In his article "Being a Jew at Christmas Time" in "Cross Currents" Rabbi Lawrence Hoffman notes that "there is nothing wrong with sleigh bells, Bing Crosby, and Christmas pudding, but I should think that Christians would want more than just that, and as Christmas becomes more and more secularized, I am not sure they get it." He continues, "The real Christmas challenge belongs to Christians: how to take Christmas out of the secularized public domain and move it back to the religious sphere once again."

        It is not easy to keep our focus during the Christmas season. Christmas more often than not gets lost in the season. It has become ever more difficult to separate the traditions from what it is that we are celebrating. In an effort to help us keep our focus on Christ throughout this Christmas season I would like to take some of the trappings of the Christmas season and give some Scriptures to them. This does not suggest that these things have Scriptural base. It is one way that we can let them be reminders of the true meaning of Christmas. Let this effort be a primer for you to use creative ways to accept the challenge of keeping Christmas Christian. (To our readers in other countries, I am sorry that I am not more familiar with your celebrations to include them in these thoughts. I do pray that as I use some from the United States, it will speak to your heart and aid you in the important task of keeping Christmas centered on Christ.)

        Christmas lights glimmer and shimmer on houses, shrubbery, in down towns, and on trees during this wonderful time of the year. Each time you see Christmas lights remember: In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood a it. There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. (John 1:4-9)

        The songs of Christmas fill the air throughout the Christmas season. We speak of the angles singing the good news to the shepherds (though the Scripture actually says saying). Music for Christians is an important part of our worship. God has given us a new song to sing. Therefore, let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16) And do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord. (Ephesians 5:18-19)

        The giving and receiving gifts is a crucial part of the Christmas celebration and so it should be, for Christmas is about the greatest love gift of all: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in a Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23) But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:15-17) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8)
        The Christmas tree is located in a place of prominence in mos

t homes. Each time you sit down and look starry-eyed at the beautifully decorated tree think about the tree that was used to bring us forgiveness and life: He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2:24) We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day. (Acts 10:39)

        Have a Christ-filled Christmas and...

Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry