Christmas In A Secular World 

   If you walk around your neighborhood, you will likely see many so-called Christmas decorations.   You will see Santa, snowmen, reindeer, and lots of lights everywhere you look, but rarely will you see a nativity scene, or any other reminder of  Christ 

   In the malls and stores you see the same thing. Christmas decorations are everywhere and have been there since Halloween in many cases.  However, you will have to search hard and may well be disappointed if you are looking for a reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.

   The TV is full of Christmas specials and reruns of Christmas movies, but virtually none are about the birth of our Lord.  Even one of the most popular, “It’s a Wonderful Life” doesn’t mention Christ.  There’s a bumbling “angel” named Clarence, but no savior.

   How did we get here?  How did we allow Christmas to become nothing more than “Black Friday”, Cyber Monday” and all the other enticements designed to help us spend money.  It’s simple, we let those who care more for money than for God redefine what  Christmas means.  It’s no longer about Christ, it’s about finding the perfect gift; forgetting that the perfect gift arrived in a stable in Bethlehem over two thousand years ago

   This year, turn the television off.  Skip the reruns of “A Christmas Story” (a terrible movie in my opinion), and “Home Alone”.  Leave “The Night Before Christmas” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” on the bookshelf.

   Instead open the bible and turn to the gospel of Luke and read “I bring you news of great joy for all the people.  For this day in the city of David there has been born to you a Savior who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2: 10 – 11).  That’s what Christmas is all about.