Dear Friends in Christ,
It usually happens at this time of the year. I begin receiving numerous emails, many forwarded, concerning "Keeping Christ in Christmas." I am not surprised at the concern, especially knowing that we have moved out of what was called the "church era." The pluralism of our society challenges us in all the "comfortable ways" we knew. Most of us grew up in the church era, when the Christian fain and its celebrations were commonplace. Today, in this year of our Lord 2009, it's different. No longer is it
Christmas time;
it's
Holiday
time. No longer do people say
"Merry Christmas;"
now it's
"Happy Holidays."
Yet these words still reflect the basic roots of the Christian faith. The word holiday has an interesting etymology. It originally referred only to special religious days. The word is derived from the notion of "Holy Day." Therefore, even though the meaning has somewhat changed, its basic root is unchanged.
The challenge for us as disciples of Christ is to teach our children, families and those with whom we come into contact the real story of the season. The responsibility is ours, not society's. We, not the government, are the witnesses; we must tell the story. We cannot assume that all people, especially children, are familiar with the Christmas story. We need to tell it with care and majesty through our worship and in our homes. The greatest witness to the "Word became flesh," the Incarnation, is not through what our businesses, government or society display or say about the season, but what we as God's people proclaim in telling and living the story through our lives in a hostile environment.
Our challenge this Advent and Christmas season is not how or whether we say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays," but how we live a Merry Christmas, sharing with and telling others the real story.
May the Holy Spirit direct our hearts, minds and mouths to proclaim,
For to you is born this day in the city of David as Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
(Luke 2:11)
A Very Blessed and Merry Christmas to You!
Blessings,
Pastor Les
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