Article 12-22-09 Say "Merry Christmas" Please!
I guess I can say truthfully that Christmas is my favorite time of the year. It is a time for family, friends, singing, laughing, children playing, hope, expectations and a general overall feeling of love, peace and things that are good. Many memories flood my mind when I think of Christmas. But in the last decade or so, there has been an all out attack on this most special and unique holiday. Many would silence our singing and take away all the symbols of our faith and any connection to Christianity in general.
I think that I need to begin where it all began. Nearly 2000 years ago, a little baby named Jesus was born in a little town called Bethlehem. Some say He was a prophet and He was. Some say He was a Teacher and He was. Some say He was even and King and He was. But He was all of that and so much more. He was the promised Messiah and Savior of the world.
In the beginning of time, God implemented His great plan of redemption. God knew that man would be in need of a Savior. Sin brought about the curse and placed man under the judgment and condemnation of God's Law. Before time began, God has already made provision. Jesus, God's only begotten Son would come into the world and give Himself as a ransom for the sins of the world. He would leave the glories of Heaven and take on the robe of flesh, and as a servant, subject even to death, would die the cruel death of the cross and purchase for mankind the redemption needed to give Him eternal life and restore the fellowship with God that had been broken by sin.
Jesus was born on that first Christmas morning in fulfillment of all the prophecies foretold by the prophets. The Old Testament prophecied that one would come who would be born of a virgin and Jesus was. He would be born in Bethlehem of Judea and He was. He would live a lowly life of a Servant and He did. He would perform great miracles and be annointed by His Spirit and He did and He was. All the prophecies were fulfilled in Him. And of course the greatest prophecy of all were those connected with that great day on a hill outside Jerusalem where the Son of God would hang between heaven and earth and take upon Himself the sins of the world and pay the ransom to purchase man off the slave market of sin.
All of this points to that first day in Bethlehem. Jesus was born of a virgin called Mary. She willingly became a vessel through which God would bring His only Son into the world. Joseph would believe the message of the angel and he too would do his part in providing for this baby that God conceived in the womb of his espoused wife.
Jesus had no media coverage the day He was born. No papers or TV stations broadcast the arrival of this great King. Yet all of heaven stood at attention on that day. Angels announced it to the lowly shepherds watching their flocks on the hillside. There were no fancy accomadations for this King, but instead there was no room available in the inn. Jesus would be laid in a manger. He would adorn the stable with his presence while angels attended. No handmade receiving blanket or fancy storebought clothing to place on the body of this King, yet he would be wrapped in swaddling clothes, the equivilent of "death cloth" used to wrap the body of a deceased loved one. Jesus would be wrapped in a robe of death testifying to the fact that He came into this world to die.
Many months later, wise men would travel thousands of miles to see this new King. A star would guide them on their journey until they arrived at the place where this baby was. They would give him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh symbolizing the gifts given to a King, a Prophet and a Priest. He, Jesus was all three.
Not all would be glad that this new King had arrived. King Herod would put out a decree to destroy all boy babies under the age of two hoping to destroy this challenge to his throne. But God supernaturally protected His Son from the hand of this murderer.
Christmas today has drifted a long way from the celebrations on that first Christmas day. Yet amidst all the glitter and gold, the fact stills remains-a Savior Christ Jesus was born! That is the real story of Christmas!
Today Christmas has been somewhat lost in the array of figures and characters whose faces adorn most every billboard and commercial. Santa Claus, Rudolph, The Grinch, Charlie Brown, Frosty the Snowman all hold their place in recent history and traditions. We know all the songs that children sing. We have seen all the movies that are repeated each holiday season. Yet in spite of all that, there are still things that do not change that do represent truth. If one looks it is not difficult to find that behind the trees and lights are the real sights and sounds of Christmas.
Churches still each year hold their pagents that do the same thing over and over each year. Though it may grow old to some, it serves the purpose of teaching the next generation about that wonderful day when shepherds came and angels sang and wise men traveled far. So simple yet so true and so profound!
Political correctness tells us to refrain from nativity scenes, religious symbols, or words that reflect any thing spiritual. But there are always those of us who refuse to bow to the pressures of this ungodly world and we will boldly hold to the truth. To say "Happy Holidays" refers to every and all religious celebrations and even those that are not religious. Winter Soltice, Kwanza, Ramadan, Hannakah are just a few of the celebrations that occur during this time of year. Yet this special season is not about the winter soltice. We do not celebrate the changing of the seasons like witches around a caldron pot. Nor is this season about the heritage of a people who came here from another land, who desire to pass on to their children the great history of their race. Nothing wrong with that but that is not what this time of year is about. Nor does this time of year testify to another religion's practices for they do not even have the same God as does Christianity. Islam recognizes Ala and celebrates Ramadan, but that has no connection to Christmas. Hannakah, celebrated by Jews everywhere celebrated a time when the temple experienced a miracle of the oil that lasted for days longer than was expected. Jews celebrate God's provision every year for this great part of their history.
But all of these, as wonderful as they are for all those involved, have nothing to do with Christmas. I do not belittle people's heritage nor do I look down on those who come from different backgrounds than I do. Yet it bothers me that this entire nation has chosen to take a special day, that is an historical event and try to pretend that it is something else or does not mean what it means. Christmas is not about celebrating seasons or heritage or even the greatness of our past. Christmas is all about Christ or it is not Christmas!
Christmas is about the Christ-child. Jesus is the focal point of Christmas. Our calendar reflects His wonderful birth. BC counted down until His birth and AD counts forward since His entrance into this world. Jesus came into this world to fulfill the plan of redemption. The angel made it very clear. Jesus would come to "save his people from their sins." He came to be Savior of the world.
Christmas is about His birth. Christmas is about salvation. Christmas is about the love of God for mankind. Christmas is about faith. Christmas is about things supernatural. Christmas is about telling others. Christmas is about worship. Christmas is about things that are holy and pure. Yes this includes family, friends, sharing, loving, giving of ourselves and even giving gifts symbolizing the greatest gift of all. Christmas is about hope and expectation. Christmas is about peace on Earth and good will to men.
So for me to say "Happy Holiday" would be like someone saying to me on my birthday, "Happy Holiday." This is not about a holiday, but about a birth. It is not about the changing of seasons but about the changing of hearts. It is not about our human heritage but instead about our spiritual provisions. So when you see me, don't expect to hear anything else but "Merry Christmas."
Christmas is about Jesus. I love all the songs that we have grown to love. I will probably watch some of the reruns of old movies this year. I will enjoy the trees, lights and all the decorations. But beneath it all, I will proudly can without any reservation proclaim that this is Christmas. I will display my nativity scenes. I will give to the poor during this season for Jesus gave of Himself. I will teach my family again the story of His birth. My grandchildren will hear the old story again and again for it will never grow old. It is Christmas.
So if you want to say to the greeter in Wal-mart, "happy holiday", then go ahead. But when you greet me this year, say "Merry Christmas" Please!
By Dr. David Harrison
