Many years ago I heard an irreverent comedian say that the real spirit of Christmas began 2000 years ago, when the Jerusalem Chamber of Commerce met to discuss business.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
“Times are tough,” said one retailer.
“No one wants to spend at this freezing time of year.”
They discussed ideas until one of them said that there was a new-born baby in Bethlehem.
“People are bringing gifts from afar,” he went on.
They called their latest idea “Christmas”, and people have spent money ever since.
The audience laughed, but in today’s Australia, that could almost be true.
Barely a Christmas Carol is heard in retail centres.
Everything is Santa and Christmas trees, all pagan additions to the festive season.
Worse, a recent Roy Morgan Research poll showed an eight per cent drop in the proportion of Australians identifying as Christian in just two years.
Only 52.6 per cent of Australians now say they belong to a Christian denomination, compared to 37.6 per cent who say they have no religion.
So maybe the move away from religious themes at Christmas time is a reflection of Australian society losing faith in God.
On Thursday we are meant to be celebrating the birth of Jesus, the one who came into the world to change the old order and bring peace.
Jesus heralded a break from the war-like traditions of the Old Testament.
He came not as a soldier-king, ready to defeat the enemies by military force as had been the case with Old Testament heroes like King David.
Jesus came into the world in a humble way, and lived as one of us before bringing God’s message that was rejected by the world at that time, resulting in his death.
His message of peace was not appreciated by the authorities, and indeed some of his followers.
“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you ...” are lessons we need to heed today.
If Jesus came today, saying things like, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself,” his word would be rejected, as it was 2000 years ago.
Yet we all know that giving presents isn’t what it is all about.
When I was a school principal, I heard so many stories about family break-up at Christmas.
It was a time of drinking, disappointment, disagreement, and often violence.
A common theme was that the wife, or daughter, or sometimes the husband, had no-one to go to for help.
They had no faith, in themselves or in God. Christmas was not a time of worship and thanksgiving.
They had no church, no “rock” on which to build their lives.
Christmas is a time for renewal, a time to forgive and love one another.
This Christmas go to church and join in the praise and thanksgiving.