Do We Still Need Christmas?
December 2020 |
The streets are decorated, stores are busy, commercials are attempting to entice consumers to purchase the newest gadget, phone, toy, or jewelry—it’s Christmas. Some love it, some hate it. With all that’s happened this past year, and with all the uncertainties of the coming year, a question begs to be asked, do we still need Christmas?
Commercialized Christmas
One of the greatest arguments for doing away with modern Christmas celebrations is the charge that Christmas has become too commercialized. “It seems to be all about consumer spending,” people say. “It’s all about finding happiness through gifts.” If you’re a baby boomer, you no doubt remember Christmas 1982. Everybody was trying to purchase those Cabbage Patch Kids. Lines in the stores for those dolls were ridiculous. People were pushing and shoving in an attempt to give away $30 for the newest trend in toys. Every year, retailers dangle different toys and merchandise in front of us in hopes of getting us to part with our hard-earned money. If Christmas is just about retail sales and attempting to purchase happiness, then we need to do away with Christmas.
The Christian Celebration Of Christmas
However, if we’re talking about the true Christian celebration of Christmas, then I say we need it now more than ever. Reading about the incarnation of Christ still moves me. “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). The good news of that day is the good news of today. The gift of the Savior was a gift for all of mankind from that day until now and beyond. The day angels announced the Savior was born—that news will always be worthy of celebrating!
The Greatest Christmas Gift Of All Time
The Son of God came down from heaven so that those who believe in Him could one day go up to heaven. For that to happen, the debt of sin had to be paid. The Child wrapped in swaddling clothes in Bethlehem was the Lamb of God. He came to redeem us through His sacrifice on the cross. “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (I Peter 1:18-19). Jesus is God’s eternal gift to mankind. Salvation, the greatest gift of all time, was paid in full by God.
But Christmas Is Not In The Bible
I can hear people saying, “Christmas is not in the Bible.” “Jesus was not born on December 25.” “It was a pagan holiday!” The gospels are silent on the specific date of the birth of the Savior, but they are not silent on the importance of that day. I don’t care if Jesus was born on October 2, May 6, or June 14. As a society, we have set December as a time to remember the birth of our Savior. Do we really think it matters to our Father which day His children celebrate His Son’s birth?
Day One Of Redemption
Whatever the date was, it brought God’s plan of redemption to mankind. Jesus came for one purpose: to be the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world. I celebrate Jesus in the crib because Jesus went to the cross. The beginning was important, but not as important as the culmination of Jesus’ ministry. I’m talking about the birth, the life, the death, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I celebrate Christmas because of God’s gift given to all who believe—the gift of everlasting life. So, I say we need Christmas. We need to remember the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas!
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