By Not Known
Ever since the Roman Emperor Constantine decided that Christmas should be
celebrated on December 25th, the festival has grown in its trimmings.
Special church services were organised and magnificent Christian music written
to celebrate the coming of the Christ. Over the years we have added Christmas
presents, cards, trees, holidays, parties, the turkey and all the rest of it.
And so we come to the lavish spectacle of Singapore’s Christmas. For a secular
state where Christianity is a distinct minority, our Christmas is quite a national
event! It’s easy to have a light and joyous spirit amidst the holidays, street
decorations, special food, family gatherings and gifts.
Let’s imagine another Christmas.
What would your Christmas be with no holiday, gifts, decorations, tree, food or
family gathering? Let’s even remove Christmas carols and special church
serivces.
What is left when we remove the Christmas trimmings? The answer is simple:
‘Jesus’.
Consider these texts:
‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has
redeemed his people. He has raised up a horn ofsalvation for us in the
house of his servant David‘ (Luke 1:68-69)
So also, ‘when we were children, we were in slavey under the basic
principles Of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent his
Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that
we might receive the full rights of sons.‘ (Gal 4:3-5)
This is God’s Christmas: there are no trimmings; just sinners needing a
saviour and God sending Jesus.
Is God’s Christmas enough for you, or have the trimmings taken over?