Let It Be Christmas
Notes
Transcript
Through the years after becoming a christian and especially after following my call into ministry, I have been challenged with how to celebrate Christmas.
Let me explain; I know the true meaning of why we celebrate christmas!
10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
We celebrate Christmas because, as the angel said, the birth of Jesus Christ is “good news.”
We celebrate Christmas because, as the angel said, “A Savior has been born to you; he is the Christ, the Lord.” And we needed to be saved and delivered from our sin!
We celebrate Christmas with gift-giving because of the “indescribable gift” that God gave to us in Jesus!
15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
We celebrate Christmas with “carols and singing” because they are an expression of the joy that fills our soul and it follows the example of Mary and Zacharias and Simeon and the heavenly host of angels who praised the Lord concerning the birth of the Christ child. (Luke 1–2)
My challenge has been with the the commercialization of Christmas, the myth of Santa Claus, and why we decorate christmas trees.
Now I can’t do anything about the commercialization of Christmas. It is the nature of man to be greedy and try to make a buck off of everything.
And I won’t address the myth of Santa Claus with anybody’s family but my own. That is up to each parent to do with their children. But I will say this, the longer you let the myth live, the harder it becomes for children to know the truth about Jesus. Children trust their parents to tell them the truth, and it is our responsibility not to break this trust. If we do, they won’t believe more important things we tell them, such as the truth about Christ, whom they also cannot physically see.
So let me address the Christmas Tree. I have always been opposed to putting up a Christmas tree in church [sanctuary] because I did not want it to distract from the true meaning of christmas.
Usually when we see a christmas tree, our first thought goes to presents that we will have under the tree and who we make out that brings them, Santa Claus.
But this year I was asked if we could have one in the sanctuary, and I did a lot of praying and seeking the Lord about this, and I agreed after God gave me peace in this matter.
What is the origin of the Christmas tree and should christians have one?
Origin- Sometime late in the Middle Ages, Germans and Scandinavians during the long winters placed evergreen trees inside their homes or just outside their doors with candles on them to show their hope in the forthcoming spring.
Why have hope in the spring? New life!! Spring is the time where everything that is dormant and dead comes to life!
The first Christmas tree was decorated by Protestant Christians in 16th-century Germany. Our modern Christmas tree evolved from these early German traditions, and the custom most likely came to the United States with Hessian troops during the American Revolution, or with German immigrants to Pennsylvania and Ohio.
There is nothing in the Bible that either commands or prohibits Christmas trees. Nor is there any spiritual significance to having or not having a Christmas tree. Whatever choice we make, to have or not have a christmas tree, must be to please the Lord and not condemn others choices.
Romans 14:5–6 (NKJV)
5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.
6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it…
17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
This Christmas tree here represents three things to me;
First; its called an evergreen tree. “Evergreen” means it stays green all year round. An evergreen tree doesn’t die or go dormant. It represents the “Eternal Life” we have in Jesus Christ when we come to Him by faith to save us.
John 5:39 (NKJV)
39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Second; this tree is decorated with white lights. Light and darkness are opposites in the Bible. Darkness represents sin, evil, wickedness and death. Whereas light represents purity, righteousness, holiness and life!
2 The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
John 8:12 (NKJV)
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
Third; there is the Star on top of the tree. The star represents the “Star of Bethlehem” that led the wise men to seek out the King of Kings and to worship Him.
Matthew 2:1–2 (NKJV)
1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,
2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.
11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
As the “Star of Bethlehem” led these men from the east to find Jesus, some bright shining star of a christian helped you and me come to know Jesus as well. So when I look at that star it reminds me of what Christ has commissioned me to do.
Matthew 5:14–16 (NKJV)
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
So whether you feel it’s right or whether you feel its wrong to put up a christmas tree in church, or even if you don’t have any thoughts about it at all, my prayer is that you are at peace with God in Christ and just, “Let It Be Christmas”
Play video of Alan Jackson’s “Let It Be Christmas”