"And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Philippians 2: 8-11.
She works in one of the shops in the mall and the place was ,as usual , packed with shoppers.
"What's happening , sweetheart? Why are you wearing that morose look at Christmas ?!" Are you being over-worked in this place?", I asked.
" Tina, I'm fed up with all this !", she replied
"Fed up with all what... ?! I asked .
In response, my good friend went on a long rambling speech , on and on she went; bewailing the "sinful, worldly , commercialisation" attitude of people at Christmas .
"You know , as usual, people have gone bonkers while preparing for Christmas! The Christmas music in all the stores , the lights , the tinsel decorations , the crowds milling around shopping and all that stuff, they are doing my head in ! "
Then she went on. "Daily, the streets and shops are packed with shoppers so much that there is not even space for one to stand in or even move in !", she lamented.
" For Christ's sake , all these commercialisation and worldliness attached to the Christmas season is sickening! People have substituted worldly and pagan symbols which they attach to Christmas for the real reason for the season which is the Lord Jesus ".
"After all , nobody knows the exact date Jesus was born. December 25th was the day of a pagan festival, Santa Claus ( Father Christmas ), Christmas trees , lights and decorations are not even in the Bible! These are all borrowed pagan symbols!"
I laughed and said to myself as I listened to her long speech; " Wow! Oh dear me, here we go again ! And there go I and there goes my mouth ; but for the grace of God !"
I was in the shopping mall with another friend and we two had planned a busy day of shopping ahead . I had two Charity events to plan for, coming up that week, so I really did not have time to stop and discuss "peoples' s sinful attitude at Christmas".
But I decided to wait and allow her to finish her speech . I did so mainly because I understood my good friend's perspective about the " world's sinful attitude" to Christmas and the need for "sober reflections at Christmas !".
This her perspective of a "Christ less Christmas " was not strange news to me.
Before hearing her , I had heard the same sermon from many Christians on countless occasions during many past Christmas seasons .
It is a common ( popular ) message preached from pulpits during the Christmas season.
In fact, that same week , before meeting her , on different occasions , I heard two ministers preaching it on TV that " shopping for Christmas latest fashions , eating all sorts of rice , turkey , goat meat , Christmas cakes, mince pies and puddings and getting drunk is not the reason for the season! It is a time to be still before the Lord for sober reflections!"
Just as I knew that more of such Christmas sermons will fill the air in the coming days and people will continue to air such views during Christmas until Kingdom come .
The response from the hearers of such message would be , " Amen ! Preach it Pastor !"
After that , one would not be surprised if one saw the type of "sober reflections" over bowls of assorted meat and foods which both the preachers and their hearers would be engaged in as they got carried away into the Christmas feasting and merriment!
In the past , I too had laboured under this same mentality which my friend and others have about expecting every one to understand the "true meaning of Christmas".
But for the grace of God which gave me the revelation of Himself , I myself would still be "flying the flag" for such perspective .
For many years, before and during past Christmases , I too had preached it in church meetings and on the streets . I have written blogs about it , written and distributed thousands of copies of my Bible tract titled " The Reason for the Season "; all based on the topic of "the sin of commercialisation , worldliness and shopping orgies at Christmas " ( Oops..! What a mouth-full !)
"You know , as usual, people have gone bonkers while preparing for Christmas! The Christmas music in all the stores , the lights , the tinsel decorations , the crowds milling around shopping and all that stuff, they are doing my head in ! "
Then she went on. "Daily, the streets and shops are packed with shoppers so much that there is not even space for one to stand in or even move in !", she lamented.
" For Christ's sake , all these commercialisation and worldliness attached to the Christmas season is sickening! People have substituted worldly and pagan symbols which they attach to Christmas for the real reason for the season which is the Lord Jesus ".
"After all , nobody knows the exact date Jesus was born. December 25th was the day of a pagan festival, Santa Claus ( Father Christmas ), Christmas trees , lights and decorations are not even in the Bible! These are all borrowed pagan symbols!"
I laughed and said to myself as I listened to her long speech; " Wow! Oh dear me, here we go again ! And there go I and there goes my mouth ; but for the grace of God !"
I was in the shopping mall with another friend and we two had planned a busy day of shopping ahead . I had two Charity events to plan for, coming up that week, so I really did not have time to stop and discuss "peoples' s sinful attitude at Christmas".
But I decided to wait and allow her to finish her speech . I did so mainly because I understood my good friend's perspective about the " world's sinful attitude" to Christmas and the need for "sober reflections at Christmas !".
This her perspective of a "Christ less Christmas " was not strange news to me.
Before hearing her , I had heard the same sermon from many Christians on countless occasions during many past Christmas seasons .
It is a common ( popular ) message preached from pulpits during the Christmas season.
In fact, that same week , before meeting her , on different occasions , I heard two ministers preaching it on TV that " shopping for Christmas latest fashions , eating all sorts of rice , turkey , goat meat , Christmas cakes, mince pies and puddings and getting drunk is not the reason for the season! It is a time to be still before the Lord for sober reflections!"
Just as I knew that more of such Christmas sermons will fill the air in the coming days and people will continue to air such views during Christmas until Kingdom come .
The response from the hearers of such message would be , " Amen ! Preach it Pastor !"
After that , one would not be surprised if one saw the type of "sober reflections" over bowls of assorted meat and foods which both the preachers and their hearers would be engaged in as they got carried away into the Christmas feasting and merriment!
In the past , I too had laboured under this same mentality which my friend and others have about expecting every one to understand the "true meaning of Christmas".
But for the grace of God which gave me the revelation of Himself , I myself would still be "flying the flag" for such perspective .
For many years, before and during past Christmases , I too had preached it in church meetings and on the streets . I have written blogs about it , written and distributed thousands of copies of my Bible tract titled " The Reason for the Season "; all based on the topic of "the sin of commercialisation , worldliness and shopping orgies at Christmas " ( Oops..! What a mouth-full !)
As I listened to my friend's lament , saw the opportunity to respond to that perspective and to try to bring her out of her sorrow at Christmas , a season of joy to all the world
So I decided to postpone my shopping and I told her that we should talk about it while sitting down to enjoy a coffee break in one of the bars in the shopping mall.
As we sat down to coffee , she continued her tirade which sounded so funny to me that I burst into loud laughter in public.
" Really ? Tell me about it ! " , I said . " You think people do not know the true meaning of Christmas. Is that why you are sad ? Tell me what is wrong with people shopping around and preparing to celebrate Christmas Day which you would agree is the most important and most celebrated day on earth ? December 25th is the date which is universally accepted as the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ , the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. "
"Firstly , I told her , "the Christmas symbols you mentioned , like Christmas trees , colourful lights, tinsel paper , Santa Klaus , his elves , his sleigh and his deer , led by Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, have all become popular integral attachments to Christmas ; just as Easter symbols like Easter eggs , bunny , chocolate and otners which people describe as "pagan", but which have become Easter symbols .
These symbols , even if they were pagan , have ceased to be so. Why ? They do not and cannot defile Christmas or Easter , instead they have been made holy by Christmas and Easter ; because Light overcomes darkness , always . John 1 : 4-5 .
These symbols have been transformed , even from the moment when they were accepted as symbols associated with the celebration of the Birth and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ .
"Do you know ", I continued ," that even some Christians are preaching that it is "unchristian" for church services to be held in hotel premises and cinema halls ?
To them it is a great sin and a scandalous sacrilege for any church to use such "unclean" venues.
But the truth of the matter is that the so-called "unclean and demonic venues " cannot defile the Church ; the true Church's bears the Light of Jesus and as such , the assembly of Christians sanctifies all so-called "unclean , sinful and demonic " venues.
Also symbols , commercialisation and lustful excesses by people cannot defile Christmas or any other Christian celebrations .
Are people saying that because of all the vices at Christmas , so we should stop celebrating the season; we should go into hiding in caves and weep and mourn there?
Do you get my point ?"
Furthermore , there are billions of shoppers and traders who do not "know Jesus" and so they "do not do Jesus" but they actively celebrate Christmas and New Year Day.
When non- Christians decide to join us to celebrate the birthday of our King Jesus , is it right for us to discourage them from doing so by expecting them to be on the same level of spiritual awareness as we are at Christmas ?
Jesus said : "For he that is not against us is on our part". Mark 9 :40. ( vs 38-41)
" Yes! I agree with you " she said. "What I think is wrong is not the shopping , the symbols and all that per se ; what is wrong is the attitude of people before and after Christmas Day every year . As early as September , the rush starts ! Especially people who do not believe in Jesus Christ and what He came to the world for start preparing to celebrate a Christ less Christmas! All over the world , what we see are unbelieving traders and unbelieving shoppers who don't give a toss about Christ ; these are people who know nothing about the reason for this holy season but they run around like headless chicken; stocking up their stores and rushing around , shopping everywhere!
People even incur huge debts just to get ready for wild partying, drunkenness and unnecessary feasting during Christmas! "
"But these same people spare no time to pause for adoration and worship of Christ and they do not engage in sober reflections of who Jesus is and about the true meaning of Christmas.! Yet they say they are "celebrating Christmas ".
When she saw the look of amusement on our faces , she said, "No , please don't laugh!" .
So I decided to postpone my shopping and I told her that we should talk about it while sitting down to enjoy a coffee break in one of the bars in the shopping mall.
As we sat down to coffee , she continued her tirade which sounded so funny to me that I burst into loud laughter in public.
" Really ? Tell me about it ! " , I said . " You think people do not know the true meaning of Christmas. Is that why you are sad ? Tell me what is wrong with people shopping around and preparing to celebrate Christmas Day which you would agree is the most important and most celebrated day on earth ? December 25th is the date which is universally accepted as the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ , the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. "
"Firstly , I told her , "the Christmas symbols you mentioned , like Christmas trees , colourful lights, tinsel paper , Santa Klaus , his elves , his sleigh and his deer , led by Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, have all become popular integral attachments to Christmas ; just as Easter symbols like Easter eggs , bunny , chocolate and otners which people describe as "pagan", but which have become Easter symbols .
These symbols , even if they were pagan , have ceased to be so. Why ? They do not and cannot defile Christmas or Easter , instead they have been made holy by Christmas and Easter ; because Light overcomes darkness , always . John 1 : 4-5 .
These symbols have been transformed , even from the moment when they were accepted as symbols associated with the celebration of the Birth and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ .
"Do you know ", I continued ," that even some Christians are preaching that it is "unchristian" for church services to be held in hotel premises and cinema halls ?
To them it is a great sin and a scandalous sacrilege for any church to use such "unclean" venues.
But the truth of the matter is that the so-called "unclean and demonic venues " cannot defile the Church ; the true Church's bears the Light of Jesus and as such , the assembly of Christians sanctifies all so-called "unclean , sinful and demonic " venues.
Also symbols , commercialisation and lustful excesses by people cannot defile Christmas or any other Christian celebrations .
Are people saying that because of all the vices at Christmas , so we should stop celebrating the season; we should go into hiding in caves and weep and mourn there?
Do you get my point ?"
Furthermore , there are billions of shoppers and traders who do not "know Jesus" and so they "do not do Jesus" but they actively celebrate Christmas and New Year Day.
When non- Christians decide to join us to celebrate the birthday of our King Jesus , is it right for us to discourage them from doing so by expecting them to be on the same level of spiritual awareness as we are at Christmas ?
Jesus said : "For he that is not against us is on our part". Mark 9 :40. ( vs 38-41)
" Yes! I agree with you " she said. "What I think is wrong is not the shopping , the symbols and all that per se ; what is wrong is the attitude of people before and after Christmas Day every year . As early as September , the rush starts ! Especially people who do not believe in Jesus Christ and what He came to the world for start preparing to celebrate a Christ less Christmas! All over the world , what we see are unbelieving traders and unbelieving shoppers who don't give a toss about Christ ; these are people who know nothing about the reason for this holy season but they run around like headless chicken; stocking up their stores and rushing around , shopping everywhere!
People even incur huge debts just to get ready for wild partying, drunkenness and unnecessary feasting during Christmas! "
"But these same people spare no time to pause for adoration and worship of Christ and they do not engage in sober reflections of who Jesus is and about the true meaning of Christmas.! Yet they say they are "celebrating Christmas ".
When she saw the look of amusement on our faces , she said, "No , please don't laugh!" .
" This is not a laughing matter ! This is the season for us to take up serious prayers , to educate people for them to know the true reason for this season. We all as Christians should travail in prayers in the spirit and cry out to God to deliver a perishing world from this widespread ignorance and disregard of what Christmas truly is!"
My other friend who knew my stand on this topic , looked at me and we laughed the more.
My reply was , " You are right about the aspect of people placing too much focus on the orgies of excessive shopping , partying , drunkenness and so on and so forth , before and during Christmas ; but I disagree with you about your perspective about "sin , commercialisation and worldly attitude of people at Christmas ".
"Why do you say so ?" Is that not what is happening all around us in this world today?"
"Yes , it is happening . But what do you expect from people whose souls and spirits are unregenerate ? You are talking about people who do not know and cannot know who Jesus is and what He came to the world for ." ( Romans 8: 5-8 ).
When we preach at the world that they don't have a clue about what Christmas means , it is true they don't. I
t is also a fact that a two-year old child hasn't got the faintest clue about what you are asking him to do when you shout and scold him for not wiping his nose after sneezing or for not washing his dirty dishes after eating with them !"
When we say things like these , what we are implying is that we are expecting every human being to WORSHIP Christ with " prayers , thanksgiving and sober reflections " of Him instead of shopping and celebrating during Christmas . That is not possible for every human being to do.
Worship is the surrender of your entire self , your time and your treasures to the one who you accept as Lord and Master . Worship is expected from Believers and worship can only flow from hearts that are filled with love and obedience towards their Lord.
How could any person surrender to a Lord and Master who he or she has had no encounter with and of whom they have no revelation ? "
To such people, hearing what you say is the "sin of commercialisation , worldliness and lack of knowledge of the meaning of Christmas", is like being told that it is bad manners for them to smack their lips , lick their fingers and to let out loud belches after they've had a satisfying meal!
People who have been told several times why they shouldn't do all that while eating in the company of others know it is wrong to do so , but they still do it any way because of lack of self control ".
"Tell me , I said, "whenever you or anyone you know are preparing to celebrate an important date , what do you do ?
Of course you plan ahead and prepare for it by shopping ( maybe piling up debts?) for all you will need , months ahead of the due date. Don't we all shop and prepare ahead ?"
"Then, why is it that people complain of "the sin of excessive shopping , piling up debts , worldliness , commercialisation and feasting at Christmas" ; but these same people develop selective amnesia when they spend months preparing and they lavish huge sums of money shopping for the celebrations of their own events like weddings , birthdays , baby showers and Christening and their church seminars, conventions , anniversaries and other events ?"
"Then nobody remembers to preach about the need for people to pause for sober reflections on the true meaning of weddings , birthdays and church events ; neither do we hear sermons telling people to stay away from the "worldly" shopping centres and to avoid the sin of embarking on shopping sprees! "
"We never hear any prolonged sermons about "commercialisation of weddings , birthdays and church events! Why the silence about these personal and church events ?"
"You work in this shopping mall and your salary is paid from the proceeds of wht you call the commercialisation of Christmas and Christ less Christmas celebrations ? "
London is the world's Number One choice for all big-spending shoppers from around the world who come to the UK seeking to buy the best of the top-of -range , quality goods.
The money spent by the millions of shoppers in the UK especially at Christmas , oil the wheels of the UK economy which i turn pays the salaries which we use to maintain ourselves and our families and other dependants ; also to pay the tithes , offerings and seed offerings which maintain our churches.
Nobody has yet rejected their salaries , and we are yet to hear of any church rejecting their tithes and offerings because they said such were paid from the incomes generated from " Christ less Christmas celebrations!"
" My dear, at Christmas billions of people celebrate Jesus Christ like what Apostle Paul saw the Athenians doing . The Athenians had built an altar to the UNKNOWN GOD when Apostle Paul visited their city .
Acts 17 : 21- 29.
Billions of unbelievers have heard about the Gospel and they know that Christ was born on Christmas Day as the Saviour of the world. But these people, sadly , have not had a conversion experience and so do not believe in this truth and so they cannot perceive the "true meaning of Christmas" . 1 Corinthians 2:14.
People know that not only at Christmas , but always it is wrong to live Christ less lives , but do they listen , do they make amends ?
The "sober reflections" of the "world" at Christmas is based on their own choices about how best they know how to celebrate the Christmas season.
Ask unbelievers about the " true meaning of Christmas " and you would be surprised that people who you thought did not know , actually do know the right answer.
But as we know, knowledge , belief and obedience are three different things.
The world's lack of knowledge and lack of revelation of who Christ is doesn't stop unbelievers from joining Believers to celebrate Christmas ; they rejoice on the birthday of the God which is unknown to unbelievers.
Billions of people , be they Christians or non Christians celebrate Christmas because they ACKNOWLEDGE the personality of Christ , they recognise Jesus as the greatest man who ever lived on earth and they recognise the Christmas season as the greatest season of international celebration on earth .
People LOVE and ADORE Christmas Day with all its symbols , the excitement , its electric atmosphere , the ambiance , the shopping and the feasting .
The present day Christmas shoppers did not start this tradition of shopping sprees and celebration of Christmas.
It started thousands of years ago , many months before Christ was even born .
The wise men from the Orient started this tradition of shopping for special gifts for Christmas day.
When these great men decided to set out on their long journey to Jerusalem , many months before Jesus was born, they didn't just up sticks and started to go .
Before they set out , what did they do? They went SHOPPING; not just their usual shopping but they shopped , searched for , selected and bought the very best and most expensive gifts fit only for a king. Only the very best would for my King! Matthew 2 : 1- 12.
Can you imagine how "bonkers" these wise men must have seemed in the eyes of their families , friends and neighbours as they prepared to load their camels with food , drinks and gifts for the King of Kings , whose name and address they did not even know?
Matthew 2:2.
""Sirs , where are you going ? We are just following that star to wherever it stops, to worship the King!"
People in their home country and in Jerusalem must have laughed these wise men to scorn and must have feared for their sanity as they went on thousands of miles journey through a hostile desert terrain , looking for the newborn KING who few had ever heard of!
For many centuries now, Christmas Day has been celebrated in all the nations of the earth by Presidents , Prime Ministers, judges , kings , queens , nobles and their entire courts and governments .
The world economic system and governments , financial institutions , schools , major transport networks , offices and shopping malls in all the most important nations and cities in the world , shut down on Christmas Day as a mark of respect and recognition for the birthday of Jesus Christ the Son of God .
The name of Jesus is exalted above every other name . Philippians 2 : 8-11
Who else but Jesus Christ is so honoured and which other Faith but Christianity commands such world-wide recognition , adoration and respect? None whatsoever.
In fact , because of the way Christmas Day and New Year Day are celebrated on earth , millions of Christians world-wide feel very proud and privileged to be Christians.
It is obvious that the adherents of the world religions would give their two eye balls , just to get even one hundredth of the so-called " paganism and commercialisation " , for their own religious feast days to be able to attain one-hundredth of the level of the pomp and pageantry , the glamour , the glory and the world-wide official recognition and world-wide celebrations which accompany Christmas Day and New Year day being the first day of the Christian New Year.
Unsurprisingly , this world -wide recognition , respect and great celebration of Christmas which is not given to the feast days of other faiths have been the cause for great anger and great envy amongst the agents of the devil which has resulted in them taken it out on Christians by bombing churches and killing Christians , especially at Christmas.
Satan possessed and controlled king Herod to exhibit great anger , fear and envy leading to his giving the order for the mass murder of thousands of innocent children . Matthew 2 :16.
It is the same Satan who is living inside the enemies of Christ and the enemies of Christians that is controlling these enemies to exhibit great anger and envy towards Christians , resulting in their committing mass murder of innocent people .
To conclude, what I perceive in the attitude of people at Christmas is "not blatant worldliness". I see people's inadvertent adoration of Jesus Christ and acknowledgement of Jesus Christ as King , as Lord and as the Greatest Person who ever lived on earth.
At Christmas I see joy, love, rejoicing , fellowship , sharing , exchange of gifts , goodwill and warm greetings. I see peace and reconciliation between bitter enemies .
Christmas is the season for cease-fires between warring factions in homes , in marriages , in extended families and on most battle fronts worldwide.
Even the most unfriendly neighbours and colleagues and even drunk persons who can barely stand on their feet , would smile and say , "Merry Christmas!"
In the celebrations at Christmas I see fulfillment of Bible prophesies of who Jesus Christ is and of what He can do in human lives. One of such prophesies is t
"I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
Surely, shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed ". Isaiah 45 : 23 -24.
My other friend who knew my stand on this topic , looked at me and we laughed the more.
My reply was , " You are right about the aspect of people placing too much focus on the orgies of excessive shopping , partying , drunkenness and so on and so forth , before and during Christmas ; but I disagree with you about your perspective about "sin , commercialisation and worldly attitude of people at Christmas ".
"Why do you say so ?" Is that not what is happening all around us in this world today?"
"Yes , it is happening . But what do you expect from people whose souls and spirits are unregenerate ? You are talking about people who do not know and cannot know who Jesus is and what He came to the world for ." ( Romans 8: 5-8 ).
When we preach at the world that they don't have a clue about what Christmas means , it is true they don't. I
t is also a fact that a two-year old child hasn't got the faintest clue about what you are asking him to do when you shout and scold him for not wiping his nose after sneezing or for not washing his dirty dishes after eating with them !"
When we say things like these , what we are implying is that we are expecting every human being to WORSHIP Christ with " prayers , thanksgiving and sober reflections " of Him instead of shopping and celebrating during Christmas . That is not possible for every human being to do.
Worship is the surrender of your entire self , your time and your treasures to the one who you accept as Lord and Master . Worship is expected from Believers and worship can only flow from hearts that are filled with love and obedience towards their Lord.
How could any person surrender to a Lord and Master who he or she has had no encounter with and of whom they have no revelation ? "
To such people, hearing what you say is the "sin of commercialisation , worldliness and lack of knowledge of the meaning of Christmas", is like being told that it is bad manners for them to smack their lips , lick their fingers and to let out loud belches after they've had a satisfying meal!
People who have been told several times why they shouldn't do all that while eating in the company of others know it is wrong to do so , but they still do it any way because of lack of self control ".
"Tell me , I said, "whenever you or anyone you know are preparing to celebrate an important date , what do you do ?
Of course you plan ahead and prepare for it by shopping ( maybe piling up debts?) for all you will need , months ahead of the due date. Don't we all shop and prepare ahead ?"
"Then, why is it that people complain of "the sin of excessive shopping , piling up debts , worldliness , commercialisation and feasting at Christmas" ; but these same people develop selective amnesia when they spend months preparing and they lavish huge sums of money shopping for the celebrations of their own events like weddings , birthdays , baby showers and Christening and their church seminars, conventions , anniversaries and other events ?"
"Then nobody remembers to preach about the need for people to pause for sober reflections on the true meaning of weddings , birthdays and church events ; neither do we hear sermons telling people to stay away from the "worldly" shopping centres and to avoid the sin of embarking on shopping sprees! "
"We never hear any prolonged sermons about "commercialisation of weddings , birthdays and church events! Why the silence about these personal and church events ?"
"You work in this shopping mall and your salary is paid from the proceeds of wht you call the commercialisation of Christmas and Christ less Christmas celebrations ? "
London is the world's Number One choice for all big-spending shoppers from around the world who come to the UK seeking to buy the best of the top-of -range , quality goods.
The money spent by the millions of shoppers in the UK especially at Christmas , oil the wheels of the UK economy which i turn pays the salaries which we use to maintain ourselves and our families and other dependants ; also to pay the tithes , offerings and seed offerings which maintain our churches.
Nobody has yet rejected their salaries , and we are yet to hear of any church rejecting their tithes and offerings because they said such were paid from the incomes generated from " Christ less Christmas celebrations!"
Acts 17 : 21- 29.
Billions of unbelievers have heard about the Gospel and they know that Christ was born on Christmas Day as the Saviour of the world. But these people, sadly , have not had a conversion experience and so do not believe in this truth and so they cannot perceive the "true meaning of Christmas" . 1 Corinthians 2:14.
People know that not only at Christmas , but always it is wrong to live Christ less lives , but do they listen , do they make amends ?
The "sober reflections" of the "world" at Christmas is based on their own choices about how best they know how to celebrate the Christmas season.
Ask unbelievers about the " true meaning of Christmas " and you would be surprised that people who you thought did not know , actually do know the right answer.
But as we know, knowledge , belief and obedience are three different things.
The world's lack of knowledge and lack of revelation of who Christ is doesn't stop unbelievers from joining Believers to celebrate Christmas ; they rejoice on the birthday of the God which is unknown to unbelievers.
Billions of people , be they Christians or non Christians celebrate Christmas because they ACKNOWLEDGE the personality of Christ , they recognise Jesus as the greatest man who ever lived on earth and they recognise the Christmas season as the greatest season of international celebration on earth .
People LOVE and ADORE Christmas Day with all its symbols , the excitement , its electric atmosphere , the ambiance , the shopping and the feasting .
The present day Christmas shoppers did not start this tradition of shopping sprees and celebration of Christmas.
It started thousands of years ago , many months before Christ was even born .
The wise men from the Orient started this tradition of shopping for special gifts for Christmas day.
When these great men decided to set out on their long journey to Jerusalem , many months before Jesus was born, they didn't just up sticks and started to go .
Before they set out , what did they do? They went SHOPPING; not just their usual shopping but they shopped , searched for , selected and bought the very best and most expensive gifts fit only for a king. Only the very best would for my King! Matthew 2 : 1- 12.
Can you imagine how "bonkers" these wise men must have seemed in the eyes of their families , friends and neighbours as they prepared to load their camels with food , drinks and gifts for the King of Kings , whose name and address they did not even know?
Matthew 2:2.
""Sirs , where are you going ? We are just following that star to wherever it stops, to worship the King!"
People in their home country and in Jerusalem must have laughed these wise men to scorn and must have feared for their sanity as they went on thousands of miles journey through a hostile desert terrain , looking for the newborn KING who few had ever heard of!
For many centuries now, Christmas Day has been celebrated in all the nations of the earth by Presidents , Prime Ministers, judges , kings , queens , nobles and their entire courts and governments .
The name of Jesus is exalted above every other name . Philippians 2 : 8-11
Who else but Jesus Christ is so honoured and which other Faith but Christianity commands such world-wide recognition , adoration and respect? None whatsoever.
In fact , because of the way Christmas Day and New Year Day are celebrated on earth , millions of Christians world-wide feel very proud and privileged to be Christians.
It is obvious that the adherents of the world religions would give their two eye balls , just to get even one hundredth of the so-called " paganism and commercialisation " , for their own religious feast days to be able to attain one-hundredth of the level of the pomp and pageantry , the glamour , the glory and the world-wide official recognition and world-wide celebrations which accompany Christmas Day and New Year day being the first day of the Christian New Year.
Unsurprisingly , this world -wide recognition , respect and great celebration of Christmas which is not given to the feast days of other faiths have been the cause for great anger and great envy amongst the agents of the devil which has resulted in them taken it out on Christians by bombing churches and killing Christians , especially at Christmas.
Satan possessed and controlled king Herod to exhibit great anger , fear and envy leading to his giving the order for the mass murder of thousands of innocent children . Matthew 2 :16.
It is the same Satan who is living inside the enemies of Christ and the enemies of Christians that is controlling these enemies to exhibit great anger and envy towards Christians , resulting in their committing mass murder of innocent people .
To conclude, what I perceive in the attitude of people at Christmas is "not blatant worldliness". I see people's inadvertent adoration of Jesus Christ and acknowledgement of Jesus Christ as King , as Lord and as the Greatest Person who ever lived on earth.
At Christmas I see joy, love, rejoicing , fellowship , sharing , exchange of gifts , goodwill and warm greetings. I see peace and reconciliation between bitter enemies .
Christmas is the season for cease-fires between warring factions in homes , in marriages , in extended families and on most battle fronts worldwide.
Even the most unfriendly neighbours and colleagues and even drunk persons who can barely stand on their feet , would smile and say , "Merry Christmas!"
In the celebrations at Christmas I see fulfillment of Bible prophesies of who Jesus Christ is and of what He can do in human lives. One of such prophesies is t
"I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
Surely, shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed ". Isaiah 45 : 23 -24.
Every business person in the major cities of the world is smart enough to know that she or he must stock up for Christmas sales. Some of them are not Christians ; they are traders who are either Sikhs, Muslims , Hindus , Jews , pagans or atheists
Some business men and shoppers are avowed and very articulate atheists who definitely do not "do " Jesus Christ . They do not hide their resentment and hatred of Christ and His Church .
But at Christmas season, what do they do ? They all BOW and they must "do" Jesus Christ at Christmas by joining in the mass shopping spree , if not for themselves for their spouses , children extended families and friends.
Some business men and shoppers are avowed and very articulate atheists who definitely do not "do " Jesus Christ . They do not hide their resentment and hatred of Christ and His Church .
But at Christmas season, what do they do ? They all BOW and they must "do" Jesus Christ at Christmas by joining in the mass shopping spree , if not for themselves for their spouses , children extended families and friends.
Have you noticed the strange smiles on the faces of some shop owners as they have to say , "Merry Christmas" , whether they like it or not, just to attract shoppers into their stores?
In every business man and woman and in every shopper who stocks up in anticipation of the celebration of Christmas Day and New year Day , I do not see "the sin of worldliness and commercialisation of Christmas " but I see adoration of Christmas .
Every business man and shopper who have stocked up for the Christmas season, whether they believe in Jesus Christ or not ; by going out of their way to buy tonnes of stock to sell and by shopping on any scale , they are inadvertently celebrating and adoring the Kingship of Jesus Christ .
Whether they know the fact or not , it means they have BOWED to the Kingship of Jesus and they have added to the pomp , the glamour and the world-wide recognition of Jesus Christ and the Christmas season!.
Every business man and shopper who have stocked up for the Christmas season, whether they believe in Jesus Christ or not ; by going out of their way to buy tonnes of stock to sell and by shopping on any scale , they are inadvertently celebrating and adoring the Kingship of Jesus Christ .
Whether they know the fact or not , it means they have BOWED to the Kingship of Jesus and they have added to the pomp , the glamour and the world-wide recognition of Jesus Christ and the Christmas season!.
By the time we finished our coffee break , I had succeeded in cheering up my friend and in convincing her that the whole world indeed acknowledges Christ and bows in adoration to Jesus Christ during the Christmas season.
There is a time for everything. Christmas is a season for acknowledging the joy which Jesus brought to the world . This entails celebrating Christmas by giving gifts in cash and kind, given to others , especially to the poor and the needy.
To do this , we must do what ? We must Go Shopping and we should celebrate.
I have a list of persons I have chosen to bless in cash and in kind during this Christmas and New Year season and I am also expecting lots of gifts from many people.
How could anybody, any home or any nation remain the same at Christmas ?
O you peoples of the earth , rejoice and be exceeding glad . I say rejoice for our King Jesus reigns as Lord of the whole universe.
Like billions of people worldwide are , I am not "sober "at all.
This is Christmas and so I am "drunk" ! Drunk with excitement , with joy and thanksgiving. How about that ?
If anyone wants to go into "sober" mournful mode because of the sins of the world at Christmas, they are welcome to do so.
As for me I have no intention of travailing for "the sins of the world at Christmas " ; neither do I have any intention of coiling up in one corner in "sober reflection" to mourn over anything or anybody.
I intend to do what I do each year at Christmas , that is giving joyful thanks in prayers, worship to God , by rolling out the drums , celebrating to the fullest with my friends and family , also I will put smiles on the faces of the less privileged .
Thank God for Christmas !
Thank you O our Father for giving us your son Jesus !
I wish you all a Joyful and Merry Christmas and an outstandingly Happy New Year . Amen.
There is a time for everything. Christmas is a season for acknowledging the joy which Jesus brought to the world . This entails celebrating Christmas by giving gifts in cash and kind, given to others , especially to the poor and the needy.
To do this , we must do what ? We must Go Shopping and we should celebrate.
I have a list of persons I have chosen to bless in cash and in kind during this Christmas and New Year season and I am also expecting lots of gifts from many people.
How could anybody, any home or any nation remain the same at Christmas ?
O you peoples of the earth , rejoice and be exceeding glad . I say rejoice for our King Jesus reigns as Lord of the whole universe.
Like billions of people worldwide are , I am not "sober "at all.
This is Christmas and so I am "drunk" ! Drunk with excitement , with joy and thanksgiving. How about that ?
If anyone wants to go into "sober" mournful mode because of the sins of the world at Christmas, they are welcome to do so.
As for me I have no intention of travailing for "the sins of the world at Christmas " ; neither do I have any intention of coiling up in one corner in "sober reflection" to mourn over anything or anybody.
I intend to do what I do each year at Christmas , that is giving joyful thanks in prayers, worship to God , by rolling out the drums , celebrating to the fullest with my friends and family , also I will put smiles on the faces of the less privileged .
Thank God for Christmas !
Thank you O our Father for giving us your son Jesus !
I wish you all a Joyful and Merry Christmas and an outstandingly Happy New Year . Amen.
I did not read it all honestly, a little lengthy, but what i read I thought, preach it sista!!! So true, I have found myself feeling this way about the season -- but nevertheless -- let Christ be praised!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Renee for your comment.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed writing this post and am happy you liked it. Yes, a bit lengthy . I got carried away writing it and even,I had to delete some parts of it.
This is an "abridged version "of the discussions I have had with different people both Christians and non -Christians on this topic.
Thank you Renee . Please pass the word around that if the whole world is joining Christians to celebrate our Saviour and King , then we should not discourage them from doing so.