burgundy colored gown, my mind traveled back to Christmases past. My first visit was a decision we had made last year to stop celebrating Christmas. This was due in part to what seemed to be a timely message on television regarding the pagan roots of the holiday centered around sun god worship, and verses we read in the bible .

“Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.” Jeremiah 10:1-4

Being sincere in our relationship with Jesus Christ, and not wanting to dishonor God, we decided not to celebrate Christmas. After all, Jesus was not actually born at this time of the year. It was probably closer to spring. Besides, we wanted nothing to do with a practice based on the worship of the sun god. Our relationship with the Son of God, Jesus, was more precious than a tradition we had learned from childhood.

I looked back at the tree with all of its trimmings and thought about the events that lead up to our decision to cancel Christmas. Then I thought of why after making that decision, we were now choosing to do so this year.

My earliest memories of Christmas are very warm. My father was in the navy, and his tours of duty kept him away sometimes upwards to six or eight months out of the year. Sometimes he was home for the holidays, but many times he was with us in our thoughts and prayers. Our income was limited. My dad sent everything he possibly could from his pay, but a military salary requires a very creative person to pinch the pennies and stretch the dollars.

My mother did just that. She saved everything. We had Christmas lights and decorations from years past, and an artificial aluminum tree. Any fresh tree we could afford, she would decorate and cover with flock so thick that the tree was well preserved and no longer posed as a fire hazard. Our family was known for keeping Christmas decorations up most of the year.

Those were simple times. Most of our gifts were hand-made. Store-bought gifts were more practical – ear muffs, sweaters, gloves; just what was needed to go out and play in the snow. There were treats in our stockings and a few toys. But mostly, I remember the spirit of giving and love, the Christmas carols, and the making of memories and family traditions.

As I grew older and our nation enjoyed prosperity, the warmth of yesterday seemed to be replaced by feelings of a commercialized Christmas. I began to witness the beginning stages of attacks that would try to eradicate Christ from Christmas. The words “Merry X-mas” began to show up everywhere, and the message of “Joy to the world” was being replaced with the anxiety and stress. Quick! Hurry! Beat the rush! Buy the perfect gift! Get it wrapped and under the tree! How many people are coming? I witnessed many people complaining of pressures from within and without as so much energy was expended to achieve the “perfect Christmas.”

All of this seemed to drown out the carols, trees, lights, decorations and the overall message of love, peace, and goodwill. Jesus was no longer the “reason for the season,” for the spirit of Christmas been swallowed up by commercialism. Besides, everywhere you looked, the emphasis of Jesus Christ was under attack. Take Christ of Christmas! “Happy Holidays,” “Holiday Tree,” and “Winter Break” still echo the sentiments of many who would extract any connection with Christianity to this holiday season

Finally, financial setbacks only reminded us of the gifts we couldn’t afford to give. Reflecting on its pagan roots and the shift in society to remove Christ from Christmas, we were primed and ready for Jeremiah 10:1-4. So we decided not to celebrate Christmas last year.

One year has passed and this Christmas season has caused me to reflect on our choice to cancel Christmas. It occurred to me that my wife and I had succumbed to the pressure that would take Christ out of Christmas. For generations, Christians have successfully taken a pagan holiday that paid homage to the sun god and turned it around. Songs like “Silent Night,” “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” And Hark the Herald Angels Sing” are known and sung all around the world, spreading a message of God’s love everywhere. This is the message in Christmas that many today are trying to silence.

For one Christmas season, the winter of opposition silenced this family’s celebration. But we will not be silenced again. With our decorated tree, we see the cross that Jesus died on. The red bulbs symbolize his precious blood he shed for all the sins of every man, woman, and child on this earth. The golden bulbs remind us that he is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, and that his kingdom is from everlasting to everlasting. The evergreen branches represent the life that he wants to give us ever so abundantly. The gifts show us the example of God’s love by giving his best gift to us. Though we were yet sinners, he loved us and sent Jesus to us that we might be saved from our sins. Finally, the lights show us that he is the light of the world that shines in the darkness. And darkness cannot eclipse His glory.

Born as a baby in a lowly manger, Jesus grew to manhood, sacrificed his life and shed his blood that you and I would not perish, but have everlasting life. O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem! Come and behold him born the King of angels. O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!