A Christmas Rant...

"Tis the season for Christians everywhere to complain...

Complain that "They (whoever "they" are) have taken Christ out of Christmas and made it X-mas"...even though "X" was a symbol early Christians used to signify Christ.

Complain that "Christmas is becoming a secular holiday"...even though "Christmas" as we know it has always been a weird mix of pagan and Christian traditions.

Complain that "Christmas is become such a materialistic holiday...it's all about merchandising and buying things"...we usually make this complaint when we can't find a place to park at the mall.

Complain that "More kids believe in Santa than Jesus"... when truth-be-told many "christian" households make greater, more elaborate, and certainly more expensive efforts to teach their young children to believe in Santa than to tell them the story of Jesus...

Complain about retailers using signs that say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas"...even though what we call the "Christmas season" IS made up of many holidays in America...and strange as it may seem, retailers would like to sell stuff to anyone, not just "Christians."


I preached Sunday morning with a light up lawn Santa behind me on stage. I don't want to "Fight Santa". (The old dude looks pretty tough anyway) For the love of all that is holy let's stop complaining about what "IS" in our culture...and use it to further the story of Jesus "coming to town". Let's put less effort into fighting atheists over nativity scenes on courthouse lawns, and more time and resources behind telling the story of Jesus in our homes and churches. Let's stop complaining about all the creative marketing behind Santa Clause and get a little creative ourselves. Let's rejoice in the unselfish giving that comes from this season... whatever the reason.

I realize this post isn't very "Christmas-ey"...and technically I just spent the last few paragraphs "complaining about complainers"...but I feel better now :-) I do think I'm going to miss all the "Christmas Crap" that the Pledge had on stage last week... does anyone have any of those plastic light up "noel candle" yard ornaments? an inflatable Rudolph? ...something too tacky to put on your lawn? Bring em'! I think we may have a new actionchurch "tradition"...