THE CHRISTMAS OPPORTUNITY

By David Pam McQuel

Merry Christmas!

As we all are aware, the festive season is here. No matter what your religious or theological conviction is, you certainly cannot ignore the season. So much expectations, so much preparations and so many plans.

Christmas is a time of joy for so many. Especially those who affiliate with Christianity and those who look forward to making financial gain from sales. For others it is the holiday attached to it. A much anticipated time of rest and social gatherings.

Among Christians, the debate will rage again as to whether Christmas is biblical or pagan, how it all started, and how serious Christians should either be involved or abstain. While many write it off as a Catholic ritual and others see it as the Roman emperor Constantine defiling a thriving Church. And others argue vehemently on the exact month of birth of Christ. Surely the theological warfare is at boiling point.

There are two things we need to focus on.

1. The fact that Jesus came. For me this is epic. It is not about when Jesus came. It is not about how it is been marked or ignored. It is worth celebrating that He came down from heaven to die for us. 

It is pathetic how many so called religiously affiliated and nonaffiliated people spend money, traveling long distances, and sink into debauchery, orgies and paganism in the name of celebrating Christmas.

At the end, Christ is totally absent from Christmas.

Jesus came to save us from spiritual death. If we understand this, then the best way to mark His coming is by staying away from spiritual death and her manifestations. How do you celebrate an extraordinary act of mercy, by doing more of the very thing that the mercy was required in the first place?

How do you celebrate a forgiven debt by going to shop more frivolously piling up unbelievable debt? Celebrating Christmas should be about celebrating spiritual liberty and the cleansing of our sins.

2. The opportunity to find Christ. Apart from Easter, no other religious holiday gives us a big opportunity to share the good news of the gospel. What other better opportunity to tell the world about God's love than at Christmas. 

Christmas is not about the Asian wise men who brought gold, frankincense and myrrh but about the King that brought joy to the world.

When the angel came to inform the shepherds, remember?

Luke 2:8 "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” NIV

It is about the good news that causes great joy! How hard is that to share? This is the biggest opportunity we have every December as the world runs wild feast in and having fun, the essence of it all is the good news that causes great joy.

How was Jesus going to save us if he never came? That he came is because He was going to save us. And the focus of every bible believing church and every single Christian that truly accepted Christ and is living actively should be on this.

We have allowed the flesh, religiosity and the world to subtly take away the truth. Now Christmas is pure fanfare and craziness. But we need to put the message back in the festivities.

There is a Christmas because Christ was born. He brought us good news that will cause joy for all humanity. It is our responsibility to spread the good news. And Christmas brings us this great chance.

Let's take this opportunity and tell everyone why they are celebrating.