PK’s Ponderings
Happy Incarnation Day!
Ask an average group of
people the meaning of Christmas, and yes, a few will, either initially, or eventually,
answer that Christmas is about the birth of Jesus the Christ. But by and large, most answers will revolve
around the following: family,
cheerfulness, snow, Frosty, Santa, reindeer, decorated trees, parades,
gingerbread houses, listening to I’m
Dreaming of a White Christmas, watching It’s
A Wonderful Life, sending annual greeting cards updating friends with
what’s happening, a break from school and work, parties, company bonuses and on
and on the list could go. All of which
are fine, and might even elicit warm feelings, but the problem is, they have
NOTHING to do with God the Son descending in human form in order to die for our
sins!
That last phrase is the true
meaning of Christmas. Which is why I
have not been impressed with so-called “victories” to get “Christ back in
Christmas”, particularly with Target. This
is not a “light penetrating the dark” event, or a “salt influencing the world”
moment. All that has happened, is that a
secular business, afraid of losing money, not out of a true fear of God, has
inserted a word back into it’s advertising, public promotions, and public
greetings for next year. Such a victory is a hollow one. Christmas, without an understanding of Who
Christ is, or why He came, is a celebration in ignorance. In other words, “victory” can only be
declared when Target or Lowes actually begins to promote Jesus of Nazareth as
the Sacrificial Lamb that takes away the sin of the world! When Sears or K-mart begins to donate
portions of their profits to evangelical mission causes which promote
repentance and faith in Jesus Christ – then I’ll begin to consider the possibility
of any real “victory” for the Person of Christ.
As long as we are content with making an individual or a business use
the word “Christmas” without recognizing the meaning behind it, we are only
helping them commit the sin of hypocrisy.
Let us not be self-deceived into living in a comfortable cocoon of
righteous sentimentality because the world is willing to use the same words we
do, but change the meanings!
“Well, if we get someone to say Merry Christmas –
isn’t that a victory?” Not if they don’t know what Christmas is
about. They could say Merry Christmas,
and be thinking of the family get-together, or singing Jingle Bells at the office party, or simply be overcome by
sentiment. Just because a person, or a
business, uses the word “Christmas”
does not mean that they are honoring the Person
of Christ. Take for example a recent
conversation I overheard between an owner of a business and a customer at the
register. The store is a small one, so
it was not difficult for me to hear what was being said. The two of them were talking about the
events going on at the Synagogue (read Jewish – not observing Jesus as the
Savior) and yet the customer transitioned into how she was excited about
Christmas this year because her children were getting old enough now to really
enjoy opening their gifts! Now, she is
going to enjoy “Christmas”, but not with Christ, so is she really celebrating
Christmas even though she uses the word?
Of course not!
“So, PK, what would you
have us to do?” Here are some quick suggestions:
- Guard
your own heart to honor Christ as central during this season. This
is hard work, when the whole culture around us shrouds Christ away, we
must, almost daily, work at keeping Him clearly central in our thoughts,
our conversations and in our behaviors.
- Think
about what really ought to be associated with Christmas. Do not move through this season going from one sentimental moment
to the next, swallowing every Hallmark moment, as a true celebration of
Christmas. Sift through the glitz
and glitter, the traditions and trappings, the office party, the
tear-jerking movies about family relationships, and all that calls itself
Christmas to find, and think upon, and meditate over that which glorifies
Jesus as Lord. Not everything ought to be associated
with the Savior’s Birth just because it falls in the month of
December. Recently, in our own
community news was made because a local school was no longer going to
refer to the annual Beauty Pageant as the “Miss Merry Christmas Beauty
Pageant.” Others were up in arms
that Christmas was being taken out of the event. I, for one, was thankful. What on earth does a beauty pageant have
to do with the birth of Jesus? Was
that why there was no room in the inn – it was all booked with beauty
queens in town for a contest? Let
us not be guilty of cheapening the birth of Christ by attaching it to
every possible activity. Let us as
Christians make sure that the word “Christmas” actually means something
when it is used. Christians ought
to think through and be discerning about what is culturally considered appropriate
as Christmas and what is biblically accurate and therefore appropriate to
associate with Christ and His birth.
Instead of being upset that some things are no longer being labeled
as “Christmas such-and-such”, we Christians should want to guard the word
Christmas to be used only for those activities and moments that actually
point to and exalt Jesus as the one born to be King of Kings and Lord of
Lords. In our effort to save the
use of the word “Christmas, let us not be among those who are unknowingly
enabling those who are watering down the meaning of Christmas by attaching
the word to everything under the sun for marketing and sentimental
purposes.
- Descend
into someone else’s life. Christ descended from Heaven to bring us
hope and cause for joy. During
these days, get involved in someone else’s life to bring them hope and
joy. Maybe volunteer at a homeless
shelter. Or take in a widowed
neighbor for a meal during these days.
Participate in the Angel Tree project. Give and write to missionaries,
encouraging them as they take the Good News of Jesus Christ around the
world. And when asked “Why are you
doing this?” – you have the opportunity to share
Jesus, the reason for hope and true joy during this season and for all
eternity.
- Change
your vocabulary. Instead of exchanging “Merry Christmas”
greetings with everyone, not really being sure if the two of you have the
same understanding of Christmas in mind, try saying “Happy Incarnation
Day!” I got this idea from someone
else, it’s not original. But the
point is to make others around you think upon what Christmas is all about. When you come out with “Happy
Incarnation Day!” it very well might bring out a “Happy what Day?” from the other person. This brings about an opportunity to
discuss the real meaning of Christmas – The Son of God was born as Man to
reconcile all who believe to the Father.
Now, I’m not advocating changing all the hymns and songs regarding
Christmas, too many syllables are involved. But I am advocating that if we really
want society around us to truly honor Christmas – sorry, I mean Incarnation Day, maybe they really need
to know what it’s all about to begin with.
All right, I think I
have said enough, and maybe too much. On
to other topics for the next PK
Ponderings. Good news to some, I’m sure. Until then, “Happy Incarnation Day!”
