Christmas

"Peace on earth good will toward men." This popular phrase is often found in songs this time of year or read on Christmas cards. It is used to bring hope and encouragement to the minds of people worldwide. Yet, there seems to be little peace around the world or time for millions of people who choose to rush from place to place, spending more money on gifts for people who possibly have too much already. Most retail businesses and the entertainment world hopes to capitalize on the hearts of people during this season of giving and self-indulgence.

All the different religions of the world seem to find a reason to celebrate during this season of the year also, including the Jewish people with their Hanukkah. However, December 25th was originally the festival of Winter Solstice, a pagan holiday celebrating their gods and the beginning of the winter season. But Christianity decided to make it the birthday of Jesus, needing a reason to celebrate along with the pagans. Then Santa Claus arrived with his eight reindeer to bring gifts to all the children of the world to compete with Baby Jesus. Later three wise men showed up, a little late as usual. Then Ms. Claus and the elves got jealous along with Frosty the Snowman, who came bopping onto the scene. While everyone was dreaming of a White Christmas, and children were counting the presents under the decorated Christmas tree; the homeless people just hoped for a warm meal and a warm place to sleep.

Every year Christmas just keeps growing like the proverbial snowball rolling down a gigantic hill, collecting input from the cosmos and every religion of the world as it continues rolling through December. Faster and faster, bigger and better—when and where it stops, God only knows. But we must understand that He never started it in the first place; man did. Somehow God's Holy Days have been forgotten by most people and replaced by man's holidays. But that will change in due time; God is no fool.

I didn't always feel this way about Christmas. As a child growing up in California, I used to love all the decorations and the presents. I enjoyed all the songs and the spirit of joy people seemed to express. Most people seem to forget their cares and enjoy just being with each other. When I became a Christian, I focused more on the Christian view, and left Santa looking for his way back to the North Pole. After getting married and having a daughter, my focus changed again. I had someone to share memories with; seeing the joy on my daughter's face was our delight. 

After I built my dream house, I started decorating it with Christmas lights, more and more each year, and the neighbors loved it and I enjoyed it too. But something was changing. I found myself trying to make myself happy, instead of being happy. There was no peace inside me. I appeared to have everything and yet I wasn't really happy. My marriage and my faith had gone south for the winter, and stayed. Everything from then on became a show or a pretense, like the snowman we made in the front yard by the decorated trees.

By the time I was almost 40 I was miserable; I could have played the role of Scrooge. I was determined to be happy, doing things I never thought I would do. It didn't help either, it only made me feel worse. Finally one night, when I was indulging in my selfish behavior, an old friend came knocking on my heart's door. It was the Prince of Peace, and he said to me, "It's now or never!" I knew what he meant and I immediately got up and left with my Prince—Jesus Christ.

Things have not been the same since then. Everything began to change, even my thoughts about Christmas. That year we took the money we would normally spend on ourselves and on family members, and purchased gifts of food and warm clothes to give to the homeless people is downtown Seattle. It was the best experience we ever had, seeing the expression of joy and thankfulness on the faces of people who had nothing; yet they were God's children too. Then God stripped away many of my possessions, including my dream house. He then taught me how to really trust him for everything and be grateful.

A few years later, God gave us a new home in the foothills (wilderness) of the mountains. As I spent more time with Him, He taught me things I never realized. He also gave me a special friend, Sheldon David, who also greatly helped me in my walk of faith. A couple years later I realized why I wasn't happy anymore at Christmas time. It was because Jesus wasn't there. 

God never intended for us to celebrate Jesus' birthday. It was just another religious concept for many Christians to celebrate along with the world. This revelation did not go well with the rest of my family. Even though they understood the facts (previously stated), they saw no harm in celebrating it; besides many popular ministers and ministries continued to believe it's OK. Not to mention, a whole lot of emotions that are tied to the sweet nativity scenes, the memorable songs, and the beautiful decorations, all of which are just too much for most Christians to give up—but others have, and even more will as they fall in love with Jesus (and no longer with the holiday). I believe it is God's desire that we love all people, spend less on ourselves, and give to the needy all year around, and to celebrate life with Jesus everyday. (Jer. 10:2-4) God also hates our religious festivals/holidays. (Amos 5:21 NLB). Jesus taught us that narrow is the gate to life and broad is the path that leads to destruction.

Unfortunately, many don't see it that way when they're on the broad path—choosing to ignore scriptures and warning signs (some just don't care). I'm not saying that anyone will go to hell for believing in Christmas or by celebrating it. However, Jesus did say that he only did and said what he saw the Father doing. (He never told anyone to celebrate His birthday.) It is also my desire; to serve God the best I know how by following Jesus' example. 

The one thing I have now that I never had before is PEACE. True peace of mind. Not as the world gives, but only as Jesus can give. Now I also don't have to rush around in traffic, looking for a parking space, trying to find the right gift in crowded stores; when I have the best gift—the Prince of Peace to share with others.

My prayer for you is that you will consider what I've said. Or maybe you too will want to know Jesus as your Savior and your Prince of Peace. It's never to late to start to know Him.

Note: I wrote this article a year ago, and had the most hits on my blog sight that day. But after they read the article, most no longer felt like reading further articles of mine, it only proved how strongly people feel about Christmas, one of their golden calves. The truth is many Christians and ministries still chose to believe in celebrating Christmas despite the facts and the truth. Old habits and man-made traditions are hard to break and very few are willing to break away from the crowd and the emotions tied to the Christmas spirit.

In the Old Testament some kings of Israel tried to restore true worship  by tearing down false gods and idol during their reign that people had made or brought in from other nations. But, the one area most of them failed to accomplish, was the removing of the "high places." Those places had become "sacred cow" to the people even though they greatly displeased God. People wanted to decide how and where they would worship God, instead of the other way around, and so the man-made traditions continued. 

Today, most Christians still think and act the same way. They want to celebrate, the "high places" of religious traditions and where they worship. Only a few are willing to walk away from them and follow God as maturing sons. Yet, God continues to give grace to all of His children. 

I will continue to speak the truth and encourage other to follow Christ alone without all the religious stuff. I love all of God's children, I was one, once myself. When I was young I thought like a child, acted like a child, now that I'm older I put away childish things. (1 Cor. 11:13)

* Enjoy colorful lights if you want—God is the Light of the World. And if this season helps someone find or focus more on Christ, I am thankful. If you disagree with me about Christmas that's fine too. I still love you, and I will have many other things to share that are far more important than Christmas.