A Christian Christmas?
There is an unwritten rule in America that you don't start listening to Christmas music until after our Thanksgiving holiday (near the end of November). I am one of those hopeless sentimentalists who could listen to Christmas music all the year round, so recently I pulled out my Christmas CDs.
One of the CDs we bought last year is titled, A Christian Christmas. Now, it shouldn't surprise anyone that the adjective in the title is needed. Not only do many Christmas traditions dismiss Christ, but some go directly against core Christian values. Yet, it somehow still amazes me. Whenever I view the CD cover, I ask, “is there another kind of Christmas?” even though I know there is.
The surprise of this CD is not just the title. When we first picked up the CD, we assumed it would be filled with many songs about Christ the King and the meaning of his birth. While there are a few songs about Jesus, more than half of the songs on the three-disc set were about snow, reindeer, Santa, etc.. Of course, we don't object to singing those songs but there is nothing distinctively Christian about these Christian Christmas CDs. What made this a set of Christian Christmas songs? Not the lyrics, but rather, the singers: the songs were all sung by various Christian recording artists.
What would have made this a true Christian Christmas CD? Songs filled with grateful praise to the Father for sending His Son. Songs filled with adoration of the Son who willingly made himself nothing to be our servant (Philippians 2). It takes much more than words sung by a Christian to be Christian.
For me, this is a wonderful reminder to live out the trust I have in the gospel. I am often too settled in my life and way of thinking because of the mere title of Marty the Christian. All my actions aren't consecrated just because I call myself a Christian. Instead, I need to be doing such distinctively Christian actions that people will recognize them and give glory to the Father in heaven (Matt 5:17).
What would make me a true Christian Christian? Loving my enemies. Giving thanks in all situations. Taking every opportunity and making many sacrifices to lovingly explain the gospel to those who need a truly Christian Christmas.