It's the most wonderful time... of the year...!

Christmas has always fascinated me. It is a season of deep contrasts and as of late, bitter debate among many. For example, for years Christians have been rallying against those who want to say "Merry Xmas" or "Happy Holidays!" This is the time of year when Christians put up signs and wear buttons that say things like: "Let's keep the Christ in CHRISTmas" or "It's okay to say Merry Christmas." Even where I work, we no longer have a Christmas party, we have a Holiday party, even though everyone that I work with celebrates Christmas! It's an interesting struggle to watch year after year.

The other deep contrast that I see unfold lies between gift giving and gift receiving. From kids to adults, a month or more before Christmas, people become obsessed with gift giving... or is it gift receiving? I'm not sure. Most parents struggle and make sacrifices to make sure that their children get the one or two things that they really want. And even though parents who sacrifice for their children, feel a little hint of sadness when they receive socks for Christmas.

These two things are a stark contrast to me - keeping Christ in Christmas and the obsession with gifts.

I John 2:15-17 (New Living Translation)
15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

 I understand that Jesus emptied Himself of all of His riches and gave to us the means to be adopted into His family. My question is, as Christians, are we teaching the emptying of our wallets for temporary happiness, or are we teaching the world through our actions to show compassion to those who don't have. Are we sharing the gospel with the sick, the sad, and the lonely?

This time of year, we struggle to keep Christ in Christmas. Let's also struggle to keep Christ in Christianity and do what Jesus did. Jesus came to reach out to those who were lost an in need of a savior. So let's not forget those who are less fortunate than we are this time of year.

Mark 2:17
When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.