My favorite TV Christmas Special is A Charlie Brown Christmas I like it because of one particular scene in the show. Charlie Brown is a bit depressed around Christmas time. Everyone is talking about what they want Santa to bring them. Lucy tells Charlie that Christmas is a "Big commercial racket run by a syndicate in the east." Charlie Brown is called on to direct the Christmas play and no one listens to him. They are all into their own thing. Charlie brings in a small natural Christmas tree because he thinks it needs him and everyone laughs at him.
Finally, in frustration, Charlie yells, "Doesn't anyone know what Christmas is all about?" Linus steps forward and says, "Sure, Charlie Brown, I do" A spot light shines down on him and he recites:
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
(Luke 2:8-14)
He concludes by saying, "That's what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown."
It seems that the commercial interests, the right wing radicals, the left wing radicals, even the passionate Christian activists have forgotten this. We are so focused on what is said in a greeting or a corporate ad campaign that we have forgotten "the reason for the season." Whether we say "Happy Holidays," "Merry Christmas," or even "Merry X-mas" we all know the holiday being referred to. It is the one and only national holiday based entirely on a Biblical event. We can't escape that.
This is much more important than a word in a greeting. Some people have become so focused on the word "Christmas" they have forgotten about the Christ of Christmas. He came to bring Peace on Earth, Good will toward men, to lead us to glorify God. The recent debates have done little to promote peace, good will or the glory of God. And it has done the devils work by distracting from the true meaning of Christmas.
Christmas cannot be separated from Good Friday and Easter. They are a package deal. Although Christmas has become the most celebrated holiday in our culture, the early church celebrated Easter for almost two centuries before celebrating Christmas. Why? It was what Christianity was all about. The miracle of the virgin birth would be only a physiological novelty or a less vulgar version of the Pagan stories of young women seduced by anthropomorphic Gods giving birth to heroes. But this story is different. This is not a half-divine hero. This is not even the story of a great teacher. This is the story of a redeemer, who pays the price of redemption by his own death. This is the Holy God who becomes the perfect man so he can die, not for his own sins, but for those of others. He is not dying for the "sin of the world" in the abstract, but for my sins, for those times I was hateful, or prideful, when I lied, when I stole, when I wanted someone dead, when I was unkind, when I did wrong. He died for me. He died for you. He didn't die for the "sin of the world" in the abstract. He died for the "Sin of Terri" up close and personal. He was the redeemer and the redemption together.
And then he rises from the dead, triumphant on the third day. He gives us the hope of eternal life. Not just an extension of our regular lives indefinitely, but of a transformed, transphysical existence which transcends the boundaries of regular physical existence. It is a great promise and a great hope.
The fight over Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas will soon be over. It will be a small scrimmage in the culture war, soon forgotten. What will endure is the work of Christ on the Cross. God gave you and me a gift. It is a gift of eternal life. It lies under your Christmas tree today (even if you don't have a tree). It is wrapped with a tag with your name on it and signed "Love Jesus". Will you leave it under the tree, or will you open it up? The choice is yours. He gave you the gift. But will you receive it.
Have a Merry Christmas, a Happy Holiday Season, but most of all, have a joyous Easter of the Soul as you celebrate your own Resurrection in Christ.
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