The "Reason for the Season" is the birth of Jesus who came to demonstrate love by being the gift to mankind. Jesus didn't come to receive, but to give. Does that describe the attitude of Christmas worshipers today? I think not!
Previously, I wrote a commentary on the three gifts brought to Christ (Gold, Frankencense and Myrrh). Within that commentary is the meaning of the gifts.: they represent Truth, Purity and Eternal Life, the way I understand their significance. They all were gifts Jesus didn't need, for the world belongs to him already since he is King! They represented the purpose of Jesus, (i.e, the reason for the season)!
Now back to my memories. In my childhood I never worried about the giving of gifts on this one day! Because we were poor it never occurred to me that it was a time to give and receive gifts. We were never taught that that was the meaning of Christmas and it is not! The gift that we gave, and we all gave it abundantly, was love. However, it was not merely at Christmastime, but throughout the year. My memories, indeed of daily life, were that our family of nine seldom had altercations. We truly enjoyed the company of each other and loved each other. With but one exception, that is still the case.
Love makes people happy! It's for the benefit of everyone. It's a gift to give and receive. The magi gave gifts to Jesus to honor the King who was born to provide hope. Jesus's gift to mankind was that "hope". Love is the source of hope, but yet people fail to love Jesus and each other; the greatest commands Jesus made.
Today what emotions are there at Christmastime? Yes, quite a few are into the commercialization and enjoy the season for what they expect to get. Others enjoy it because they like to give. However, in between lies turmoil. People who cannot afford it go in debt to buy. They get in financial difficulty or maybe just waste money on trivial things. People go in debt to buy electronic games and toys for their children who become acclimated to getting. As adults, when they fail to get that of which they have been accustomed, they carry on the spending trait passed on to them. What's worse, children are treated as "the king" and when they grow up they still have delusions of grandeur!
Other people don't buy, but are sad because they can't keep up with the others. We all want to provide for those we love, but when we can't, we feel badly. Kids are taught early to expect things, have little understanding of finances and get angry when they don't get what they want! A child who feels that they deserve gifts are being taught wrong. A parent who gives to children to appease them, are creating wrong-thinking children. The entitlement minded world is a product of people who are accustomed to getting free things!
Christmas became a national holiday in the United States in 1870. What did people do before they were told to celebrate by the government? They did it on their own. Commercialism is a product of government intervention. People did give things before 1870, but since that time, giving and receiving have run amok! Before that the emphasis was on the family, love and Jesus Christ. What people gave was of themselves. It was sincere feelings of adoration and things they made with their own hands.
Most Christians are really concerned with the taking of Christ out of Christmas. I'm sorry people; it's too late! You have already done that, not by the P.C. Police, but of your own accord. Before we address Christ in Christmas, let's address the "mas". Christmas is "Christ Mass". Mass is a Catholic religious service. They gathered together to "remember" Jesus by the taking of the elements of the Eucharist. They are doing that "in remembrance" (Luke 22:19) of Jesus! That's a good thing.
Protestants don't have "mass" because of doctrinal differences on what the elements are. Most non-catholics do not believe in transubstantiation; that the elements are physically changed into the body and blood of Jesus as they are partaken. However, we do believe in "Communion", remembering Jesus with The Last Supper. Most Christians have already taken the "mass" out of Christmas since many, mostly non-catholic churches, cancel services for the holidays. Few have Christmas Eve services and fewer yet have Christmas services. Worse yet, Christians even, fail to even remember Christ on his birthday! When I prepare a Christmas message for my family, it seems an inconvenience for some.
IAmericans demand that Christmas remain institutionalized, yet fail to honor Jesus; and it's his birthday; not ours! They don't want to "take the 'Christ' our of 'Christmas'".
The "mass" in Christ Mass" is long gone. Since "the remembrance of him" is gone, I submit that Christ was long ago removed from Christmas because "the remembrance" is gone! We demand that people leave the words in, but the person Jesus is long forgotten. Love has been replaced by greed and charity by commercialization. What should Christmas truly be called? How about "Me-idolization". It's because so many think about the corporate "Me's" that we celebrate Christmas! Our "self" is our god and our flesh is our idol, at least for those who abuse the occasion (If that's not you don't be offended, but if that is you, reflect on it!)
Many of my commentaries are about "other gods". ( See Love Circle). The "other gods" at the time of original sin were Adam and Eve (Genesis 4:23). It was their flesh for which which they sought good things and pleasure. Their idol was their own flesh! That's our idol too!
Romans 7:5 "For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.""The flesh" is "the motions of sins". It's when we pleasure our selves. The flesh, then, is the idol to which we bow, but the flesh represents our other god (Yes, we still acknowledge Jesus too). Scripture does say "when we were in the flesh". When we are born again, that flesh was supposed to be "the living sacrifice", or our gift to Jesus! When we give the flesh, Jesus gives eternal life. Now are you beginning to see what Christmas is all about? It's about Jesus, but the gift from him has already been given, but most have refused it; the gift of eternal life!
For those who have received that gift, some still miss "the reason for the season". I am guilty of that! This Christmas I am not having "mass". I'm not eating of the element (food). I am going to remember. I plan on spending some of the day praying and studying the word. That's a small sacrifice, and others will think I'm a curmudgeon, but I am planning that. It may not be ALL day, but it will be part of the day. That won't punch my ticket to heaven. It has already been punched. That's my "thank you" for the free ticket!
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