Today is Decembers 5th; which means there is 20 days left till Christmas. Though it does not feel like December, this may be because I am now living in Thailand which only has 3 seasons, hot, hotter, and extremely hot. What I really enjoy being in Thailand is that it is fare less “commercialized” than that States. I used to work in a Meijer and the day after Thanksgiving all the Christmas decorations were brought out. I know because I had to be at work at 3am to mark down the Thanksgiving merchandise and put up the Christmas trees. Thailand still has its commercialization (see the link for a video), but its timid compared to what I have seen working in the West.
What I want to contemplate is what it does it meant “ it feel like Christmas”. My belief, or should I say my belief stems from C.S. Lewis and his writings on Christmas: that there are 2 Christmases each year. One people from all over the world remember that their God and Savior became Incarnate, to bring his kingdom down here own earth. The other Christmas is the one of merry making and gift giving and of eating sugary baked goods. I find nothing wrong with the second Christmas, in fact the Christian Church of the ages passed; pillaged, or should I say robbed or better yet Reclaimed December as a “Christian holiday”. Originally December 25 was the birthday of the Sun. “ Saturnalia, the Roman winter festival of 17-21 of December, provided the merriment, gift giving and candles typical of later Christmas holidays” (History of Christianity, pg 141). The Rob Bell video tells you more about how closely related Christian traditions overlap with pagan ones (first 3 min though the whole clip is worth watching)
I just get the feeling that so many Christians are so caught up in the second Christmas that they forget what CHRISTMAS is all about.
“Too many pastors, music directors, and rank-and-file Christians miss this point. We wander happily through the weeks of Advent, buying gifts, trimming trees, throwing out Aunt Ethel’s fruitcake, and listening to Eartha Kitt warble “Santa Baby.” All good fun, of course, but what we often miss is the huge, central truth of Christmas: the fact that the birth of Christ represents an invasion of Planet Earth—an assault on territory occupied by a violent and vicious enemy, Satan” (Breakpoint).
Christmas is all about God coming down to earth as flesh and blood as the incarnation, as Immanuel God is with us!
The birth of Jesus is a glorious moment, and the manger scene brings comfort and joy and Christmas cheer. But it should also inspire a holy terror in us—that this Baby, born in the manger, was the thrilling signal that God had invaded the Planet Earth. This baby is God incarnate, the mighty King who came to set the captives free through His cruel, bloody death on the cross as atonement for us, His unworthy subjects.
As the Christmas season nears reflect that this babe in the manger did not stay a babe but became a man who suffered, died, was burred, 3 days later was raised to new life and 40 days later ascended to heaven.
"We are not as Christ-centered and cross-cherishing as we should be, because we do not ponder the truth that everything good, and everything bad that God turns for the good, was purchased by the sufferings of Christ."
— John Piper
See that all the merry making, gift giving , weight gaining from the delicious food and the friendships enjoyed are because of Christ’s work on the cross. Enjoy all the many gifts that Christ has lavished on us However, may our joy be centered on Jesus and Christ alone. May our joy be because that we have Immanuel, God is with us!
