It's no secret to Christians that the celebration of Christmas has become quite warped in our society. It has become more secular than ever before with other alternative "meanings" of Christmas. Just turn on your television to watch the newer holiday programming and you'll see how twisted it has become. Sure, they promote good values (most of the time), such as giving to the less fortunate and spending time with family, but one thing you won't hear is the mention of Christ.
Christmas is a fun time to swap gifts and hang out with friends and family, but there's a certain respect we should have towards this holiday that's often lost with the hustle and bustle of the season. Christmas is the celebration of our Savior's entrance into the world, a glorious event that should bring us to a place of awe and worship as we celebrate with one another. That's usually not the case, though.
Christmas has become more and more secular because we Christians have let it. We don't take a Christ centered stance on the meaning of this holiday and passively let the world shape it into something it's not. Christmas should be a time of reflection upon God's Gift to us, but instead we stress about the gifts we're getting for others. Giving to others is great, but there is a problem when we spend more time thinking about presents for others than the reason we are buying them in the first place.
This Christmas, I want to challenge you to choose God's truth over the secular meanings of this holiday. Make an effort to take a stance that this holiday will be about Christ. This doesn't mean preaching a sermon at family dinners and getting your friends only gifts with Bible verses on them; this is more of an attitude you choose that begins on the inside. Our hearts must be looking upon Jesus for our actions and words to reflect Him. Once we center our hearts on Him, we will begin to make Christmas about Christ again.
If you need a little inspiration, read Luke 1:26-2:40. Don't just read it, though. Reflect on it, meditate on the words. Let God speak to your heart through this story, even if you think you already know it. Focus on the reality of it; think of it as an historical account, not just a story we read at Christmas. It will truly change your perspective on Christmas from a busy holiday all about having fun to a reverent time of worship as we reflect on the Prince of Peace coming into the world.
