Sometimes I wonder, sometimes I struggle, sometimes amidst all of the anti-Christmas forces that seem to grow stronger each year I wonder where Christmas has gone. I feel that it is slipping away. The true meaning of Christmas is challenged on many fronts. Commercialism seeks to usurp Christmas for capitalistic purposes and increasingly moves the Christmas season forward so when it actually comes we cannot wait for it be to over. Militant secularists bombard society with their “uplifting” message of political correctness that makes one feel guilty about even wanting to wish someone a happy Christmas. Secular Christmas narratives of Santa and elves, while cute, lack the substance to preserve the tradition much longer. Other religions seek to advance their agenda by playing upon all this and not even wanting to entertain the English culture and spirit of Christmas. Then there are those who nominally celebrate it, even going to a religious service or two to do God a yearly favour, and by so doing degrade its meaning and relevance for the next generation still further. And finally there are the 40% of the English who do not even know who Jesus is and are becoming oblivious to Christmas altogether. The momentum of this bah humbug spirit can be disconcerting for the Christian.

BUT in the midst of it all, it is my prayer that we will find opportunities to reclaim Christmas, to take a stand for what it is actually about, to resist succumbing to the pressures and temptations that seek to draw our attention away from it. Most of all, however, it is my prayer we will rediscover adoration at Christmas by responding to the miraculous arrival of Immanuel in the same manner as the heavenly host, Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and the magi. A spirit of worship:

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:14).

So as Christmastime nears and we prepare our hearts to welcome our Immanuel I bid us to recall those worshipful words from an old carol:

O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

May the blessing of the simplicity of worshiping and adoring Christ this Christmas be the greatest gift you may receive and may it rise far above all bah humbug spirits for the glory of God!

Have a blessed Christmastime indeed,

Pastor Chris