Losing Our Grip on Christmas (Mike Glenn)

By Mike Glenn

Please forgive me, but this Christmas season finds me at a significant disadvantage. This past October, I stepped down as the Senior Pastor of Brentwood Baptist Church after 32 years. That means I had to bring home my library. Hundreds of books were boxed up and brought home to be stacked in my garage. Slowly, box by box, I’ve been sorting through these boxes and deciding which books I will keep, give away or discard. (Despite what you’ve been told, not every book is worth holding onto. Some books should be thrown in the trash).

Here’s the problem. When I have an idea for an article or blog, I can’t find the book I need to quote. Now, if I was still in my office, I could find the book. It was in the last section of my book case, one third of the way up from the bottom shelf, and it had a black cover. The title of the book is “Consuming Christianity” or “Consuming Faith.” I just can’t think of the title. (I’ll find the book soon and when I do, I’ll have an idea for another topic). 

If you know this book, please let me know. It’s bugging me to no end. If this is your book, please accept my apologies for not giving your proper credit. I’ll find the book and when I do, I’ll write about it. Finding a book you thought you’d lost is like finding money in your pocket. 

Anyway, the book’s premise goes like this. In America, Christianity isn’t attacked as much as it is usurped. When Christians say, “We’d like to celebrate Christmas,” the world says, “That’s a great idea. Would you like for us to stay open late so you can buy everyone you love a gift?” Suddenly, there’s no time to worship. There’s no time to pray. We’re too busy shopping. 

Or traveling. After all, don’t you want to be home for the holidays? The world promises to add extra flights and hotels will have Holiday sales. In fact, we’ll put cars on sale so you can buy a new car for Christmas travels. 

After all, isn’t Christmas about family? Isn’t Christms is about giving? 

No, it’s not. 

Christmas is about Jesus. 

Sadly, most of us will be so exhausted from traveling, cooking, shopping, decorating, wrapping and staying up too late at night putting together children’s toys to be able to celebrate Christmas at all. The Christmas blues all of us experience in January remind us we missed something important at Christmas. 

Don’t let the world take Christmas away from you. Hold on to your heart. Protect your mind. There’s nothing that can be bought with money that can make you happy. Don’t get lured away by the bright lights of the nearest mall. 

Make time for worship. Make time for gratitude. Make time for love. Don’t wear yourself out trying to make everyone else happy during the holidays. 

Christmas is about a God who loves us so much He came into our world. A Father who wants to make sure we can see His love in Living Flesh. Christmas is about being rescued from the darkness of despair and death. 

Don’t lose that. Don’t give that up. Christmas matters. Jesus has come and that changes everything. We don’t need a midnight madness sale to celebrate it. We need a little solitude. 

We need a little quiet. 

Christmas is sitting still long enough for the Child given in Bethlehem to be given to us. To hold Jesus is to hold everything  – love, peace, joy and everything else that really matters. 

Don’t let the world take that away from you. 

Merry Christmas.