Word About Christmas
December 2, 2021 8:50 PM
Margaret Blake
I have been nudged by the Lord to throw my hat into the ring about the ongoing debate among believers concerning Christmas. I have considered the whole Christmas celebration holiday season carefully for some time; especially these last few years. I will share my understanding.
Many years ago (near 20 years ago now), at Christmas time, the Lord spoke to me in my spirit these words…
“Do you mind if I do not share Christmas with Santa Claus?”
I was taken aback to say the least when I heard these words, and stopped to ponder them while I looked around my main living room area where I typically would set up a Christmas tree and other embellishments for Christmas. As my eye moved around the room and others areas, I saw numerous ‘santas’; not all in full form, but some just santa heads. Immediately I felt a shock go through my body that brought a deeper revelation of Christmas as being a time of celebration of the birth of Jesus.
Immediately I saw the Santa Claus inclusion into Christmas as an intrusion into what Christmas truly means to most Christians – the time when we
collectively celebrate the birth of Lord and Savior. I saw also the Santa Claus personification (whether in human form or ornament) as an intruder who was usurping the focus of Christmas away from Jesus and onto Santa Claus (et al).
I immediately responded to the Lord with haste; saying… “Oh my! Lord, I’m so sorry! I didn’t realize what an intrusion on celebrating Your birth day Santa is and has become. Of course I will remove them all at once!” And did so.
Now, I must tell you that for many years prior to this talk with the Lord that I had already been celebrating Christmas as a time to celebrate
Jesus’s birth day (knowing full well that December 25th was not His actual birth date). Always at the start of our Christmas dinner, I would say a
birthday address to Jesus and we would all toast to Him. Then we would sing Happy Birthday to Him. We would thank Jesus for coming to earth to be
our Savior and for all He has done for us. We would then enjoy our meal and time together.
In recent years I have gone back to the Lord numerous times about Christmas because of the growing unrest among Christians concerning it.
The Lord always reminds me of that exchange He and I had about Santa so many years ago. He has not told me personally to stop celebrating His birth day at Christmas; nor has He indicated any displeasure with my celebrating His birth day at this of year. Perhaps He is looking into our hearts on this matter.
I will end with this… take your concerns about Christmas to the Lord. Have a chat with Him about it. Let Him give you His peace concerning
Christmas.
Perhaps Romans 14 can be aptly applied to this ongoing and growing Christmas debate among believers. Shalom and God bless you.
ROMANS 14
The Law of Liberty
14 Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful
things. 2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats
only vegetables. 3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and
let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.
4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or
falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him
stand.
5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day
alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the
day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the
Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives
God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and
gives God thanks. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to
himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to
the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to
this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of
both the dead and the living. 10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why
do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the
judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written:
“As I live, says the Lord,
Every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall confess to God.”
12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore
let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put
a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.
The Law of Love
14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean
of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is
unclean. 15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are
no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom
Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17
for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and
peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these
things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication,
with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace
of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and
minds through Christ Jesus.”
