My family and I have safely returned to the real world from our visit to the Magic Kingdom. And, while I’m slowly getting back into a routine, Jessica from Bohemian Bowmans has written a challenging guest post about the meaning of Christmas celebrations. I hope you’ll be inspired to take a look at what and why you and your family do the things you do. She has a much different writing voice than me, so this is a great change up for Pop Parables. Enjoy!
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It’s a question that haunts me every Christmas and Easter; How do I celebrate the awesomeness of my God without turning the holidays into a conglomeration of wastefulness and trivialness?
I don’t pretend to have stuck the perfect balance.
Photo Courtesy of J Jackson Photography
And I understand that God doesn’t hate traditions, or festivities, or celebrations. I get that, I do. I mean, He instituted quite a few, Himself, back in the day. Yet, I can’t help but feel that we’ve lost our focus.
Sometimes I feel like we’re forcing symbolism and relevancy into traditions just so we feel better about them. You know the, wise-men-gave-gifts-so-we-give-gifts kind of thing. Or the Jesus-birthday-cake kind of thing. Or the 10,000-light-nativity-spectacular-yard-display kind of thing.
Some might argue that none of these things are inherently sinful. And they’d be right. But God can see into a man’s heart and see where its treasure truly lies. And He mentioned quite a few times when He was wearing skin that we can also tell men by their actions. It’s not usually very hard spiritual math, really.
So – what do our actions say about us? What do our bank accounts say about us? What do our decorations say about us? What do our traditions say about us?
Actions truly do speak louder than words.
Paul said, You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.
Or how about the Amplified version?
All things are legitimate [permissible--and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome). All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life]. Let no one then seek his own good and advantage and profit, but [rather] each one of the other [let him seek the welfare of his neighbor].
So we have to ask ourselves. Are our Christmas traditions helpful? Are they constructive or beneficial? Are they wholesome or edifying? Are they concerned about the good of others? And by “others” I don’t just mean the family members that we may over-spend on each year.
It’s reported that Americans spend over 400 billion dollars each Christmas. Are the majority of those dollars beneficial? Are they constructive? These are important questions.
God has been convicting the heart of my family for several years now and we’ve slowly changed the way we celebrate. We got rid of our Christmas tree because (besides its Pagan roots) we felt it was a huge distraction and idol in the midst of our traditions. We also stopped buying gifts, but instead started making/baking our holiday cheer. And we started giving to missions organizations instead, like Compassion International.
Because we don’t want an “us” centered Christmas. If Christmas were about me it’d be called Jessicamas. I don’t want my children’s most poignant Christmas memories to be of lights and presents and trees.
Those things are permissible, but are they beneficial?
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From Keri: If that doesn’t make you go Hmmmmm, take a look at this video from Advent Conspiracy.
Jessica is a recovering teenage mother who has been married to the funniest guy in the world for 11 years. She aspires to write better, love deeper, and live for God in Asia. You can find her blogging at Bohemian Bowmans. You can also follow her on Twitter and Facebook.
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Nice. If more Christians would do as you do instead of wasting time protesting on the lawn of a courthouse in Texas over an unconstitutional manger scene display, I imagine unbelievers would have more respect for us. However, although I like your sentiment I also like my Christmas tree, my decorations, my lights, and my presents. I like that it makes my children happy, that it creates wonderful family memories that will hopefully buffer the cruelty that life will undoubtedly hand them at some point. I like the way my homes smells with fresh pine and my kitchen smells with cookies. I like Christmas as a celebration in general of love, family, and giving. I applaud you. But I’m pretty happy at this point with what my family does also.
great points Bowman! we gave up most gifts awhile ago. although you need to watch your heart with that too. It’s easy to fall back on spirituality when you’re really just being cheap. we substitute righteous indignation for selfish stuff all the time, like cheapness, discomfort, laziness, etc.
Great points right back at ya.
Though for the record, we’re not cheap, we’re poor. YOU trying making $250 a week!
lol i wasn’t accusing you, mr sensitive pants
That’s MRS. Sensitive Pants, thankyouverymuch.
Thank you so much for writing an introspective and thoughtful piece, Jessica. I really appreciate your thoughts here.
I think that these same principles should be applied to everything really, but most specifically anything we do “in the name of Christ”. It’s so easy to get caught up in ministry opportunities, Bible studies, and church commitments. But, what is my heart’s desire there? Is it to satisfy some moral obligation I have to the church? Is it to create works of merit of my own accord, to lay hold of more jewels in my crown? Or is to truly reach out to others in need or to further my relationship with Christ?
Specifically with regard to Christmas, I am less inclined to want to go the route of the holiday madness that has nothing to do with the birth of Christ. Each year I want it less and less. But, I admit, it is really hard to fight the culture and not feel like a complete Scrooge. I want to be more intentional about creating memories with my family and sharing the love of Christ in a way that celebrates the season, but doesn’t take away from it. I also will say, it takes awhile to get there. Like you mentioned, it happened gradually with your family. I really enjoy the tradition of Advent, and that is one way that our family can/does focus on Christ’s birth.
Great post. Over the last few years I have really taken stock in life of what I have and what I don’t have. Quite frankly, I have all I need. I no longer need birthday presents, or Christmas presents. I appreciate it when someone does give me a present. But If I am asked I sincerely say no, don’t buy me a presnet. I already have I all I need. I have my Lord, family, friends. I just don’t want to fill my life with just stuff that is going to collect dust. But I also think of what we could do with the $400 billion dollars that are spent during Christmas. That money is larger than many of economies in Africa. We should spend the money where it’s going to make the biggest impact, i.e. the hungry, the hurting, those in darkness who don’t know Christ. God Bless, thanks for the post.
Culture always plays a role in how we celebrate. Not only birthdays, thanksgiving, Christmas, but even Easter. This culture has really robbed the true meaning of each celebration. The gift of life, the gift of thanksgiving, the gift of Emmanuel, the gift of sacrifice. There are two extremes:
- Those who celebrate it like the rest of our culture does
- Those who only get “spiritual” about it when it’s here
Why should I have to wait untiil Christmas to celebrate Emmanuel? Why should I have to wait for Thanksgiving to break bread with others (especially since Jesus did it so often)?
The Christian lifestyle is not meat or drink, but joy in the Holy Spirit. Today, and always. I would be just fine with sleeping right through Christmas and not feel guilty about it. My king lives and I celebrate Him (or should celebrate Him) whenever there’s breath in me.
We make too much of those who celebrate it and we make too much of those who don’t. If you are looking for me, I’ll be in the temple eating the showbread!