“Tis the season—“, you know the rest. But “jolly” isn’t a word that describes the average person this time of the year. Let’s face it, most people are so stressed out by Christmas that they are miserable rather than merry. Wow–how times have changed! We actually enjoyed Christmas when I was a kid.

Christmas was my dad’s favorite time of the year. I think that was due in part to the fact that he had a rough childhood. When grandpa died, dad had to drop out of school in the 8th grade and go work on a farm for room and board. So when he had his own family, Christmas seemed to transform him into a kid again–something very much out of character for him. Normally he had an all work and no play attitude– fishing and hunting excluded of course. His joy regarding Christmas didn’t stem from anything religious, nor was it based on receiving or giving expensive gifts. If I could describe Christmas at my childhood home it would be the appreciation for and joy of simple things. Dad and I would always get the tree while on a hunting trip, and he was very picky about it looking just right. He would bring the tree home like it was a trophy and present it to mom, as though there was nothing else for him to do, and it was all up to her. Dad wasn’t lazy, but he wasn’t of any help when it came to doing things related to what he deemed to be the woman’s duties.

So,sis and I would help mom decorate the tree. She, however, was unquestionably the director of the production. Decorating the tree was really quiet simple. Mom would pop a batch of popcorn which sis and I would string on fishing line and wrap around the tree. Mom also made popcorn balls that were hung on the tree with a few ornaments that were used year after year. The finishing touch was a big white star trimmed in red that perched on the top branch of the tree. I can almost see it now. Then of course there were the stockings that would be stuffed with nuts, fruit, and a little candy. Although I knew what to expect from year to year I couldn’t wait to examine the contents of my stocking, as though something wonderful would magically appear.

Well I could ramble on and on describing the simple gifts and the super food associated with Christmas. In my mind, mom was the best cook in the world (did you ever eat real homemade mince meat pie? I’m talking about with real meat!), so this was no small part of Christmas. As for the gifts, we pretty much knew what to expect. For me it was always a new pair of jeans, a shirt, underwear, and one toy. And dad had a rule, no one was allowed to open their gifts until Christmas morning. That was like torture for us kids. We would beg and plead to open just one gift, but to no avail. I was probably 15 before we finally convinced dad that opening one gift on Christmas eve wouldn’t ruin everything. But, I’ve bored you long enough, so I’ll get to the point.

If you want to enjoy this wonderful time of the year, keep it simple! Don’t let yourself get so caught up in the rush that you ruin the joy. We already have enough stress with the normal things of life without going head-over-heels in debt trying to please everybody and trying to do everything you can think of. Keep it simple. Focus less on material things and more on the true meaning of Christmas. If we keep our mind on the greatness of God’s gift to us we can’t help but have a wonderful Christmas. I suspect that’s what God would want. Be merry not miserable! We have a plaque at home with these words by Kipling on it– “Teach us to delight in simple things.” That my friend is still good advice! Merry Christmas!

There are many misconceptions about Christmas, and naturally a lot of confusion. For example:
1. The actual date is not known.
2. The wise men were not present at the birth of Christ. They didn’t come until about two years later.
3. Christmas was not a time of universal joy and peace. Other than Joseph and Mary the shepherds were the only people celebrating the event.
4. We are not commanded to observe Christmas! No where does the Bible tell us that we are to celebrate the birth of Christ. We are commanded to remember His death and resurrection, but not His birth. It was Rome that took a major pagan festival, which celebrated the rebirth of the sun god on Dec. 25, and made it Christmas–“Christ’s Mass”. Most people don’t realize that the Pilgrims and early settlers in New England refused to celebrate Christmas. They even passed laws against it. In 1910 the “Texas Baptist Standard” ( a Southern Baptist publication) printed an article presenting reasons why Baptist should not observe Christmas. No wonder people are confused.

Now, before I go to my next point, I want to say that if a person chooses not to observe Christmas he has every right to do so and we have no right to criticize him. Refusing to observe Christmas does not make you a bad or less spiritual person– and observing it does not make you better. Over the years I’ve had good preacher friends who strongly opposed observing Christmas, and I do not think more or less of them for doing so. But I do take offense at them trying to impose their personal preferences upon me and others as though they were commandments from God. If you don’t want to observe Christmas don’t, but don’t demand that everyone else does as you do.

5. The Bible does not tell us that we shouldn’t celebrate the birth of Christ. Some who oppose the observance of Christmas seem to think that this is so. They aren’t content to ignore Christmas, they are on a crusade to persuade everybody else to do the same. They leave the impression that we are scripturally obligated to not celebrate our Savior’s birth. But if we must find a command to justify everything we do we will have to make a lot of changes. The fact of the matter is that God has given us the liberty to do as we please unless it violates some command or principle of the Bible. We don’t have to have a verse from the Bible telling us what time we should assemble on Sunday or whether or not we ought to have Sunday School classes, etc. When it comes to Christmas, I believe there are more good reasons to celebrate the birth of Christ than there are to not do so. Here’s some things that come to mind:

I. IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO GLORIFY GOD
1 Cor. 19:31 says, “ Whether therefore ye eat , or drink , or whatsoever ye do , do all to the glory of God.” What can be wrong with setting aside a day to thank God for sending His Son and our Savior as He promised? Whether we do it everyday or any day is our choice to make as far as I can tell.

II. CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS GIVES US A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO PREACH THE GOSPEL
If the apostles went to the Jewish synagogues and other places to preach Christ, why shouldn’t we use Christmas as a contact point to tell others about Christ? While Christ is already on people’s mind would that not be a good time to expound upon His person and work. What is gained by ignoring the opportunity?

III. CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS IS MORE HELPFUL THAN HARMFUL
Refusing to celebrate Christmas would tend to be more offensive than if we did. It is true that there are certain things that we should do even if it offends others, but this isn’t one of them. This is a matter of custom, a custom that does not violate scriptural principles and , if I understand what Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 9:19-23 we are not to offend in these areas. Be honest– do you think others will think more highly of you because you refuse to celebrate Christmas? I strongly suspect that your criticism of Christmas would do more harm than good. What is to be gained from that?

IV. CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO DRAW CLOSER TO ONE ANOTHER
We’ve got more than enough things dividing us. We need everything we can get to draw family and friends together. Christmas sure beats the “Superbowl”.

V. CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS REMINDS US OF GOD’S GREATNESS
The birth of Christ is a remarkable story, reminding us of God’s great wisdom, power, and love. It should be a source of great joy and encouragement. In times like these we need that!

I learned a long time ago that we can’t depend on our feelings, and I know enough about the Bible to know that I’m not a prophet. But, sometimes, to put it in the words of an old song “I just feel like something good is going to happen”. Don’t misunderstand, I’m not basing that on my feelings alone. I feel this way because good things are happening! In other words, I feel the way I do because of what I’ve been observing. The only way I know to describe it is to say strange things are happening. I am seeing God work in ways I never dreamed of. It’s not like I had a vision of something and prayed earnestly that God would do it. What He is doing all comes as a surprise.

I can remember preaching that that we ought to expect the unexpected, the extraordinary, but I have to confess that I haven’t always practiced what I preached in that regards. Like a lot of people, there have been times when problems distracted me, people disappointed me, and pressures depressed me to the point that I let myself get in a rut. Fortunately God blesses in spite of us and not because of us. And what God has been doing has certainly awakened me. Without proselyting members from other churches, or resorting to worldly tactics to attract a crowd, or compromising important doctrines to please people, or making emotional appeals begging people to join, God just keeps adding members who fulfill unique roles in church ministries. I’m talking about people who are both able and willing — people with a servants heart, people who are not seeking a salary, a position, or a title, but simply want to be used of God to be a blessing.

Over the last few years, without any planning or effort on my part God has sent these people and opened doors to ministries unforeseen and never dreamed of. None of the credit goes to me or anyone else– “this is the Lord’s doing, it is marvellous in our eyes”( Ps. 118:23). This isn’t the place to go into detail, and most our folks can see this for themselves, I just want to make sure that we remember to give God all the praise. Nothing in the world is so exciting as watching God at work. If you are bored with life maybe it’s because you are focused on the wrong things. God has opened doors of opportunity, let us make sure that we take advantage of them by making ourselves available for whatever He wants us to do. And as we watch His marvelous plans unfold, let us take none of the credit, but rather give Him alone all the praise! Think about it!