An item in the news this week caught my attention. A man named David Grisham dressed up as the Grinch and held a sign in front of the local elementary school that stated, “Santa is Fake. Jesus is real!” This caused a significant stir. The police were summoned but after much ado did not arrest him. They stated, “He was not breaking any laws.” However, one parent expressed the anger of those gathered by grabbing Grisham’s sign and throwing it to the ground.

The principal of the school said that Grisham was, “Unwanted and uninvited.” Obviously, this basic and simple sign made such a stir the encounter was sent out into the national news media. In an interview with Grisham he stated the following, “I understand why they are upset. They are upset because they are prideful and do not want to admit that lying to their child is wrong in spite of what God’s Word says. They are more concerned with the traditions of men than the truth.” One person on the scene asked Grisham why he would choose to ruin the “magic” of Christmas. Grisham responded, “I am not concerned with the magic of Christmas as the miracle of Christmas in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ.”

I think the most interesting thing about this news item is how quickly and simply it stirred up what we would think of as typical parents into a high pitch of anger. Having lived in Amarillo I know it as a very conservative city. It would be labeled by comparison to most cities as a Bible culture. I remember years ago one of the news media calling it, “The last place on earth where real men exist.” The grammar school where this occurred is located in a quiet higher income neighborhood. I would suspect that 90% of the people in this neighborhood go to a church and profess to be Christian.

I do not know what conviction prompted Grisham to dress as the Grinch with this sign and go to this particular grammar school. Regardless of his intention, what this exposed is something much more important. People are not ashamed of Santa Claus and will defend him who is fictitious, more than they would Christ who is their God and only Savior. Another way of saying it is that to them, Christmas is more about Santa than it is about Christ. The person who stated that Grisham was taking the “magic” out of Christmas displays this incredible attitude. We know that there is no comparison of all the made-up stuff to the glory of what God did in giving His Son in the incarnation. Yet, these do not have that perspective.

This is a serious matter. Because of this some would ask, should we who know better reframe from celebrating Christmas altogether, rather than being as those who deny Christ? There are within evangelical Christendom different attitudes about whether Christmas should be celebrated at all, and a larger group who would ask how is it to be celebrated? Some enlist the argument that because the actual date of the birth of Christ is unknown, and because of the origin of December 25^th is built on traditions, it should not be celebrated at all. Others would say the exact date of Christ’s birth does not matter.

The fact of His incarnation as the Son of God and Savior must be celebrated and honored. Some others would state that “yes” we should honor Christ not just because of a date set to do so, but every day! Others would say, even based on the story above, that all the glittery traditions have ruined any possibility of a true celebration of Christ’s birth. Others would argue that not all traditions are bad, and that our sovereign God has laid these things before us to challenge our true allegiance to Him. Ironically, there is truth in each one of these positions.

Arguing for celebration, it is interesting to consider that people of all backgrounds in society make issues of one another’s birthdays. This has been done not only by those within a family who genuinely love one another, but even in most workplaces people share their birthdays and time is allotted for celebration. Birthdays were celebrated as well in Israel. It was a significant event when a boy reached the age of Bar Mitzvah. I believe this situation falls within the discussion by Paul in matters of conscience as found in Romans 14-15.

I cannot tell anyone how to celebrate Christmas. But I can say what must be essential. Our Lord Jesus Christ must be loved and appreciated regardless of what others are doing or not doing. He is our God and Savior and the most important Person born. His incarnation is not only a reality, but a glorious event given emphatic attention in Scripture and in history. We can look at a passage like Isaiah 9:6, “For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” and our grateful hearts should burst with joy.

His birth is the starting point of who He is, “For a Child will be born to us.” God fulfilled this promise, and yet its full completion remains.  He who came by human birth has yet to accomplish all that God promised through Isaiah, and He is coming again for that completion. His coming in the incarnation cannot be separated from His substitutionary cross, or His future coming in great glory. And doesn’t Isaiah 9:6, along with many other passages, display this truth? His birth represents far more than a baby.

It was the Son of God who came according to promise to rescue desperate man from his destruction in sin. This passage only touches on the magnitude of all that surrounds His coming as God in the flesh. Should this therefore not be celebrated with the highest degree of gratitude? I think it surely and joyfully must be celebrated. And, as with all true Christianity it begins in our hearts. It is in our hearts that God focuses His attention.

          Yes, I know that the glory of Christ’s birth has been hijacked by some traditions that have sadly taken many to an idolatrous focus, but not all traditions are wrong focused. I think the statement of Christ when Peter sought the Lord about John’s role in the future is applicable. Christ said, “What is that to you, you follow Me.” This issue, as with all spiritual matters in life is personal and hinges on whether our relationship with Christ is real. Do we love Him? Do we wish to express our love to Him? That is the issue for those who seek to celebrate the birth of the Lord during this season and beyond. I hope you can join us in worship this coming Sunday to express your joy and thankfulness for so great a Savior.