Yes, it is that time of year when you flip radio stations to find that annoying station that plays “Holiday” music around the clock. Not just any music either, no, it’s the kind of “Holiday” music that never mentions Jesus, Christ, or Holy in any of its lyrics. It’s the jolly, jingle bell, deck the halls and here comes santa clause over and over 24 hours a day. You walk in any kind of department store starting the first day of October and you see all the “Holiday” decorations, glitter and gleaning shiny ornaments and air pop up rein deer complete with 12 ft tall snow men.
This year it occurred to me that I am annoyed by all of this “holiday” stuff. When did all of this happen? When did we go from Christmas to Holiday, and from Silent Night to Jingle Bells? There had to be a first musician who wrote the first “holiday” song. When did we lose sight of the birth of our Savior Jesus the Christ in the meaning of Christmas? When did Jesus get robbed on Christmas? When did Christmas get hijacked by a “happy holiday”?
Can we ever keep the secular out of the Holy or the worldly out of Christ?
Not only did Jesus die on the cross for all sin and all sinner’s past, present, and future; but Jesus continues to be abused, rejected, brought down, minimalized, and reduced to the background on a day that was set aside for the remembrance of His human birth on earth. What gives?
I don’t think I will change the world with this simple writing, but I want it to be known that what we see happening in our world now, this worldly view where Jesus Christ is pushed to the background and His Church (in large part) has lost its power in the community so that it appears to be the light and salt of the earth but the true strength is lost on stages across America that will boast Christmas trees and fog machines in an effort to compete with the secular world we live in for the attention of its members who are struggling to breath for all the wrapping paper and Amazon packages. All this isn’t new, but it is the grip of the evil one that is tightening because the return of Jesus Christ is imminent. The world has always been secular, and the Christians are the odd balls. The truth is that scripture tells us that in the last days woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter. 2 Timothy 3:1-4 reads… “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather that lovers of God.” ESV. It goes on in verse 8 that these people will resist the truth. Their minds are corrupt and worthless in regard to the faith. Am I the only one who sees this so evidently in our world? Certainly not. This year, we saw trans people throwing their shirts off – topless right in front of the White House. The US President flew a pride flag (again, the devil stealing God’s symbol of His promise to never flood the earth again)- right between two American Flags, (in violation of US Flag Code), not that it matters. All of this type (in the last days) was foretold in the Bible and is happening now, and it will get worse.
I want to appeal to Christians in the world to make a voice heard, to stand firm, to throw off sin as it crouches ready to pounce, to hear a real Christmas song not a “holiday” song. I believe that as sin increases, even Christians will have a hard time keeping their focus. I am an example of what I write about. Even I am guilty of not gathering weekly as Paul urged followers to do. I am guilty, but God restores. What have we (Christians) become and how far away have we pushed ourselves? Instead of hiding and withdrawing, we should double down and push into the darkness. If we do it right, it will piss off the hardened worldly for sure, but to save some. Isn’t that our mission? Say something, the gospel message, to save some. Open a window for the Holy Spirit to work. So, Merry Christmas everyone. Be of good cheer. Jingle bells, ho, ho, ho…and all that stuff; give it to the world and give God some attention. He misses me. He misses you. If you never opened your heart to God, He wants you to because He loves you too; so much so that He gave Jesus to die on the cross to pay for my sin, your sin, all sin, but that payment will only be applied if you accept it and receive it. For those who do not accept it, but remain hardened of heart, will get what they want. They will get to be separated from God, just as they are now. Don’t do that.! Don’t remain separated! All you need to do is ask Jesus to save you, right there in your car, in your house, while you are walking, right where you are now. It doesn’t take a “priest” or “pastor” to speak for you, just you and God and your open heart. Don’t wait. Jesus is coming fast. Look at the crazy world and tell me it isn’t so! God Bless.