Tag Archives: Christmas

Why I Hate Christmas

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“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”
(Colossians 3:15 (ESV))

Okay, it’s not that I hate Christmas.  I love this time of year when the whole world seems to join in on the celebration of the birth of our Lord, we pastors have ample opportunity to remind our congregations to watch and wait for our Lord’s return, and I love the music, the lights and decorations.

So I don’t hate Christmas as much as I hate what I become at Christmas.  There’s something about Christmas that brings out the little kid in me.  No, I don’t mean the little starry-eyed cherub all bundled up for the winter, sipping hot cocoa while signing slightly off-pitch Christmas Carols.  I’m talking about that 5 year old terror on the floor in the toy aisle at the local department store, pitching an absolute hissy-fit over the toy that he absolutely has to have right now (even though Christmas is two weeks away).  You know the one.  That’s me.

Well, okay, I haven’t had a complete meltdown; but I know my heart, and I know that’s me.

And I am ashamed.  Christmas brings out the worst in me. I get greedy, manipulative, and I pout when I don’t get what I want.  I have become the Grinch.

And it disgusts me.  I know this isn’t what Christmas is all about.  I know that the gifts and the gadgets really don’t matter.  I know that what really matters is that God, in His love for us, came to be with us, as one of us, in Jesus the Christ, who is called Emmanuel.  I know that on that night, so long ago, the glory of God and the hope of the world came in the mystery of the Incarnate One; and I truly love that about Christmas. 

But that old, insatiable, gluttonous, and covetous beast within me always seems to get the best of me at Christmas.  This is why Christmas (that is, the commercial Christmas with presents and shopping and all of the trappings) is my least favorite holiday.  I would rather celebrate Easter – there are no presents exchanged, and if we can lose all that garbage about the Easter Bunny, its pure spiritual celebration of our Risen Lord.  And I love Independence Day.  Again, no presents, just patriotism and fireworks. 

So while it may sound simple and sappy, as though I were running for beauty queen, let me admit that all I really want, what I really need, this Christmas is peace.  I don’t mean world peace.  While that would be nice, knowing that we could live in peace and harmony with all mankind, knowing that my brother, and the rest of our armed forces could come home for Christmas, I know in reality that because of the brokenness of fallen mankind, that kind of peace will never happen until we finally enter the Kingdom of God.

No.  When I say I want and need peace, I’m talking about that peace of mind, that assurance of salvation, that contentment in the goodness of God, that satisfaction in His glory and grace that only comes by living in true communion with Christ our Incarnate Lord.  When I say I want peace, I mean peace from that maddening, driving, scrambling compulsion to have, be, and do more.  When I say I want peace, I mean that peace that abides in my spirit that comes from resting in the promises of God.  I’m looking for the peace that the angels proclaimed to the shepherds as they watched over their flocks at night, singing:

“Glory to God in the Highest
And on earth, peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

I know it’s a lot to ask.  That kind of peace is a costly gift.  It cost God the life of His Son.

I pray that this Christmas, I may truly enter into that peace that God has so richly offered in His Son.  And I pray you may know it too.

Grace and peace be with you!

SDG

Have you found Jesus?

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“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?”
(Matthew 2:2 (ESV))

So, the Sayler house is decorated for Christmas.  The tree is up, with all of its trimmings (including brand new working lights – that’s another story).  The garland hangs from the fireplace mantel; the stockings are there too, awaiting a visit from jolly old Saint Nick.  I even managed to get the lights up outside before the wind and cold set in, which is saying something for living in NW Iowa.

Of all the decorations that we have out for Christmas, I think the little boys’ favorite must be the “Little People Nativity Set.”  It’s a little play set nativity, complete with Wise Men, Shepherd, various livestock, and of course, Mary and Baby Jesus (curiously, no Joseph – must have gone to the store for diapers).  The boys love to play with the figures of the nativity, right alongside their toy Superman, Batman, and other Super Heroes.  More than once I’ve seen the Son of Man, nestled in the manger, flying side by side with the Man of Steel – I’m so proud.

The one downside is, there are so many pieces, they tend to go missing throughout the day.  At lunch, supper, and bed time, we have a family search for the missing characters.  Recently, the most notoriously lost seems to be baby Jesus.  My house is beginning to sound like a Baptist revival.  “Have you found Jesus?”  “I found him, I found Jesus!”

Sometimes Jesus is hidden under the couch or radiator.  Other times he’s under the piles of Christmas Story books that get put out on the coffee table this time of year.  Then sometimes Jesus get hidden in toy baskets, under coats, and amongst the other clutter of the house.

As we were once again searching for the Christ child last night, I began to realize this was a great lesson for us as adults.  Is Jesus missing from your Christmas?  Have you found Him?  Are you even looking?  Did you even notice he was missing? 

Sometimes Jesus gets buried under the furious rush to find all the right presents, getting the Christmas cards written and mailed, and having the decorations just right.  Sometimes Jesus gets lost in all the busyness and chaos of a season that is supposed to be a celebration of the coming of the Prince of Peace.  All too often, without even thinking about it, we just push Jesus off to the side of our celebration, “I’ve got too much going on to worry about all that religious stuff too!”

At the risk of sounding cliché, it is so important that we keep Christ in Christmas.  If we can’t keep Jesus at the center of our Christmas celebration, is it really Christ’s mass?  If we can’t spend the Advent season developing a longing and expectation for the return of our King, will we ever?  If we lose Jesus at Christmas, how will we ever hope to find him throughout the rest of the year?

My encouragement to you this Christmas, and anytime throughout the year, is keep searching for Jesus.  Watch for Him, wait for Him.  See where He is missing in your life, and search for Him as if your life depended on it.  Turn to the Scriptures to hear His word again; His word of life, of hope, of righteousness and peace.  Repent and confess of those things which you have put before Christ, which have kept you from the joy of obedience to your Lord.  Make worship, privately and corporately, a priority, so that you may find yourself where Christ has promised to meet us.

My prayer is that in all of your celebrations this season, you will find Jesus again and again.  That would really be a Merry Christmas.

SDG