Linus and the Shepherds

    "Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?"
     This is the cry of exasperation given by Charlie Brown.  His good friend Linus steps forward, calls for lights and begins to read the Christmas account of the Shepherds from the Gospel of Luke.  At the end, Linus declares, "That is what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown."
     Clever, however, if you had to sum up the meaning of Christmas in a sentence after reading the Shepherd account, what would you say? 
    There is the story of shepherds, an angelic announcement, the visitation of the shepherds to see the Christ child.  How does this add up to the meaning of Christmas?
     In New Testament times, shepherds were outcasts.  These are the men who could find no work, took a low paying job, did this job half-hearted, and lived a life with little hope.  They needed everything and received nothing.  They had earned nothing from life and deserved little.  Most lived out their lives drinking and hiding in the fields, in an existence which was going no where.
     When God, the Father, announces the birth of His Son, it is not to Kings, to the rich, those people who thought they had no need.  It was to those who needed grace, to people who needed hope, who's only chance at life was an undeserved gift.  The announcement to the shepherds is a picture, of a God who gives what is not earned, who comes to provide a life that is not deserved, who places Himself in the form a child who take on the sins of all those who believe in Him.  He comes to anyone who can relate to the shepherds.  The only gift the shepherds can give is their worship, to see the worth of the one in the manger.  The angels direct them and they freely go to His birthplace and accept.
     Christmas is the realization each person comes before God not on the merit of their own efforts, but on the reception of a gift.  You may not be exactly in the place of a shepherd in terms of job and status, but before God your need is the same.  Here is the one with the answers, who gives freely to you if you will only recognize His worth.
     And that is what Christmas is all about.

Linus Video

Enjoy

            Enjoy.  A simple word.

            For the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of writing for a magazine with Enjoy as the name.  This one word sets the perspective or the worldview of the magazine.  Each article must embody the concept of enjoy.” I write about places people can enjoy, personalities whose work and lives can be enjoyed, businesses where owner and customer alike enjoy, and activities which people enjoy.  Fifty articles later, I’m still writing about the concept of enjoy.

            The word is only found once in the Gospels, in relation to John the Baptist:  “John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.” (John 5:35)  What I find interesting in this verse, is not the word enjoy but the phrase “for a time.”  Perspective is often fleeting. 

            Christmas is often like this.  For a time we enjoy Jesus.  The baby in the manger gives us a feeling of good will and compassion.  As the season passes, so does our perspective.  The enjoyment of Christmas, turns to a more secular view of the world and God once again takes a backseat to our own opinions and wants. 

            One reason Jesus came was to change our perspective of the world.  The words we say, the feelings we hold, our interpretations of events in the world.  I want to challenge you this Christmas, avoid only holding Jesus and His view of the world for a time.  Let God find you fifty Christmas seasons from now from now still viewing the world through the concept of enjoy.

            “Joy to the world, the Lord has come.  Let earth receive her King.”

The Christ in Christmas

Earlier this week, Mayor Nutter of Philadelphia redefined the season.  Every year, near city hall, the German Christmas Village is set up.  After concerns from the city, the organizer felt it was necessary to remove the word "Christmas" and replace it with the word "Holiday".  In fairness to Mayor Nutter, he had nothing to do with the complaint or removal.  The action was instigated by others.  However, the Mayor came to the defense of the action.  When asked why he supported the word change he said, "The Christmas Village is not a religious service."

Strange he thinks the word "Christmas" can only be used in a religious service.  If you apply his logic that religious terms should not be used except for services I wonder what happens to Saint Valentine's, Saint Patrick's, Easter, and Thanksgiving.  The choice of replacement word is interesting also.  Holiday means "Holy Day."  

The Mayor was right when he pointed out his city is one of multi-faiths.  Christianity is meant to be present in the marketplace of ideas.  In a culture which promotes tolerance, it is afraid of religious ideas.  With Hanukkah attacks in the Midwest and with the yearly trashing of Christianity, one wonders what tolerance means.  

The truth is, the Judeo-Christian faith challenges culture.  The quest for ethics, values, and meaning of the individual are drained away in a world which pushes away answers in the name of tolerance while wanting the benefits of religion without acknowledging the source.

Christmas means "the celebration of Christ."  Remove Christ and you just have a celebration.  Fun, but empty and without meaning.  The greatest gift culture can receive is content, truth, and purpose.  Thus Mr. Mayor, perhaps you were right in reinstating Christmas back into your sign today.