Luke 2:7

"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

It seems to me as Christmas time approaches it gets more dis-heartening each year to see the steady decline of any recognition of the birth of Christ. The stores seem to be starting their sales earlier each year and the decorations get bigger and brighter each year. Through all the hype and commercialism that pervades it is quite obvious that there is "No Room for Jesus" on the very day that we are supposedly celebrating His birth. I have heard all of the justifications about how we can spiritualize all the commercialism away, but it has never held water. We have created elaborate stories how the candy cane has a great spiritual meaning. We have heard the spiritualization of gift giving and how it relates to the "Wise Men" giving gifts to Jesus. Have we missed the point though? The gifts were given to the Savior of the world and each gift had a genuine spiritual application. Are we doing the same with our gift giving? Why do we not give our gifts to Christ? I have heard all the so-called spiritual applications of the Christmas tree, the candy cane, and even Santa Clause. Regardless of how much these justifications are emphasized and promoted they are false and all have man made pagan origins. We give gifts just for the sake of not wanting to appear cheap. We spend what we really don't have because it is expected of us by society. We get stressed wondering if we got the right gifts for the right people and if they will be happy with them. We spend outrageously and go in debt for what? Does this honor Christ and His birth? Are we really thinking of Christ when we stand in the long checkout lines and get the credit card bills? For some yes! We think of Him when we are praying that He provides the money to pay the bills. I am sorry but I cannot believe that this is pleasing to Jesus. If the church will not put an end to this charade who will? If those that are called by His name will not stop bowing to the pressures of societal commercialism will the world do it? Take a step back for one minute and look at what society and the world has done to Christmas and Easter. They have completely taken Jesus out of it and replaced it with the Easter Bunny and Santa and the church has sit back and allowed it. What is worse is that the church has not only allowed it but has jumped in with both feet and joined it. I know that there are some that will come back and try to use this as a justifiable defense; "We should celebrate Christ's birth everyday." True, but if we cannot try to right a wrong in society on one day, how can we live it every day? How can we truly understand the significance of Christ's birth or relay that to the world if we are promoting the wrong concept with them? The idea to some to not celebrate as the world does is frightening. Yet the very one who's birth we are supposed to be honoring commanded us to be the example to this world. He said that we are not supposed to be like the world and that the world would hate us. I will go as far as to say that this letter has made some should be "fellow believers" angry at my viewpoint. That is why Galatians 1:10 has become a scripture I lean on. Has anyone ever thought about asking Jesus if this is what He wants, after all it is all about Him right? My only purpose has always been to prod believers to walk deeper and to be examples and lights to the world. I am as the apostle Paul stated of himself the least of the brethren but I strive to be what God wants me to be. Please pray for me and God bless you all. Adam

Bible Headquarters