Christmas Decorations and Ebenezer Scrooge

Christmas decorations have been up in stores and at shopping centers for a little while.
Now they are popping up around the neighborhoods of our community.

This afternoon (late afternoon) I drove over to my daughter's and son in law's home to bring the ladder and help (a little) get the outdoor lights up. Daniel worked on the outdoor lights while Hannah decorated the tree on the inside. It was nice to visit with them for a little bit before returning to our unadorned home.

We've never been big on the Christmas decorations, but I suppose I will find myself in the attic sometime during the coming week and some simple decorations will be put up.

Bah! Humbug!

Call me Scrooge.
Maybe it's that Christmas is pretty quiet with the kids gone;
Maybe it's that Christmas is just too commercial;
Maybe it's that the people that say they celebrate the birth of Christ are just as commercial as everyone else, but with a holier-than-thou bit of self righteous indignation added in for good measure;
Maybe it's that I really am a grumpy, old curmudgeon;
But I can do without a month of Christmas music on every stinkin' radio station.
I can do without get togethers with people that don't really like each other the rest of the year.
I'm okay with celebrating Christmas for the sake of giving gifts and gathering with families.

But when the Church of Jesus -- the Bride of Jesus -- is disheveled and unkempt, can we really convince unbelievers that our celebration is any different than theirs?
How is our celebration of Christmas holy while theirs is secular and unholy?
Does the little nativity scene make the difference?
What about the big yard nativity with lighted life size figures of Joseph and Mary?
If we have a yard sign proclaiming "Jesus is the Reason for the Season" can we say that all of the commercial stuff is now holy?

I say...
Decorate your homes.
Give your gifts.
Go to your parties.
I will do the same.

Enjoy time with your family and friends. Giving gifts as an expression of caring is a good thing, right? The joy and fellowship of the season are worthwhile things to celebrate, but let us not pretend that they are holy. Let us not deceive ourselves into believing that these things are to the glory of God.

I would, however, urge you to make some time during the holiday season to honor God by remembering and sharing the Christmas story.
God became man and lived among us.
He took on our flesh so that He could die in our place.

God loves you.
Jesus died for you.

Merry Christmas,
Ebenezer Scrooge