Many people think Christmas is a great day to relax and take in a football game, while enjoying some good food and drink. Some think it evolves around office parties, consuming alcohol, and making merry with family and friends. To others it’s all about giving and receiving the “right” gift from those we care about. Many have bought into the rampant commercialization that has come to define “An American Christmas!” The amount of money spent, with paper and plastic, on “Christmas presents” dictates whether most businesses end the year in the red or black! To them Christmas is all about the “bottom line.” Because of that, many well intentioned Christmas shoppers get caught up in the bargains, that flood the stores this time of year. Many end up spending way beyond what their budget allows. Far to many children know more about Santa Clause, and all the “gift’s” he’s going to bring them, than on the true “gift” God gave to us in His Son Jesus.
In actuality the Christmas season brings about some the highest alcohol consumption of the year. Suicides and attempted suicides take a dramatic upswing during this time. For many it’s a depressing time of the year! When the true meaning of Christmas is lost, it’s not unusual for families to quarrel and fight because of expectations not being met.
How sad that we as a nation, founded on Christian principles, have allowed the world an “open door policy” into our morals and values! It was once said “Every generation of Christians is responsible for ever generation of sinners!” To that I can only say the Church is failing. Of course I believe there is still a remnant of “True Believers” in the world, but the luke warm compromised church keeps sliding down the slippery slope of being non-consequential. Sadly it’s this over indulged, self absorbed, church that most unbelievers experience, and thus draw their conclusions about what a Christian is! To those poor souls the Church needs to ask forgiveness, and pray that God will restore the Bride of Christ to her rightful position of faithfully fallowing Jesus The Christ.
The above picture was taken of me and my little family in 1983 at Redeemer Fellowship Church. God was, and is, good!
Mike