Maximizing the Meaning of ChristmasSýnishorn

At Christmas time it sometimes feels like all of culture celebrates. I once stayed at a resort over the holidays, and I remember the fantastic Christmas displays featuring Victorian characters, Disney princesses, the Wizard of Oz, Winnie the Pooh, Yogi Bear, and Calvin and Hobbes. In a culture like this, where Christmas gets top billing, we have managed to be syncretistic. I remember finding it very difficult to locate any Christian elements among the resort’s decorations. In one corner of one display, there was a babe in the manger, but even he was looked on by Santa Claus and the Pilgrims.

You can’t get away from the Christmas spectacle. One year, my wife and I had the chance to visit Prague, Czech Republic. In their Central Wenceslas Square we found every Christmas stereotype imaginable—the Nutcracker, a beautiful choir, big clocks, and a huge Christmas tree. In Japan, even though less than 1% of the population is Christian, they celebrate another $4.5 billion worth of goods from Sony, Nintendo, and Lexus being sold at the end of the year.

The staying power of Christmas seems to be related to the nostalgia of the holiday. The lights, the Christmas carols, and the family traditions are emotionally moving for most of us, even those not sure why.

Through this short devotional series, I want to help you maximize the meaning of Christmas this year. Instead of being preoccupied with our culture’s Christmas distractions, my prayer is that each aspect of the holiday will cause you to reflect on Christ’s incarnation and what it means for your life.

When you set up your Christmas tree, remember the legend of Martin Luther, who put lights on his tree and declared Jesus to be the light of the world.

When you wrap gifts, think of 2 Corinthians 9:15: “Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.”

When you sing Christmas carols, sing with joy, for God has come.

Over the next few days, I want to specifically reflect on three carols found in Luke’s Gospel. We will consider what they tell us about God and how He would have us live.