I've been hearing a lot of talk about the excess of Christmas. People spend, spend, spend, and celebrate, celebrate, celebrate, all at the expense (so I'm told) of the true meaning of Christmas. But I gotta confess . . . I disagree. Whether anyone at Target will admit it as they're snowblowing a path through the mounds of cash blocking the way to their Happy Holidays vault, this season is all about Christ. His birth was awesome.
To celebrate, people spend. They decorate. They give ridiculously expensive gifts in front of lavishly adorned fake and/or dead trees. They wear silly clothes. And I got news for you . . . that ain't an American custom. That's Old Testament, baby.Crazy outfits, endless parades of valuable gifts, strange rituals you just can't explain the meaning behind . . . sounds like a Tabernacle dedication to me. That weird stuff is just how people celebrate God. Granted, your heart is supposed to be in the right place, but you know what? The holiday isn't about my heart. It's about Jesus. You let me worry about the condition of my heart, and keep going overboard with the celebrating of Christmas. Don't wait for me to be holy before you start making a big deal out of the birth of Christ.
Someone, somewhere is asking how any of it relates to the story of Christ's birth, and to you I say this: He's the only reason we're doing it. What does cake have to do with me being born? What does a tail being pinned to a donkey's hindquarters have to do with me being born? (Don't answer that.) What does candle blowing, invite sending, gift opening, wish making, butt spanking, happy-birthday-song-copyright infringing, card writing, face stuffing, and pole dancing (don't ask) have to do with anyone anywhere being born? It's fun, that's what. When something cool happens, having fun is a great way to celebrate. However you decide to show it, that's the perfect way for you.
People who are out of touch with Jesus celebrate His birth by celebrating in an out-of-touch way, and it's wonderful. Atheists celebrate by being extra obstinate when people say Christmas . . . it's their way of saying, "We have to bring something to the party." Thank you, Atheists. Pious people celebrate by being extra sanctimonious. It's fantastic . . . everyone's true colors come out during Christmas. The ultimate display of who you choose to be comes shining through at Christmas. It's kind of like the rocks and trees of your personality crying out to praise Him. None of this would be possible without Jesus. Without Him, nothing that was made would be made. When it comes to celebrating Jesus, there can be no excess. Everything's mere existence bears testimony to His redemptive power.
So don't tell anyone they're celebrating Christmas wrong. Just let people pour their ridiculously priced perfume on His feet and wipe it off with their hair. Yeah, it's weird, but He's worth it.
