Let’s have Christ centred Christmas

Christmas is derived from the old English words Cristes maesse, “Christ’s Mass”. Christmas is a Christian festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. Present spelling of Christmas probably came into use around the 16th century.

Though primarily a Christian celebration occasioned by singing Christmas carols, church services, conventions, family gatherings, sharing and so on, there is a growing trend towards secularisation, especially in the Western world, it is increasingly becoming politically correct not to mention CHRISTmas; ‘happy holidays’ and perhaps ‘Merry Xmas’ is fast becoming the norm.

There is a seemingly dominant focus on business (the commercialisation of Christmas), on ‘Santa Claus’, ‘the rain deer’ and wild entertainment and so on to the neglect of the real reason for the season.

This growing trend, well-meaning Christians must disassociate from. Dr David Jeremiah stated thus: “All the Christmas presents in the world are worth nothing without the presence of Christ.

Thomas S. Monson opined: “finding the real joy in Christmas comes not in the hurrying and the scurrying to get more done, nor is it found in the purchasing of gifts. We find real joy when we make the saviour the focus of the season.”

It is a season for remembering his first advent. As a consequence, Christ must remain central in our celebrations.

Christ is, and must remain the reason for the season. It is his legendary birth we celebrate. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6, NIV).

Such glorious news! Such a glorious event!

In the light of such a glorious event as eternity stepping into time, Martin Luther the 16th century reformer and theologian posited: “oh, we poor people that we should be so cold and indifferent to this great joy that has been given us. For this is indeed the greatest gift, which far exceeds all else that God has created.

Yet we believe so sluggishly, even though the angels proclaim and preach and sing, and their lovely songs sum up the whole Christian faith, for ‘Glory to God in the highest’ is the very heart of worship.”

Paradoxically, we are the reason for the season. This is because Christ was born for our sake. We are the reason he came. The world renowned evangelist, Billy Graham, was right when he stated: “The very purpose of Christ’s coming into the world was that he might offer up His life as a sacrifice for the sins of men. He came to die. This is the heart of Christmas.”

Amidst the cheers and laughter, the joys and merry making, the words of Vance Havner should ring a bell: “Christmas is based on an exchange of gifts, the gift of God to man – His unspeakable gift of his son, and the gift of man to God – when we ªpresent our bodies a living sacrifice.”

As John R. Rice rightly observed: “You can never truly enjoy Christmas until you can look up into the Father’s face and tell him you have received his Christmas gift.”

The Christmas gift herein is in reference to Jesus Christ. We must make room in our hearts for our blessed saviour.

Nothing should be done that contravenes the tenets of the Christian faith. Make this season count for something good, and in a Christ-honouring way.

Look out for creative and wholesome ways to make this Christmas season a pleasantly memorable one. Be a blessing to someone; put a smile on someone’s face. Above all else, never lose focus on our blessed saviour.

The extraordinary birth of the saviour of the world (Jesus Christ) is worth celebrating. Let no one convince you otherwise. Celebrate it with pride and gusto. Celebrate it with meaning. Merry Christmas!!!