“Thou shalt not take the [N]ame of the Lord your God in Vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh [H]is [N]ame in vain.”                                                                                                                                            (Exodus 20)

 

Preface:
I know this is a tricky topic and it seems like Christ-ians should stress the Christ in  Christ-mas. I’m not certain, though.  It’s the same with prayers in school, I’m not certain that prayer in school is a wise thing. These comments at (1st) first read may sound contrary to the faith, but let me suss out my thoughts while you read this article. I am not taking a doctrinal or dogmatic stand on this topic, no, not at all. I am not taking anykind of intellectual or moral high ground. I am simply typing some thoughts on a blog for others to read if they want to. I do not press my personal view, nor do I judge others that have contrary views. So here we go.

I, personally, do not see Christ-mas as a Christian holiday. That is not to say I do not enjoy the season, i do enjoy the time of year when others try to be better people, if only for a few days. I have no problem with vendors or businesses saying, “Happy Holidays” as a policy.  Neither do I try to cast a shadow on others who enjoy this holiday. I would draw your attention to a few considerations, however.

There should not be any debate among Christ-ians on the exaltation of the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. So when the church tries to make it a point to say, “Merry Christ-mas” and want others to do so as well, the others being lost persons that have no real vested interest in Christ, is this not causing our Lord’s Name to be used in Vain?

I would rather not have persons, who care not for my Lord, throwing and tossing His Name around for a couple of weeks in December.

Like I said, I enjoy the holidays season, of course I enjoy giving gifts and getting gifts…thoughtful gifts from others who love me, but I need not pretend that it is a celebration of my Lord’s birth or that I am giving gifts to others in Christ’s Name, I do that all year long, by paying for persons items in convenience stores and making it clear that it is because of my Lord’s goodness to me that I share His goodness with others.

I celebrate my Lord’s Birth, Life, Death and Resurrection, His Ascention and Promised Return each and every day by getting up, per God’s grace and mercy, as they are new every day, and doing what pleases God as well as I can and confessing my sin when I displease Him and taking comfort in the fact that Christ’s defeat of sin and death promises me the Godhead’s forgiveness and comforting love. Therefore, I enjoy X-mas as each and every day as it is a day that the LORD has made,[and] i will rejoice and be glad in it like I am priviledged to do each and every day.

I suppose the point I am attempting to make is celebrating (1) day of the year as a celebration of my Lord so that I can give and get is a little to close to crossing God’s commandent than i should dare.

Another reason I shy away from looking upon the (25th) twenty-fifth as a day of celebration is, I do not want to celebrate a day with the world, that is God’s enemy, in the Name of His Son.  Again, we do enjoy that day and enjoy all the festivities, all the giving and getting, all the family and all the friends, but it is not done so in my Lord’s Name. It is done as another day that the LORD has made and it is another opportunity to rejoice and be glad with others who do not rejoice and are not necessarily glad the other (364) three-hundred and sixty-four days of the year.

Also, It is very close to idolatry, if not blasphemy, when persons celebrate Santa Claus and God’s Son on the same day. One cannot serve God and mammon, as Christ has said. In any event, we will enjoy the Christ-mas/ Xmas/ Holiday season but we will not exploit Christ’s Name when doing so or pretend that it is acceptable when the world (God’s enemy) is exploiting Christ’s Name.

Thinks me, this is a reasonable stand on this topic. What say ye?

Godspeed.