Thanksgiving is behind us now, and today is actually the first Sunday in Advent. This means, we’re officially in the Christmas season.
And now that we’ve transitioned between holidays, it’s time to watch the latest installment in the battle to define Christmas.
The ungodly culture in which we (all) live cannot abide a celebration of God come to earth as a human. It resists vehemently any notion of needing a savior (but have you watched the news lately?). It rejects the idea that goodness and love are divine attributes – claiming them as the ultimate expression of humanity.
Yes, all cultures are ungodly. As the Apostle Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians, the “prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the children of disobedience…” This spirit rules over our culture. And he has decided that job number one is to deny the incarnation.
I won’t tell you which holiday specials I’ve watched so far. Some new and some old. But they seem to be pointing us to a value of family (biological or found) and being generous toward one another.
This is the popular culture expression of the “spirit of Christmas”.
As if it would be nice if we could all just be like this all the time. As if we just shout it loud enough, it will drown out all the greed and envy and strife and hatred that seems to be running rampant in the world (of course the Christmas spirit-ists would say they have no part of that).
This is the battle for the meaning of Christmas. It’s a humanizing of the story. It’s a denial of spiritual need. It’s a rejection of God.
Right now, culture is doing a fantastic job with the alternate meanings. The theologians of Hollywood (and other entertainers) are launching a full onslaught against the truth. Hallmark cards (and just about every other brand too) are substituting sentimentality for the incarnation.
They will win. Because the ruler of this world declares it must be so.
But then they will lose. Because the God of the Bible declares it must be so.
In the short term, Satan will have his way. He will continue to substitute greed and gifts and warm feelings and family connections for the babe in the manger. But then that very babe will return in glory, and every tongue will speak the truth about Him.
It bothers me to see this though. Because as God’s people, if we’re exposed to the lie long enough, it will start to impact us. It will shift our perspective and make us think that there must be some truth in what we’re seeing and hearing.
But the true meaning of Christmas is, and always will be, that you and I were indelibly tainted with sin. We could not overcome its devastating consequences. We were lost and without hope of reconciliation with our creator.
Then at just the right time, God sent His Son to us. The people who could not save themselves were sent someone who could save them.
It’s a big deal! It’s the first movement of the good news of the gospel.
The world doesn’t see it. They don’t want to see it. They would much rather have sentimental warm feelings than a Savior.
Our job is to tell them about it. To explain why it matters. To challenge the warm feelings and seasonal gift giving spirit to point our friends and neighbors to the truth of the gospel.
It’s why you’re here. It’s why I’m here. We have a job to do. We’re good-news-bringers.
Happy Christmas!
Dennis
