The God of Christmas

By JOSEPH HARRIS

It's that time of year: carols, bells, shopping, tinsel, nativities, attacks on nativities, Santa, etc.  In other words, Christmas time.  I often feel like the Lone Ranger this time year because of mixed feelings.

I KNOW the incarnation of Christ in flesh is important, for if God had not become man, we would have no Savior.  I also know that much of what is connected with Christmas has nothing to do with His incarnation, such as Santa, elves, gifts, and the list goes on ad nauseum.

Plus, no objective student of church history can deny the unscriptural origin of Christmas trees, Winter solstice feast of Saturnalia on December 25, and other pagan connections that were "Christianized" for us by the Catholic institution, then evolved into our modern day somewhat Christian holiday. 

Christmas has pagan, secular, and Christian elements.  When the ACLU, People United for the Separation of Church and State, and other arrogant, anti God institutions try to ban the Christian displays of Christmas from "sacred" government property, it makes my blood boil.

Their interpretation of the First Amendment is biased and agenda driven.  On the other hand, some Christians decry the commercialization of Christmas, with "Let's put Christ back in Christmas" as their mantra.  That is equivilent to saying the Palestinians should get get their land back.  How can they back what they never had and how can you put Christ back where he has not been?

You see, I'm not convinced Christ has ever been the center of Christmas.  To be sure, He is mentioned, even included . . . . but so is Santa.  The question is, who has more visibility at Christmas, Jesus or Santa.  You can answer this question by counting the amount of times people ask kids what Santa is bringing them, as opposed to the total number of times they ask kids about the birth of Jesus.

I know I am a spoil sport but hear me out.  I am about to reveal the real God of Christmas, and it is not Santa.  The real focus and purpose and reason for the season is found downtown.  MAMMON is the driving force.

Buying and selling is done more than anything else during this season.  Buying and selling is the focus.  Don't get me wrong.  We give gifts at our house and include some of what we have inherited for Christmas in our American culture.  But our focus is Jesus, not Santa.

Our focus is also giving to others, not just buying and selling, though some buying is done in order to give.  The challenge is to keep the proper perspective and make sure mammon does not receive the adoration and undue attention it usually receives this time of year.   V

Joseph Harris is the Vice President of Southeastern Baptist College in Laurel, MS. (This article may be reprinted in whole, as long as the name Joseph Harris and

www.miniedition.net also appear)