BAH HUMBUG! A Better Way To Celebrate Christmas

I wish for all this Christmas a celebration devoid of unnecessary tinsel and pomp.

Silver Bells, Jingle Bells, Frosty The Snow Man, The Abominable Snowman, The Grinch, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, The Grinch, Roasting Chestnuts , Christmases of White, Santa Claus, Sugarplums, Piggy Pudding, Stockings, Trees, Flocked or Not, Tinsel, Angel Hair, Christmas lights, bulbs, mantels, boughs of Holly, wreaths, mistletoe, sleighs and sleds, gifts and wrapping, wassail punch, egg nog, mulled cider, Christmas cards, cookies, candy, candy canes, Christmas geese, turkeys, hams, Secret Santa, Yankee Swaps, Dirty Santa, Christmas sales, bazaars, 34th Street Miracle, Ebeneezer Scrooge, A Wonderful Life..... on and on it goes. Considering the cultural importance we attach to the supposed celebration of the birth of Christ, I must ask the same question as the Magi in Matthew 2:2, "Where is He born the King of the Jews?"
There really must be a better way to celebrate CHRISTMAS. 2006 was my last year of being involved in all the extra. As I get older I really appreciate the simplicity of celebration. Celebration is an acknowledgement of the significance of the day. I think when we add all the cultural amenities and the exorbitant expense that the American culture dictates, we lose something in the acknowledgement of the day. I have found that the major thing gets obscured in the tinsel. I am reminded of the late Rev. E. V. Hill, former pastor of the Mount Zion Baptist Church in South Central, Los Angelos, California. He encopuraged his congregants to take the names of families that he had acquired from the welfare office, folk in the hospital and others in difficult situations to bring the gift of Christmas to them. He claimed a richer and more fulfilling celebration of the day in his church and his own life following that effort.

The LORD announced the birth of the Christ with an angelic host praising GOD and saying: "Glory to God in the Highest! Peace on earth and goodwill towards men." Luke 2:10-14 I don't think it is without significance that the glorious birth announcement of Christ was initially delivered to the lowly, despised and disregarded shepherds. Shepherds were so poorly thought of that they were considered unsuitable as a witness in the court of law; so ireputable was their honor. They were considered dirty, prone to theft, resolute liars and generally unreliable as employees. It was to them that the initial witness of the birth of the Savior of the World was given. In GOD the Father's celebration of the birth of His Son he made His grace known to men of ill repute. I like that. I choose now to celebrate the day by being a blessing to the Merrimack Mission in Boston. They are known as Kingston House, 39 Kingston Street, Boston, MA. For one hundred years they have done the work of the LORD by taking in the homeless, feeding the hungry, preaching the gospel to those who need the good news. This they do without great pomp. They don't have exorbitant salaries, private jets, 50,000.00 marble toilets nor do they charge the people they help a fee for the service. Lives are changed and daily souls are added to the church. Kingston House simply announces the birth of Christ daily by being available to those in the city who are desperately in need. I like that. I think its in keeping with the day and it is also in line with Christ's announcement of His Kingdom, Isaiah 61 and Luke 4:18; "The Spirit of the LORD God is upon me to preach good tidings to the meek...bind up the broken hearted."


Where is Jesus in all of this excess, indebtedness, commercialism, mammon worship, greed and banqueting? I find it harder and harder every year to discern His face in all of the busy-ness. Jesus is very near when we show love to someone who is in need. Feeding the hungry is a work of the LORD. Helping someone to find the savior is certainly the LORD's work. I don't mean to imply that while you are running from Lord and Taylor to Macy's to Nordstrom's to Sacks, to Neiman's looking for the perfect gift for Uncle Luther or Cousin Addie that you are not doing a loving thing. I think the birth of the Savior is worth doing something that will count for all eternity. It's worth doing something that can be directed to the Savior's very mission.

The very fact that we have to remind ourselves and others with, "Jesus is the Reason for the Season" speaks to how lost He is in a lot of the season's traditions. I am changing the way I celebrate. My focus has shifted. It's my choice and my soul is happy about it.... I don't know about my family and circle of friends..........Pray for me.

"Thanks be unto GOD for His unspeakable gift." 2 Corinthians 9:15