Just wondering...
Is Christmas just for the rich of the world?
Is it just for those who can afford to buy gifts for everyone on their list?
Is it just for those who can afford to decorate with beautiful lights and expensive ornaments?
Is it just for those who can throw lavish Christmas parties in their beautiful homes?
Is it just for those who have all of their shopping done by the middle of December and all of their gifts wrapped and under the tree for all to admire?
Is it just for those who can afford to take a Disney Cruise for Christmas?
Is it just for those who can afford to go from mall to mall, buying whatever meets their fancy?
Is it just for Christians who drop a dollar in the little red bucket and feel like they've done their part for the 'needy'?
Is it only for those who sit down to a sumptuous meal on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, as well?
Would the Son of God, Who left all of the riches of heaven behind to be born in a dingy stable, naked and cold among the filth of the animals in the barn, recognize our Christmas?
Would He feel welcomed?
Would we even recognize Him if He came to our party, dressed in rags and begging for our care?
Would He feel welcomed in the richest church in the world - the church in America? Even if He came, do we have any room for someone like Him at our table? In our pew? I wonder...
Or would He choose instead to spend His Christmas with the orphans, the widows, the poor, the abandoned, the neglected, the rejected and despised, the persecuted, the reviled, the lost, the sick, the dying, the brokenhearted?
Do we care where He goes as long as He doesn't mess up 'our' Christmas? Or, does He think it belongs to Him?
Scripture Reference: John 1:11 NKJV
"He came unto His own, and His own received Him not."
So true. I just saw a book online with the title, "Christmas is Not Your Birthday." I think Americans have become accustomed to thinking that Christmas is their birthday. I would rather spend money on those that actually need it than buying gifts for those that have it all and then some.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, Shannon! I do believe in celebrating the birth of our Savior, but I have become very uncomfortable with the greed and self-centered focus of how we, as Christians in America, do Christmas. I have begun to be much more aware of the poor and deprived around the world, even here at home in America. The American church, overall, seems to be oblivious to the suffering around us and are high on a "lets get all we can get" party for ourselves. It is ridiculous to think that this is how Jesus wants us to celebrate His birth. Who are we kidding?! The church in America doesn't want to look at itself. This is the least popular post I have written to date. I hate to be a "prophet of doom", but I believe we have some accounting to do for our extravagant spending on self while tuning out the suffering around us. I believe God is giving us a wake up call before it's too late. Reminds me of the letter to the church of Laodicea: "I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' - and you do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked...' He who has an ear, let him hear..."
ReplyDeletePretty strong words from the Lord, not me! We seem to have very select hearing about what we embrace from the Word of God and what we prefer to ignore...
It's sad but very true. Even my very own sister-in-law is so concerned about not being able to "provide" as many presents as in the past due to their hardships this year.What will the children think?!
ReplyDeleteSee how the enemy has twisted the celebration of this most loving of days. We end up suffering for all the wrong reasons because we are looking at the wrong thing... We so need to recapture the true meaning of Christmas!
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