The Value of Christmas
I
went to the store the other day, during the week before
Christmas.....Christ-Mass......Christ's Birth.
I wasn't doing anything wrong. I wasn't even trying to participate in the annual materialistic orgy which we have blasphemously called "Christmas." I needed some paper for the computer's printer. As I passed by row after row of games designed to give the user as realistic an experience as possible decapitating endless waves of bad guys, I noticed the "*** Special Christmas Sale ***" sign advertising the simulated computer murder.
I was nauseous, until I noticed the line of customers 7 deep begging to buy these abominations. At that point I became physically ill.
This cannot possibly be what YHSWH (Jesus) The Christ had in mind when He came to earth......In the name of He who had to ask for a penny, we spend incomprehensible amounts of money on what can only be called excrement......
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The so-called Church, the Ecclesia, those "Called-out" to be separate from the world, are hardly any better......Christmas trees adorn so-called "Sanctuaries"....The materialistic orgy is simply rebaptized, as children are told "Just remember, kiddies, that as you rip open your "G. I. Joe Kill-it-if-it-moves action figures, that we do this because God gave the world Jesus........"
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Even those in the Church who attempt to put a genuine spiritual angle on the season (usually) miss the point. Advent (the 4 weeks before Christmas) is at best (with the rare exception) presented as a time of preparation for the 2nd coming of Christ. While in many ways valid, this all-too-quickly falls into "The end of the world in near" type of preaching. What is more, it keeps the congregation passive, waiting for Jesus to return.
So........Laying aside the pejorative diatribe, and granting that the whole "December thing" is polluted and essentially past redemption, what is the genuinely spiritually inclined soul to do?
There is an answer, and that's my purpose here.
One of the central ideas we teach in The Church of Yahweh is that there's more to the spiritual life than being forgiven. So many local Churches fail their members in this essential aspect - the worshippers are encouraged to confess their sins, and be assured of God's forgiveness, but that's all-too-often where it ends.
The Witness of the Scriptures is startling by comparison. It calls for a direct, real, complete transformation of the Christian into the Living Presence of Christ Himself!
The Bible calls this The Mystery of the Ages:
Col 1:26-28...the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. NIV
Gal 4:19-20 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you...NIV
The truth of the Bible is clear: Beyond forgiveness lies the upward call of God, that Christ will be formed in you and life through you, that you can be renewed, holy & perfect.
The central notion is this:
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Never does the Bible permit us simply to sit Christ on a throne to watch & worship. His life must become our life. Through baptism we are to be united with Him (Romans 6 & 7); We must carry our crosses so that our ego can be slain with Him. Then we will be empowered to be raised with Him to the new life in the Spirit. Eventually, we can say with Paul (a one-time murderer), "It is no longer I who live, but Christ Who lives in me"(!) (Galatians 2:20)
This is what we call True Religion, living the life through the power of Christ in you!
The value of Christmas? Hopefully it is clear now. For the spiritual person, trying to genuinely rise above the cacophony of the society around him, Christmas can be a time to experience Christ's Rebirth Within.
For centuries the Church has celebrated what's called The Church Year.
 | It begins early December, with Advent, the 4 weeks before Christmas |
| Then Christmas itself, |
| Epiphany, |
| Lent |
| Passion Week |
| Easter |
| and Pentecost |
The Church Year cyclically relives all the essential events of Christ's life, death & resurrection.
Those events of His life must become the spiritual events of our life!
As we live the resurrected life in the Spirit, we need daily renewal. Again, as Paul says, "I die daily." (1 Cor 15:31) In addition, the annual commemorating of these events, shared with fellow spiritual aspirants, can generate great power.
So sing the Christmas carols, wrap presents, visit your friends. If you must, share with them tokens of your esteem & love. But please don't limit this to the last week in December.
But when you have a moment of peace, close your eyes......Focus within your heart (no, this is not a form of meditation that will send you to Hell), and ask God to grant you a glimpse of the baby Christ living there. He rests peacefully, while all around Angels sing their heavenly witness (Can you hear them?), encouraging you to nourish the Baby Jesus with prayer and love, that He might grow to full stature, living His Life perfectly through you.
Then realize that you are not alone.
And give me a call. (760) 749-6281 San Diego, California, USA
Merry Christmas
Ahyh
For further reading....
Here's a meditation from The Stations of the Cross, showing the amazing parallels between Jesus' Birth and Death.
And, this is my favorite Christmas Song.
