What Are You Expecting This Christmas?

It was Christmastime. Two women, with their arms filled with bundles, walked past a large display window in the local shopping mall. In the store window was a life-sized Nativity scene: the baby Jesus in the manger, Mary and Joseph, several kneeling shepherds, and a few cattle standing beside them. One of the women was overheard to say, "Can you beat that?! The churches are even barging in on Christmas!"

What saddens me the most concerning the above story is that most of you reading this are not surprised. We have come to expect controversy and political correctness as the norm every year at Christmastime. We expect stores to advertise 'holiday' sales, store clerks to wish us 'happy holidays', people buying 'holiday' trees, and exchanging 'holiday' gifts. We are invited to 'holiday' parties, schools have 'holiday' or 'winter' productions, and radio stations play 'holiday' music. It is as if we are celebrating a secret and unnamed 'holiday' on the sly; slipping one over on someone. But who is being deceived?

The God of heaven Who sent His One and Only Son to be the Savior of the world knows what this 'holiday' commemorates. Christmas is about Christ, the Son of God. Scripture teaches that God is looking for true believers to worship Him in spirit and in truth. The birth of Christ is a premier occasion to worship God and His Son.

True Christians know what this 'holiday' commemorates. One can argue that the holiday stemmed from pagan origins, or that this is not the time of year when Jesus was actually born. Regardless of the varied historical or intellectual objections, Christians for centuries have celebrated the birth of Christ as the beginning of God's earthly phase of the plan for our redemption. Jesus, the Son of God, condescended to our humble plane and became clothed in human form. His most inauspicious beginning only served to highlight His mission to bring salvation to every human being, however humble. God is pleased when we worship His Son and celebrate His redemptive work for us.

Thinking people know what this 'holiday' commemorates. For generations it has been called 'Christmas'. It has been celebrated with nativity scenes, Christmas pageants, Christmas parties, Christmas trees, Christmas gifts, Christmas shopping, Christmas music, Christmas sermons, and "Merry Christmas" on our lips.

Regardless of politically correct extremists and those that would cater to their godless whims, I believe the overwhelming majority people celebrate Christmas, even if some around us expect us to hide it. So, why do we expect this kind of playacting to be the norm? Why not openly celebrate Christmas and expect others to do the same? Why not wish everyone you meet a 'Merry Christmas' and expect to hear the same in return? Why not be shocked and relate your displeasure when a store clerk or other person responds with a generic 'Happy Holidays'? What if believers everywhere became more open and vocal about our celebration of Christ's birth at this time of year?

What are you expecting this Christmas? The same politically correct nonsense as last year, or a brand new opportunity to proclaim the Christ of Christmas? Remember, we usually get just what we expect.