Happy Holy-day?

"Christmas  is coming, the goose is getting fat" as has the culture around us. Sometimes it seems  as though the things we love about this celebrated event have little to do with the original purpose of Christmas as a celebration meant to influence pagan culture for the Lord Jesus Christ. Rather the opposite effect has invaded as leaven the Holy-day celebration of the birth of God's only "begotten Son."

As you look nostalgically upon the season of Christmas I encourage you to discern the “spirit of Christmas.” “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God …” (1 John 4:1) There are certainly many honorable traditions that remind us of the incarnate birth. And not to be a Scrooge, but often times certain aspects of Christmas greatly distract from and undermine a true celebration of The Lord Jesus Christ’s birth. Hold up the Apostle John’s test to Christmas traditions that are often times held above our remembrance of God’s only begotten Son. Black Friday bustle fueled by  the expectation of the best presents, Santa, parades, glorious displays of lights; but for whose glory? Is God honored and Christ’s incarnation (becoming human) remembered by the majority of secular traditions that govern many a “Christian home” this time of year? Take care to remember, this innocent babe did not stay in His manger. Would the God of all mankind who gave up His throne to become a servant unto death be honored by commercialism and busyness? Choose well brothers and sisters how you will look forward to this Holy-day season. And, as our friend Charlie Brown has endeavored to find, keep the true meaning of Christmas, The Incarnate Word, Jesus Christ, in every tradition to which you hold fast.

“By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.” (1 John 4:2-3)

Blessings,

Kurt