“Seasoned Greetings” -president’s blog 12/21/09

“SEASONED” Greetings

                                                        by Evan Drake

 It seems like the world never stops fighting over whether Christ belongs in Christmas or not.  Recently, the Salvation Army bell-ringer at a local store greeted me with, “Hello, America.”  I don’t hold it against him, but I felt a cold chill when I put a few coins in the pot of the “Hollow, America” assistance for the less fortunate.  Maybe some well meaning people want to debate whether or not the origin of Christmas is pagan or biblical, but I’m really tired of having to defend the idea that Christ belongs in “CHRIST-mas”.  Christmas didn’t begin at the North Pole.  It had its start in Bethlehem, just over 2000 years ago.  And, as jolly as Santa Claus seems to be when you bump into him at the mall, he’s not really equipped to change your life or help you when you have a problem.  I don’t get quite so hung up by the fact that the world wants to ignore Christ at Christmas.  They didn’t get it right that first Christmas when the business people couldn’t make a little room for Jesus in their bustling economy and the political pundits decided that they might as well kill Him and get it over with.  But, what galls me is what they propose to replace Him with.  When you’re all done with Seasons Greetings and Happy Holidays, you’ve got a drooping tree, empty dreams of sugar plums and other less than perfect gifts that have already begun to fade before the wrapping paper is half opened, and plenty of bills to remind you that even if it is better to give than to receive, it’s not cheaper.  And, once again, Santa Claus didn’t show up on his appointed rounds and he sure isn’t planning to pay higher home heating bills for you.  So pour another cup of Christmas cheer, pack up the decorations and wait for the next Happy “Hannukwanzaxmas” to roll around and ask yourself, “Isn’t there something more to this season than Commercial-mas or KRIS-mas or whatever else Hollywood, Washington and Madison Avenue can throw together?”  Don’t get me wrong.  I’m all about finding another reason to celebrate, eat a big meal, and have some time off and enjoy family.  Just don’t rewrite History’s calendar and remove the most important event ever to take place.

          Therefore, I would like to propose that, this year, you consider “SEASONED GREETINGS” instead of SEASONS GREETINGS.  Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt.”  As Emeril says, “Let’s kick it up a notch.” BAMM!  A little more of Christ instead of less.  While the world is pulling Christ out of Christmas everywhere they can, let’s put Him back wherever we can.  Let’s not give in to the ACLU, the CIA, the SPCA and the PTA, and substitute something else for the only reason to celebrate Christmas.  The Reason for the Season, the One who puts the SPICE in our Holiday cheer is Jesus Christ.  CHRIST (means the MESSIAH/Anointed One)  – MASS (old European word for “worship service”) must be first and foremost a constant experience of worship of the Son of God who “became flesh and dwelt among us.”  So when you hear, Seasons Greetings, think, “Seasoned” Greetings, and talk about Christ.  When you hear Happy Holidays, think, Happy “Holy-days” and stop and thank God in heartfelt worship for sending Jesus.  When you see the tree, remember that the one who began life in a stable hung on a tree-carved cross at age 33 and died for the sins of the whole world, including yours.  When you see the inordinate pile of gifts under the tree, reflect on the greatest gift that was ever given when LOVE came down at Christmas and make sure that you have received that wonderful (and free) gift into your life and home, and that you are sharing that gift with everyone you meet.  When you ride by the house with 1000 megawatts of power coursing through the strings of lights, try to picture the beautiful (non-plastic and non-electric) star that hung over the Judean wilderness on those winter nights announcing the birth of the Savior and thank God for sending His light to change a darkened world.  When you see the X placed over the name of Christ, remember that the one that “they ignorantly worship” (for X is the first letter of Christ’s name in Greek) is being revealed in the hearts of thousands of men and women in spite of the world’s best efforts to send Him back to church “where He belongs.”  And when you get all of those credit card bills coming due in January, well, sorry to say, the best I can offer for that is to pray that Jesus comes back soon.

         So, let’s kick the Season of Christmas up a notch and center everything we do in our churches, our families and our lives around the CHRIST of Christmas.  He is the only reason for the season.  If there was no Christ, there would be no Christmas.  And so, let me wish you and yours SEASONED GREETINGS, and may the spice of a Christ-filled Christmas put a sparkle in your life this year. BAMM!!