I'm beginning to think a lot about Christmas

It's that time of year again. I walked into Target and saw the decorations over my head. BJs has pre-lit trees and a giant snow globe thing that inflates... JCPenney has those red trees made from balls ... and it all makes me want to cry.

The thing that pushed me over the edge (and into this blog post) was a Facebook post this morning by one of the on-air personalities from our local Christian radio station. She used "Xmas" instead of Christmas!

Yes - this is officially a rant.

Last year I had the displeasure of driving home one evening about a week after Thanksgiving with that radio station on in the car, only to hear a familiar secular Christmas song that mentioned Santa. I was shocked and dismayed. The next morning, on the way to work, I again heard another secular holiday song mixed in with the beautiful songs celebrating the true meaning of Christmas. I wrote to the radio station, and their response was that they hoped to draw non-believers to the station and thus expose them to The Word.

Now I am all for meeting people where they are in order to lead them where they need to be, but this is dilution of the message and compromising beliefs,sending a mixed message. A whole different story in my book. I replied that I would be listening to CDs in my car until after the holidays. This year I have already sent an email to the station asking them to please reconsider their stance and to keep CHRIST in the Christmas music this Christmas season.

So here is my prayer under the palm tree tonight: a truly CHRIST-centered CHRISTmas. How to manage this? I have some ideas (you knew I would).

I pray that you, as a Christ-follower, will resist the secular intrusion into Christmas. I implore you to pray seriously about your views on Christmas and examine the way you celebrate. What is the focus of Christmas in your home? in your family? Is is Christ's birthday? or is it gifts and Santa?

First, eliminate Santa - yes, eliminate him. Go through all the decorations and wrapping paper and such in your house and get rid of this symbol of the secular Christmas. Yes, I know he is supposed to symbolize giving, but what he has come to represent is buying and getting. Children do not go to him and ask him to give things to other children - they line up by the score and read a litany of items they wish to receive in return for having been (allegedly) good all year. (I read an article the other day about some German Christians who are asking for "Santa-free zones" - I am of the opinion that all churches should be such places!)
[if your children still believe in Santa, if you have fostered this belief in your home up till now, I pray you will consider explaining the truth to your children now.]

Second, scale back. Each person give one gift to each person. We as Christians give gifts to one another at Christmas because God gave Christ to us as a gift. We are celebrating His birthday, not ours. So give one gift to each person - a gift that you want them to have, something that is meaningful to them and not just something they asked to receive. Be thoughtful. [oh, and referring back to #1 - this means no gifts under the tree from Santa. People give gifts to people.]

Third, give of yourselves to those who are in need. Give gifts to members of the family that also give to others - the Holstein Project for instance, or some other charitable donation. Serve at the homeless shelter or a church that is serving Christmas dinner for those who are less fortunate. With some planning you could adopt a family and buy gifts for them.

This year begin being different. Live your faith. Refuse to give this special day over to the secular celebration. So yes - my prayer for you this night: as we see more and more of the secular influence, stand firm and do not compromise. Do not stand quietly as others pollute the celebration of Christ's birthday, especially in our churches and on our Christian radio stations.

Are you with me? Then start praying... Pray about how YOU should celebrate CHRISTmas. And then stand your ground - firmly but politely, when you are enticed to follow the crowd.

Pray under the palm tree with me:
"Father, give me the strength to keep Christmas as a celebration of the birth of Your Son Jesus. Help me to be loving to others but to stand firm in my beliefs. Show me what I am to do and how I am to honor this day. In Jesus' name, Amen."