“Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long,” states Psalm 25:5.
Some pastors teach during this season not to get caught up in the ways of the world during this holiday. Others wholeheartedly embrace Christmas or what is known as Kwanza. I’ve not celebrated Christmas for many years. Now, I did enjoy Christmas in my younger years. And even now I sometimes get nostalgic thinking about the times long ago when our entire family spent the day at my grandmother’s house in front of the fireplace opening gifts.
As I’ve grown in age, my gloss over my eyes have been removed. I began to notice the frenzy that comes with Christmas. The commercials to boost sales began before Thanksgiving. In some stores, holiday decorations were on display on the last day of October. The Christmas songs emanate from the speakers to influence us to buy things we didn’t consider before we walked into the store. Everything has now become what I will get for Christmas. Children are told that they will only get toys if they’ve been good and are lied to about who bears their gifts.
We keep saying Jesus is the reason for the season, but I don’t see where Christ is being honored. Some have santa clause, wreaths, trees, and reindeer all around their house. What do any of those things have to do with our Lord and Savior? Do any of us know the day Christ was born? Absolutely not! Do you know the origins of the day we’ve celebrated for years known as Christmas? Do you know the significance of the tree, where santa came from, how reindeer were introduced? It began as a pagan celebration, but Christians have fully embraced the day to celebrate the birthday of Christ. Do the research and your will find varying explanations as to the origins of the holiday.
At this day and age, this is the biggest time of the year for retailers. Those that are in the hole expect to come out on top in just a short time period. Marketers spend million trying to lure you into the store to buy, buy, buy. It’s all a game of manipulation. We buy gifts with money we don’t have. We spend money on people we really don’t care about while our children don’t have money saved up to cover the cost of college. Folks run around madly shopping for a gift, something cheap, but special. We often go into debt then spend years trying to get out of it. I heard it at church over the weekend, “Happy Birthday… Macy’s, Target, WalMart, Saks, and even the Dollar Tree.” This is what it boils down to. There isn’t any advertisement that mentions the birth of Christ. Happy Holidays! Merry X-mas!
Some of you may take offense to this post. I know what my truth is. You have to decide for yourself what you will continue to do. I will not judge nor condemn. I just know for myself that I will not fall into the trap of being manipulated to buy gifts and celebrate the day just because the world does it and it is traditional. Now, I will spend the day with my family, but not partake of the “festivities”. I don’t knock anyone for celebrating the day. I just know what my truth is, and hope to enlighten others. It’s your decision whether you accept the information I’ve presented or not. Just don’t kill the messenger.
John 17:16-17 says, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” We are in the world, but are not under any obligation to be of it. Do you want to walk in the light of truth or continue in the traditions of man because it’s easier to do so? What say you?