Christmas and the Church

The Christmas season is once again approaching and I already see stores setting up displays of Christmas trees, bright lights, and isles filled with toys and other items related to the season. It is with great sadness that I read about the White House no longer erecting a Christmas tree but a ‘holiday’ tree because either they don’t believe in Christmas or they are afraid of offending Muslims and others. While Islam is un-ashamedly declaring they will take over the world and every knee will bow in submission to Allah, Christians are mostly silent on the reason we celebrate Christmas, or perhaps it’s just because most don’t know why Christmas is important.

Just what is Christmas anyway? Is it Santa and a sleigh full of presents for every child? Is it a time of celebration and family get-togethers? Or is it a time for retailers to make up for lagging sales throughout the year?

While all these things might be done during the Christmas season, they are not what Christmas is about! The true meaning of Christmas can be summed up in a verse from the Book of Isaiah:

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” – Isaiah 9:6, 7

Christmas is really about God re-affirming His government on earth. This government was officially re-established nearly 2000 years ago with the birth of the Christ Child, Jesus. To Isaiah it was revealed that His government would increase and have no end. To king David God revealed –

“..I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion. …Now therefore, be wise O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth, serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.” – Psalm 2:6-12.

Satan’s forces claim they will rule the world but it is always through fear, intimidation and violence that they try to achieve their goal. God’s plan is for the government of Christ to be established with “judgment and justice”. It is not forced on anyone but each is given a free choice. We all have sinned in some way and so have earned the reward of death but because of God’s love for us, He made a way to be reconciled through the free sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. His mercy makes a way for all who will choose it.

How are judgment and justice brought forth? Those who follow Jesus, the Christ, are having their senses exercised to discern good and evil. His innocent blood shed for us on the cross cleanses us from sin and guilt. The Holy Spirit, Jesus sends to every believer who asks, is training us to judge every situation, every temptation by holding it up to the light of God’s Word. When we choose God and His standards, true justice is established. We are not only cleansed by the blood of the Lamb but it also gives us judgment, the act of discerning between the good and evil. When we testify of the good, the truth, (and that means act on it) God’s justice is lifted up like a light in the darkness. When we give place to no fear but the fear of God – we overcome. Our prayer rises like sweet smelling incense to God.

Christmas is about God making a way to save us from our self-imposed destruction. As each individual person responds to the free offer of salvation through Christ Jesus, the government of Christ grows.

Christmas is about establishing the government of Christ Jesus in our individual lives. We do that by turning from ideas and actions that will destroy us to the ideals that Jesus and the Word of God teach us. This process is called repentance. Contrary to popular thought, repentance is not just feeling sorry but it is changing from bad to good. It starts with individuals. But when individuals change they can affect their families. And when families change they can affect their communities. And when communities change they can affect their states. And when states change they can affect their nation, and so on. So, every individual has the potential to affect nations for the good!

We celebrate Christmas because it commemorates the birth of the Christ Child. The time God stepped into man’s history with the answer to his problems. The time when God began to bring forth His government on earth that will only increase and have no end.

No matter how bad the world situation looks or how much evil seems to hold sway over mankind, I can celebrate Christmas with joy because it reminds me that Christ is still on the throne of God’s government on earth and it will yet rule all. How can I be sure of this? Because the “zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish it!”