Christmas 2012
Despite
this being the season of “good will to all men” and despite Jesus being the
real “reason for the season”, I am sad.
Despite the fact that our church pre-school, here in the UK, filled
almost 200 seats with their own Nativity play, and despite the majority of
people celebrating Christmas, albeit without much acknowledgement of who, what,
or why Jesus was and is. I am still sad. Despite arrangements with my family
being in place for us to celebrate a good old fashioned family Christmas
together, I am still sad. Despite all the calls to my wife’s family in America
and all the love of family and friends at church, I am sad.
Despite
Christmas being a time of great personal joy for me and my family, I am
saddened to the point of weeping.
Why?
I
am saddened to weeping by the greed and overindulgence I see all around me
while so many of my brothers, sisters, and neighbours having much less or even
going without. I am saddened to weeping by the meaningless drivel and rubbish
being broadcast by the main stream media as “entertainment” – terrible old
re-runs of 20, 30,even 40 year old programs and films; ghastly “comedy”
programs that are not in the least bit amusing and cause my blood to run cold
in righteous indignation that anything so base and often crude should even be
allowed on television. But most of all, I am saddened to weeping by the
debasing and devaluing of Christmas by the politically correct world –
especially of my so called brothers and sisters in Christ who leave all semblance
of faith behind for the entire period and join the world in celebrating
‘world-style’ Christmas. I am deeply saddened too by the politicking around
Christmas and the apostasy displayed by so many so-called Christian nations and
churches who pay lip service only to the reason for Christmas.
Am
I so scrooge-like that I say “Bah Humbug” to Christmas? Far from it. I love
Christmas – the true reason for Christmas – the carol singing and exchange of
gifts – all the traditional stuff. BUT it has to be mixed with a good dose of
the real reason – the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. For me, I
have to celebrate as best I can in whatever circumstances I find myself over
Christmas. I have to acknowledge Jesus and His arrival among us here on earth.
If
the world wants to celebrate in its own way then so be it. I will sing carols
and play with my grandchildren and their new toys on Christmas Day. Television
will not be switched on as we will, as ever, make our own “wholesome family
entertainment”, call up relatives and greet them, and eat probably far too
much. We shall do so with a reasonably clear conscience as we will have given
some away prior to the day to ensure that one or two others will enjoy it too.
Happy
Christmas everyone. God Bless us all today and every day.
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