"I thank God that Christmas is over". A daughter of a church elder said this recently. I so know what she means.
We always say Christmas is not about the gifts. It's not about the shopping. Yada yada...
Yes, this is applicable for Western countries. People buy gifts for one another during Christmas, even though they are not Christians. It is more like a holiday tradition thingy. They get caught up with shopping and gifts, and they miss out on the real meaning of Christmas.
But take a closer look at our Asian context. Do non-Christians buy gifts for one another during Christmas? Do you think your regular Lim Ah Chong and Karrupiah Munusamy went shopping for Christmas gifts for Siti Fatimah and Santokh Singh? No.
Even if they may be out shopping, it is because of the discount. Not for the gift exchange.
Let's get real. Who are the ones who are really caught up with the shopping? It is not the non-Christians. It is the Christians who get worked up about what gifts to buy for one another.
So why are we telling non-Christians that Christmas is not about the shopping? We are telling the wrong audience.
We say Christmas is a time of remembering the birth of Christ. We should not lose sight of it in the midst of the hustle and bustle of Christmas, yada yada...
But who are the ones who are busiest during Christmas? It is not the non-Christians. It is the Christians who get the most stressed up during this time of year. Presentations. Musicals. Christmas rallies. Caroling. You wanna tell people that Christmas is about one Silent Night? You should be telling the Christians.
Ho ho ho. Such is the irony of Christmas.
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Amen! Look at it this way. What did God say about worshiping false idols. Did he not say, we shall not worship any false idols? Yet again look what Christ says about causing children to sin, and I quote "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea.
So what is Santa Claus then? People tell their children, even some christians do this, that Santa is real (which he isn't) hence their lying, and if their good,( which is a form of worship). He will bring them gifts. So let me ask you this, what does God think about Santa and Christmas?
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