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When Christ is Missing from Christmas
Is making sugar cookies with the family, caroling at church or binge watching all the Hallmark movies your favorite Christmas tradition? Or maybe it's decorating the tree and wearing matching jammies! Wait wait wait, you can't forget watching Elf and Miracle on 34th Street....awww there are so many!
Christmas has become a season of traditions. So many in fact, the origin of such traditions is unknown!
Many of the traditions we have established over the years are unique and special ways that we celebrate the Christmas season.
But do you ever feel like something is missing?
DISCLAIMER
If you decide to read further, please know I am writing from a perspective as a Christ follower and incorporating the importance of including Christ not just in the celebration, but completely focusing on Him as the celebrated One.
This Christmas season, God's been revealing to me the very breakdown of the word Christ-mas. Which has thus highlighted the word 'mas'.
The comedy movie, Shanghai Noon, is one I've watched many times and laughed every single time! It stars Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson, two very well-known actors.
There is a scene where these two are playing a game, and to continue in the game they say 'uno mas', for just 'one more'.
Now, why did I tell you that? Because it's absolutely ridiculous yet so very funny! When Jackie Chan's final 'uno mas' is uttered, it's followed by a bubble popping from his mouth.
Also, because anytime I hear 'mas', I can't help but think of that silly scene or of the many times in Spanish class that 'mas' was one of the very few words I could translate.
With all the traditions that surround us and pull us in many different directions, it happens all too easily that Christ gets overshadowed by our own plans. Whether we've done it on purpose or not, our celebrations have slowly been eliminating Christ out of Christmas!
So, if Christ is missing from Christmas, what is left? Simply 'mas.'
And 'mas' means more. So more of what?
Well sadly, the answer to that question is...
US! You and me both, sister!
DID YOU KNOW...
In the early days of the Christian church, Christians used the letter 'X' as a secret symbol to indicate their membership in the church, much like the Jesus Fish.
The Greek meaning of 'X' is 'Chrīstos' which means Christ.
When Christ is eliminated from any equation, we are left with the cruel reality of our own sinful selves. (Yikes!) Which we then begin to fill with our wants and desires in order to fill the void that only Christ can fill.
We do this with traditions that generally don't point us in the direction that we need to be focusing. That doesn't mean traditions are wrong by any means, just that we need to keep in perspective why we are partaking in these various activities.
Growing up, we never put presents under the Christmas tree. My parents told us they didn't want our focus or thoughts to be consumed by all the gifts under the tree. As a kid, I wasn't a fan. Now, as a Mom myself, I welcome this tradition.
This year, as we were decorating the Christmas tree. Each ornament that was pulled out of the box had memories. Significant moments of each year that my husband and I have been together and building our own family.
Some brought laughter and fun memories, others reminded us of loss and change that was difficult.
Then we got to the nativity scene. A wooden nativity that I inherited from my late Grandma. My oldest son volunteered to set this up. And as we've done in the past, it always goes under the tree, in place of the presents.
As he assembled each character in their own place around the manger, he asked me "Mom, why do we put this under the tree again?"
The question itself didn't stump me, but what did was the knot in my throat when I began to explain.
"What do you usually see under the tree at Christmas?" I asked him. Entering into the conversation my girls chimed in, "GIFTS!"
"Yes, that's right," I said. "But what is the best gift we receive at Christmas?"
As if it clicked for each one of my kids, their faces beamed with the truth as my son acknowledged, "Jesus is."
Sweet friends, if Jesus is the best gift you've ever received, is that being celebrated first and foremost in your Christmas traditions?
That doesn't mean you dismiss any and all of your traditions, I am not the Grinch, I promise! It merely means to be more intentional. I am preaching to the choir here, so don't think I am singling anyone out! However, God's been tugging at my heart strings to illuminate Christ this Christmas!
As followers of Christ we are called to be Christ-like. Ephesians 5:1-2 Paul tells us to "Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us..."
Christ came as a babe, born in such a humbling manner, yet only to be groomed for slaughter. Slaughter for sins of which none were His own, yet He took full punishment for each and every one of them on the cross. His love for you! For me! Has given us the BEST GIFT we could ever possibly imagine.
And that all started on a cold winter night, in a lowly manger.
This Christmas season, I want you to ask yourself one simple question:
Is Christ missing in YOUR Christmas?
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Reflective Questions
- Where is your mindset this Christmas? Are you consumed by the planning, decorating, buying and wrapping gifts and all the things? If so, how can you simplify all the things to focus on The One Truth King?
- Being Christ-like means to love others. In a season that many find joy, there are countless others that are heavy burdened. How can you love others like Christ this Christmas season?
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Challenge
Choose ONE thing you can do each day this week to intentionally find Christ and bring Him back into your celebration this Christmas!
Change can be a difficult thing, especially when traditions have been practiced for years. But friend, I want to encourage you to start small. Something as simple as gratitude. Gratitude to the best gift we've been given! Check out this moving performance by Brandon Lake.
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I truly enjoy reading your posts! I am thankful to have a friend who encourages me to dig deeper into my faith and who helps remind me where my focus should be, not just at Christmas but every day. Love the nativity set passed down from your Grandma ❤️