When We Discuss Christmas

Over the past decade, the ideology of cancel culture has sought to diminish the historical and spiritual significance of Christmas, even suggesting the abandonment of its name. Thankfully, there has been a resurgence and renewed focus on the meaning of Christmas, and many are returning to the practice of wishing others a “Merry Christmas.” I recently read an insightful observation about how difficult it is to remove the word Christmas from the holiday itself. For those who want to call it Christmas, the first six letters of that word spell our Savior's name: Christ. For those who choose to call it a holiday, we can remind them that the word holiday is derived from ‘holy day,’ referring to the holiness of Christ’s birth. Some prefer to use the term Yuletide. This is the old name for the twelve days of Christmas, which used to be called the Feast of the Nativity. Some people believe Christmas is just a seasonal holiday; however, we can explain how Jesus came at the right time and in the fullness of time. Regarding Santa Claus, it's important to note that there was a Christian leader named Saint Nicholas, who lived in Myra, Turkey, during the fourth century and was known for his generous gifts to the poor. Regarding gift-giving, we talk about the Magi, who brought the first Christmas gifts to Christ. When asked about the music of the season, we share stories of the choirs that sang in the skies over Bethlehem on the night Christ was born. If Hanukkah is mentioned, we can discuss Christ, who is the light of the world and represents the Jewish menorah that stood in the ancient temple. And if someone happens to use the term X-mas, we can point out that the X is the Greek letter chi, with ‘C H I’ (χ) being the first letter and symbol of Jesus Christ. You see, it’s hard to separate Christ from Christmas. Christmas has always been focused on Christ, and it always will be. Luke 2:10-11: “but the angel reassured them. ‘Don't be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior-yes, the Messiah, the Lord has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!’” The Godhead was poured into human flesh so that He could lead us out of the darkness into the light. Jesus came down from the throne of heaven to be one of us. Christmas is not just about a baby in a manger with some shepherds and wise men. Christmas is about God loving us so much that He came down here to be just like us so that we could be just like Him one day. He is the Son of God, perfect in every way. Fully human as the Son of Man, He is also God the Son. He is the only one capable of fulfilling this role, as He uniquely embodies both God and humanity. When discussing Christmas, remember that it celebrates Christ. This is the true meaning of Christmas.