THE CHRISTMAS PRESENT

STOP!!

BE Still!

TAKE a deep breath.

Relax.

OK?

Here is a question for you:  what's the best Christmas present that you could possibly give to anyone this year?  While your thinking about that, here is my Christmas rant.

It seems to me that a normal part of the Christmas experience these days is the battle between Christians and those who want to kill off Christmas, or at least turn Christmas into a fully secular holiday.  Forgive me, but I am growing tired of this particular distraction/tradition.  Honestly, I get tired of reading story after story this time of year about this business or that school district taking the "Christ" out of "Christmas."  

Actually, come to think of it, the battle has really moved from there.  Now people are basically taking Christmas out of the vocabulary entirely.  It seems like everything these days is part of this nondescript, non-specific "holiday" season.  There are "holiday trees," "holiday parties," "holiday gifts" and, for you shoppers out there, "holiday sales." 

But, I digress.

We can get as excited as we want about the secularization of Christmas, but in the end the secularization of Christmas is just a symptom of a much bigger problem -- the secularization of America.  The problem is not politicians or political correctness -- it is that we are losing the battle for souls in this country.  

The problem is that the church has become ineffective.  The problem is that we have allowed generation after generation to have a casual relationship with Jesus.  The problem is that we have not pushed American Christians to truly put God first in their lives.

The problem is that most Christians in America are indistinguishable from their neighbors.  The problem is that we are viewed as hateful and hypocritical.  The problem is that the church has all too often lead with a message of condemnation instead of a message of the incredible love of Jesus.

The problem is that the church thinks that it can regain America by electing conservative politicians.  The problem is that we have forgotten that the real battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

The problem is that the church has been ineffective in teaching the Gospel.  The problem is that we have allowed the message of the Bible to blend in with and be confused by popular philosophy and culture.  The problem is that many American "Christians" believe that there are many paths to heaven.

The problem is this:  that too many of us are simply unwilling to share our faith with unbelievers.  It may be for any numbers of reasons -- embarrassment, lack of confidence, laziness, feelings that we are unworthy, lack of preparation ... you name it.  

I think it is critically important for each of us to meditate on the true meaning of Christmas  -- on who Jesus is and why he came.  That should be something we think about 365 days a year.

But, I think its even more important that we not get so focused on our own celebration of Christmas that we lose sight during this season of why we are here.  The church exists primarily to prepare God's people for works of service for His Kingdom, and the primary work that we should be focused on is to make disciples of all nations -- including the United States.

During Christmas time, or any time of the year, there is one gift that we can give to other people that surpasses any other.  It is a gift that money cannot buy and that all of the power in the world cannot take by force.  That gift is the gift of Jesus Christ.  It is the gift of eternal life.  It is the knowledge that Jesus loves us so much that He sacrificed Himself for our sins.

It is the knowledge that no matter who we are, no matter what mistakes we have made and no matter how unworthy we feel, there is a God who loves us, a God who forgives us, and a God who will run to us when we are ready to turn to Him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-p5I1ySPhg&feature=fvst