Every Christmas when I wish someone "Merry Christmas", I make sure to include "Christ" in there. I don't use the abbreviated form of Christmas with the "X". To Franklin Graham, myself, and others, it's just a means to further secularize the holiday. There are numerous forces already doing that and it becomes worse and worse each year--not better. I posted a YouTube Clip of Sean Hannity speaking to a supposed atheist about Christmas. We have those in our society that are working around the clock to make Christmas "Christ-free". Consequently, it would be a waste of time in my opinion to devote our energy in celebrating Christmas if there is no birth of Christ to celebrate. I am aware there are critics in some religious circles that don't believe Christians should observe Christmas because of all the pagan elements that are incorporated into Christmas as well as the fact nobody knows for sure when Christ was born. I don't know the date he was born either, but why not use this time to remember his birth. If it wasn't for his birth here on earth as a babe in a manger, there would never be a death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. As I've stated numerous times, there has to be a birth before Christ could ever go to Christ to die for our sins.
I know in reading history that the seventeenth century Puritans were opposed to celebrating Christmas because back them for a variety of reasons. One of them was the fact that Christmas during that period was associated with 12 days of feasting, gluttony, drinking, and rioting, etc. It wasn't familial in that period like it is today. Also, they made mention of the fact that December 25th was chosen because of the winter solstice in that time and it was to honor the god Saturnalia. Another reason for their disapproval of Christmas was that the scripture didn't command us to celebrate His birth but it did command us to celebrate his death, burial, and resurrection through the Lord's Supper. I understand where they're coming from and if it's against your conscience to celebrate Christmas, then don't celebrate it. However, I'm of the persuasion that Christ's birth is a joyous occasion worth being celebrated, regardless of what time of year he was born. We have so much to thank him for when we remember his birth because through that act where Mary was conceived by the Holy Spirit and eventually gave birth there would be the day when Christ would die for us on Calvary's cross that we might be redeemed from sin.
X-mas actually is considered an abbreviated form of Christmas but it disturbs me because there are so many businesses and secularists that are trying to expunge not only the nativity scenes from the public square but anything that can bring to man's attention that Christ was once born upon this earth. They want Christmas to be free from anything that has to do with Christianity. It's tragic how far our nation has went down the slippery slope to the abyss.
Christmas has been so commercialized in this day that the average family doesn't celebrate "Christ" in Christmas. Instead many families make Santa Claus a part of their Christmas. They tell their children that Santa Claus is real and he gives gifts to children who are good. They in essence exalt Santa as god instead of glorifying the Lord. All good gifts come from God--not Santa Claus. Also families are so consumed with gift-giving and receiving presents. That's why Black Friday and Christmas shopping is so hectic in this society in this hour. Is it wrong to give and receive presents? No! However, we can become so consumed with gifts that we don't take time and contemplate the reason for the season. The reason is to celebrate Christ's birth. If we forget to remember His birth during this season, then all our Christmas celebrations are in vain. As much as I enjoy Christmas trees, the decorations, and the lights involved, if I forget Christ, then all the decorations we put up for Christmas is in vain. That's why when I set up the tree, I make sure to place the manger scene under the tree to make the statement that Christ is the reason we celebrate Christmas. That's what it's all about.
Proverbs 3:6 states, "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." We need to remember to acknowledge him when we celebrate this holiday season. Otherwise, there would be no reason to celebrate Christmas. Therefore, when I say "Merry Christmas", I'll do so placing "Christ" in Christmas. That's what my family will be doing.
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