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Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Saving Christmas

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[December 01, 2009]   -- Did it start with the lawyer in Miracle on 34th Street?  You know, the guy who defended Kris Kringle in court, proving the existence of Santa Claus and saving the day?  Or maybe it all goes back to that foggy Christmas Eve so many years ago when a neon nose pierced the darkness and rescued Santa from failing to keep his annual round-the-world distribution date. 

 I don’t know who thought of it first, but somewhere, sometime Hollywood got the idea that Christmas needed to be saved.  Now, every year, new movies and television specials crop up with a fascinating variety of heroes – from Tim Allen to Arnold Schwarzenegger to this year’s Santa Buddies – who accept the mission of saving Christmas.  Most of these are light-hearted feel-good movies that center on someone or something that could keep Santa Claus from making his journey and delivering his goodies.  Yes, scriptwriters have invented everything from silly Christmas-hating villains to imaginary “laws” that require Santa to be married, all of them threatening to stop Santa in his reindeer tracks.  The characters are different, but the theme is the same: if you save Santa, you save Christmas! 

Lest anyone mistake me for Ebenezer Scrooge, I’ll set the record straight and admit that I like some of these shows.  But the more I think about it, the more I’m bugged by their message:  Is the rescue of the “jolly old elf” all that it takes to save Christmas?  For that matter, does Christmas really need saving?  Most of my Christian friends seem to think so.  We’ve all noticed the culture war that flares up every year over manger scenes and ‘holiday’ trees.  I can’t tell you the number of emails I receive enlisting Christians to fight to keep Christ in Christmas.  I’m told I should heartily respond, “Merry Christmas” in reply to the more generic greeting, “Happy Holidays.”  I’m supposed to point out to everyone that there is no such thing as ‘Xmas.’  And it’s up to me to forward these messages to at least ten people in my address book.  If I don’t, I’m labeled as just another liberal who doesn’t care if the world erases Christ from Christmas.  Christmas must be saved and it’s up to me!  The problem with thinking like this is pretty simple.  In the movies, if Santa is saved, Christmas is saved.  But Jesus is not Santa.  He came to do the saving, not to be saved – as if we could save Him!

 Some who read this might think I’m making an excuse to not take a stand.  Far from it!  Christians should be bold for their Lord.  We should gladly offer the reply, “Merry Christmas.”  We should let the world know that we put up Christmas trees and Christmas decorations and give Christmas presents and attend Christmas programs.  But, let’s remember to do it in a way that honors the Christ of Christmas.  Our belligerent attitudes and angry words are a poor witness to the Jesus who came to bring God’s good will to all people everywhere.  Obviously, we live in a day in which we feel our freedoms and our faith are being challenged, but whatever you do, don’t forget: Jesus’ people celebrate more than trees, tinsel, and time off from work.  They celebrate Christ!  And as long as there’s a Christ – who was and is and always will be – there will be Christmas!

[text from file received by Greg Wooten, Lincoln Church of the Nazarene]

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