CHRIST WAS LOVE

Can you believe it?  Another year has almost passed and we’re heavy into the “Holiday Season.”  That is the politically correct title of this time of the year and the only reason that I’m able to see in this PC verbiage is, that our worldly government seems to be going out of its way to try and remove everything about Christ and God from reaching the public’s eyes and ears.

I’m certainly not opposed to celebrating a “season” of benevolent behavior and good cheer among all people however, I am opposed to some the unscriptural teachings being spread on this occasion.  I like the idea of giving and receiving gifts.  I should say that I like the principle involved in gift giving.  It means that the giver has thought about someone else instead of themselves, even if just for a “season.”

As I said, I like the prevailing atmosphere of “good will” and “good cheer.”  I only wish that this atmosphere continued throughout the whole year.  Of course, many of you who have been out “Christmas shopping” have realized an interesting phenomenon.  What with all the crowds of shoppers at the various malls and stores (read: long lines and no parking spaces) I’ve noted a lot of hostility and exasperation being expressed.  This just seems to be in conflict with our seasonal “atmosphere,” doesn’t it. 

What I don’t care for is the perpetuation of Dec. 25th being promoted as fact that this was the actual date of Christ’s birth.  I think that you’ll agree with me that everything we know about our Savior, Jesus Christ, comes from the Bible.   And nowhere in that Book are we directed, or inferred, to celebrate His birth.  I believe that if we are supposed to celebrate that occasion, we’d have been given the day and time to do so and not have to rely on the date being adopted in about 330 AD.

Yes, the scriptures tell us “about” the birth of Christ.  They tell us “where” He would be born and to “whom.”   All of this information was given because the Messiah had to match up with the prophesies regarding Him.  To establish His “bona fides” so to speak.  That is the significance of His birth.  To prove the fulfillment of those prophesies, to wit: that Jesus of Nazareth was born “of a virgin” in the town of “Bethlehem of Judea.”

So, is it okay for me to enjoy this Christmas season?  I believe so, as long as I understand that it has no more religious significance than any other “holiday.”  To put it another way, Christians are supposed to worship Christ 365 days of each year and not just relegate it to a couple of “holiday seasons” during the year.

Let me switch gears here a little for the rest on our time and space today.

There’s another conflict that I see at this “season” in this particular year.  Because of a recent and horrific incident here in San Bernardino there is a tremendous amount of sadness present in what should be a time of “good cheer.”  And yes, I’m aware that there have always been “bad times” on earth and that those times can come on us at any “season.”  It just seems exceptionally “bad” for many this holiday season.

Our news sources have been reporting, almost daily, the funeral and memorial services of those who’s lives were taken from them last Dec. 2nd.   That’s the “conflict” I was speaking of in the above paragraph.  That there is so much sadness among us in what is supposed to be a totally different atmosphere. 

For those directly involved in the lives lost, and actually all of us who empathize with those loved ones, I’d like to submit to you a passage that seems to speak to occasions of great sorrow.  Read it with me and see if you agree with me as to its significance to our area’s situation.  It’s cited from Lamentations 3:20-24 (NLT).

“I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss.  Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: the faithful love of the Lord never ends!  His mercies never cease.  Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.  I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my inheritance, therefore, I will hope in Him!’”

I’ll bring this lesson to a close today by telling you a little story that speaks to the real message of this and ALL seasons.  It’s about something that occurred during a program being presented by one of the classes of a small elementary school during the “Winter Pageant.”  (More PC seen here)   The children were lined up on stage, singing a song with each of them holding a lettered sign.

As they sang the song, each kid would turn their sign around to face the audience with that letter corresponding to the verse of the song.  IE: When the letter “C” was held up, they sang about “Christmas.”  The next letter “H” would then be a verse about “happiness.”  The title of the song they were singing was “CHRISTMAS LOVE” so I’m sure you get the idea of their presentation.

All was going well until they got to the little girl holding the letter “M.”  When she turned it to face the audience, she had it upside-down.  At first the audience just snickered a little and then began laughing out loud.  Didn’t bother the little girl and she just kept right on holding her sign.  It wasn’t until the last verse of the song was sung and all of the letters was turned around that the audience suddenly hushed.  When the last letter was turned, the message read was: “CHRISTWASLOVE.”

Respectfully submitted,

Ron Covey