The old Christmas song says, "It’s the most wonderful time of the year." And for the Christian it should ring true. Yet for many, Christmas is a season to survive. Depression, grief and loneliness are often exacerbated by shattered family circumstances and increased debt loads. Christmas calendars are overloaded, causing us to think in terms of "getting through the holidays." We are left to wonder if the "postcard" Christmas exists anymore. What happened to the snowy white Yuletide of childhood?
Christmas has been hijacked by cynics, exploited by capitalists, and trampled by consumers. Christmas cheer comes under a withering attack. The checkout lines go on forever; we growl and whine when only one of 10 registers is open. There is no charity in the mall parking lot; we hunt the elusive parking space like wolves. Cheap-suited Santas charge a king’s ransom for a picture of little Eddie or Tiffany crying. December is full of long, clamorous days culminating in the wearied singing of "Silent Night." Exhausted by cantatas, parties, shopping, feasting, families and travel, we arrive at the Bethlehem manger suffering from heat prostration. Christmas Eve will find us lifting up our weary voices to sing, "Joy to the world, the Lord is come." Then we rush from the service to get one last gift, or visit one last party.
So soon it is over. We save the bows, burn the wrappings, strip the tree, and labor over our New Year’s resolutions. Too often we have missed the point. We’re like the man who goes to the coast but never sees the ocean. The threat of a holiday hijacking is all too real. Unless we engage our hearts in a true celebration of Christmas joy, we are easily caught up in a pointless and mindless holiday. When we lose sight of the meaning of Christmas, the season is deeply devalued.
Isaiah saw religious celebration divorced from true worship. The people loved their feasts and festivals, but they lost their perspective. God speaks words through Isaiah that fall like a blow: "The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies — I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; they are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them" (Isaiah 1:13,14, NKJV). The children of Israel turned their holy days into holidays and God declined to be added to the guest list. If Isaiah were around today, he could well offer the same prophecy without changing a single word.
The true spirit of a Christian Christmas must be reestablished in our hearts and homes. All is not lost. The ultimate story of God’s love is still true. The glory is still there to be witnessed by seekers. How shall we truly experience the joy of Christmas? How can we define a true "Christmas spirit"?
