Maybe it’s a lack of Christmas Cheer. Maybe it’s a lack of caffeine (I’ve been cutting back)… But recently I’ve had some problems getting into the Christmas spirit.
By “the Christmas Spirit,” I mean the American-November-24th-through-
December-25th-Christmas spirit. Don’t get me wrong; I like buying and making gifts for people. And I definitely like the constant supply of holiday candy and cookies that has been flowing into my office. But as far as feeling more loved, more loving, or more in tune to God in my life. I’m not feeling all too different.
Let me explain…
Earlier this week, I was interviewed for another newspaper about the decision to close the church building on Christmas Sunday. After getting misquoted in the KC Star, I decided to write the statement out and then ask that the reporter send me the article for fact checking before it went to the presses. I got the article from him Tuesday and read over it. Except for putting the wrong attendance number (he put too many), everything seemed to be right. I’ll save you the time of reading the lengthy article, and instead just provide you with part of my quote that has really got me thinking…
?…We believe that worshiping God for what Christ has done for us is constant and continuous and should be celebrated every day.?
Constant.
Continuous.
Every day.
I remember back when we had our Easter services here at Westside. We spent a LOT of time planning, rehearsing and putting together visual elements for this service. Like weeks – compared to days which we typically spend. Same with Christmas. Why do we do that? Why do we put the emphasis on two weekends a year?
I know the answer – how we have more people who are spiritually curious that will come on those two days. And that is true…
But are we, as Christ followers, just as guilty as the secular world in commercializing Christmas? But instead of using Santa and snow men, we use mangers, and candlelight, and angels that we have heard on high. It’s like we treat Mary, Joseph and the Wise Men like distant relatives…we occasionally mention them in passing but really only see them once a year around the holidays. Why do we only sing hymns of our Saviour’s birth one weekend a year? Why isn’t the birth of Christ celebrated more throughout the year? I know we are each personally responsible for our own lives of continuous worship, but as church leaders, aren’t we also responsible for setting that same example to those who worship with us? Based on the way we do things now, what example are we setting?
Comments
16 responses to “Pardon my Lack of Holiday Sentiment”
AnneBanan, Yup, I am in total agreement here with you sista girl. I have really struggled this year. Even today, I trecked out into the Walmart crowd and I can’t figure it out. So frustrating.
good question. i do think we are guilty about commercializing Christmas. And we don’t really celebrate Jesus’ birth that often, but we do celebrate Christ. Is there a big difference in that. i don’t know. i understand the not getting into the Christmas spirit bit too. i was trying to figure out why that was, and i’m not quite sure. i think it may have something to do with me not getting exactly what i want this year (selfish, i know, but that’s a part of me and i’m aware of it) and i was thinking about how people ask what your favorite part about Christmas is, and all of the “selfless” people say it is getting together with family we don’t see all too often. i’m guilty of making this statement too, but i’ve realized that coming from me and others, it’s a lie. i love my family, no question about that, but often after the first one of the season (i have 5 in my family) i would rather not attend the rest. they make me stressed and nervous and self-concious. I think that the “Christmas spirit” shouldn’t be all that different from our attitudes all year long. Christ calls us to be selfless and giving of all our resources all 52 weeks of the year, not just the two i get off for Christmas break, and even as those 2 weeks are approaching, i realize now that i am still completely focused on my self, and not so much trusting God as i should be, but feeling overwhelmed because it seems as if i’m having to give up my dreams. Only now i realize that the reason i feel so unenthused is that the passion in my Dreams dwindle when they are absent of God’s hand. As does the Joy i’m entitled to all-year-round when i neglect the presence of God.
Wow, God and i have a lot of talking to do. Thanks anne. i love you
tracy
honestly i have felt the lack of christmas cheer as well… and not sure why.
meaning i feel my own lack… not feeling yours…
man – there is NO Christmas anywhere where I live! And you know what I do? I just smile at people and with that ever lovin’ LOVE and JOY and HOPE that is Christ! I wish them a Merry Christmas. And you know what they do? Jew or otherwise? They light up! YUP, that’s what they do.
and………………….. no body is gonna rain on my God’s parade!
God, it’s good to be alive!
Anne, I rarely feel any “Christmas Spirit”…what is that anyway? I know I won’t put this in the right words, but you know me, so maybe you’ll be able to track my train of thought.
I get very annoyed the way that christians doggedly guard the whole christmas holiday…as if it is a mandate from God to celebrate that day. I see nowhere in scripture where it says to even observe the day that Christ was born. If there was then we wouldn’t be celebrating it in the middle of winter. Would shepherds been out watching their flocks in the middle of winter? I think not!
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think Christmas is a bad idea, I just think the majority of people are kidding themselves about why they even celebrate the holiday. For the most part it’s just a secular holiday. How else do you explain decorated trees in our homes, socks hung by the fireplace, fat old men in red suits that hang out with elves and flying reindeer, going deeper into debt in order to buy the kids the most popular toys and gorging ourselves on a huge meal to top it all off?? What part of any of that is “christian”? Sure christians throw in a church/christmas cantata service and MAYBE read Luke 2 before they go to bed christmas eve, and they are sure to wear their “jesus is the reason for the season”shirts/buttons/hats/etc, but it doesn’t change the fact that for the most part it’s a secular holiday, we just do it all in the name of Jesus.
Just call me the “Grinch who loves Jesus, but doesn’t love Christmas”.
AH!
i just wrote a novel of a comment to you, full of wondrous wisom, and it said there was an error, and now this is all you get!!
you should have kept xanga commenting! then this never wouldve happened! it was a novel, a masterpiece, my best comment ever! gah!
Eleven things you should do between now and Christmas:
1. Watch Frosty, Rudolph, The Grinch (cartoon, not the movie), Charlie Brown, Miracle on 34th Street, A Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation, and A Christmas Carol.
2. Build a snowman.
3. Go sledding.
4. Spend at least two hours in the mall Christmas shopping.
5. Listen to Nat King Cole sing “The Christmas Song” and Dr. Elmo sing, “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.”
6. Take a child to visit Santa.
7. Drive around and look at Christmas lights.
8. Make a Christmas list and mail it to Santa (even if you get none of it for Christmas).
9. Curl up by a Christmas tree and a fire (hopefully not a Christmas tree on fire) and drink hot chocolate.
10. Read, “Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus” and “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
11. Forget that you are an adult, and remember what it was like to be a kid and believe in magic.
You’ll find yourself connecting with God in a way that can’t be found in scripture or church. There is a reason Jesus tells us to become like children.
Merry Christmas Anne.
Thanks for sharing where you’re at, Anne. I always struggle to connect with God at Christmas. There are are lots of efforts to rename Christmas the ‘winter season’ (or something like that) here and, as you’d expect lots of Christians are protesting. And part of me doesn’t like the idea of that at all either. But then I though how for me – as a Christian – I find Christmas one of the hardest times in the year to focus on Christ at all. How much of Christmas is about Christ at all really? And I say that about Christians too. We kind of fit Him in (in as short a service as possible) so that we can get on with the real meaning of Christmas: presents, eating, and family fall outs. It makes me wonder what might Christmas look like if it was really all about Christ?
I remember chatting with someone from Ghana who was staying with us one Christmas and asking him what they did on Christmas day. He said that they would pretty much spend the whole day gathered as a church, worshipping God. Makes you think, huh?!
(Sorry, that was a bit of a ramble!)
first of all – steve’s comment of 11 things to do… gave me goosebumps and i think we have a mission anne to accomplish the entire list…. lets do it.
:)
Hey Anne, I’ve started a post asking people to share the top three books that have shaped who they are in terms of their relationship and walk with God. I’d love to have your input if you get a chance!
once upon a time, i saw a sitcom (can’t remember which one) where someone decided to actually roast chestnuts in their fireplace, taking the idea from ‘the christmas song’. it started a housefire. :)
i think a lot of christians put a lot of pressure on themselves at easter and christmas, and even a lot of non-christians put a lot of pressure on themselves at christmas, because they’re trying to pull off the perfect holiday, whether it’s a mom trying to impress her family with the way she cooks circles around martha stewart, chevy chase trying to bring his dysfunctional family (i think family dysfunction and loneliness are a major reason a lot of people really aren’t happy around this time of year, more than the lack of sun, more than the secularization of christmas, might not apply to everyone i guess, but that’s just a thought) together for just one special day, or a church trying to make a difference in the lives of people who might stop by for just one or two days out of the year. i think it’s great that churches want to make the most out of an opportunity to serve people, but when the production and craziness of it all causes those serving to be burned out instead of lit up inside, there’s a problem. maybe we should keep it simple and give each other some space to explore the mystery…
ever watched trapped in paradise? great christmas flick… and i can’t believe steve left off singing christmas carols… geez.
This is an interesting topic for me, because I LOVE this time of year. Don’t know why, I just do. The Christmas songs, the snowflake decorations, the parties, the hot beverages. But I didn’t grow up in Christian home, so for the first 20 or so years of my life, I didn’t equate “Christmas” with the birth of Christ. So it is sort of a challenge for me to bring the two together, as elementary as it sounds. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the trees, some of the songs (but if I hear another Christmas carol sung by Neil Diamond I think I might hurl!), I think those things are fun and great traditions and memories can be made around those things. But, like it was said at service tonight (a Christmas service not on Christmas? gasp!), history hinges on the birth of this man Jesus. We celebrate our own birthdays, and the birthdays of all our friends and family. Not that we should have balloon and cake filled cheesy parties, but the day deserves some sort of recognition and reflection. This day in history was the birth of our SAVIOR and it split time in two.
And adding to the list of 11, I went to the plaza shopping and as busy and ridiculous as it was it really lifted my spirits. Nothing like the plaza lights at Christmas time.
So my brother calls me and says, “you’re coming over on Sunday, right?” I say, “Yeah, sure…whatever.” THEN I look at the calendar and go, “Oh crap, Sunday is Christmas!” NOT good. Today is my first day off. I may actually get into the Christmas spirit today.
you’re so pretty, anne.
have a great christmas