It’s Christmas

It’s that time of year again: Time for the Christmas Wars. What to say to strangers? When and how should we shop? Is this even the right day—or season—to celebrate? To Santa or not to Santa?

I have heard many convincing arguments from all sides, and I thought I’d throw in my two cents about Christmas in general.

Christmas is a beautiful time. I’d really argue it’s the most beautiful time. It’s a celebration of love and joy, a holiday commemorated by lights, lovely displays, food, gift giving and general generosity. Why? Not because the days will finally start getting longer (although that’s a bonus, especially for us up here in the Northwest). Christmas is about the unfathomable love of God and the unimaginable gift of Himself to us. The God in whose image we are made came in our likeness, so we could be like Him and with Him.

I’ve heard about the theories of religious dominance surrounding the choosing of the particular day. Many people argue (and they’re probably right) that the actual historical birth of the Christ didn’t happen on or even near our December 25. I would ask: Does it matter? If we believers do in fact believe, are we not to celebrate love and give generously every day of our lives? This is, after all, the essence of living in the “Christmas Spirit” all year round—very near to living in the Holy Spirit and by the fruits thereof (see Galatians 5:22-23). Christmas is the celebration of God’s extravagant love and the hope He brought to the earth. It’s the commemoration of the birth of the Son of God as the man Jesus. He is the light come into a dark world; I cannot think of a more fitting time to celebrate this than in the midst of winter, when all is dark and cold. So even though Christmas may not be a historically accurate day, I’m certain it is a spiritually accurate holiday, and I will always wish a very Happy Christmas to anyone and everyone.

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