6 Ways You're Kicking Christ Out of Christmas

As Christians, we know the importance of keeping Christ in Christmas. Unfortunately, our world can make this a bit challenging. Take a look around you. Christmas has become the most commercialized holiday. Shoppers fight each other in stores to ensure they have their hands on the latest and greatest gadgets and toys and Santa, his reindeer and elves supersede Jesus in the yards of many. While it’s fun to experience the magic of Christmas with our families, more than anything it’s important that Jesus be the focus, not all of the things going on during the holiday season that distract us. He should never get lost in the commotion of Christmastime. Jesus should be the central focus of your life and surely not to be forgotten during the Christmas season. Here are six ways you may be kicking Christ out of Christmas.

Not Making Jesus the Focus

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With all the wrapping paper, boxes and bows drawing us to the more material side of Christmas; it can take some effort to keep our celebrations focused on Christ. Too often people get more caught up in everything but Christ when it comes to Christmas. But remembering Him is what will help us feel joy during the Christmas season and focus on its real meaning. Finding the real joy in Christmas come not in the hurrying and scurrying to get more done, nor is it found in the purchasing of gifts. We find real joy when we make the Savior the focus of the season. We can keep Him in our thoughts and in our lives as we go about that work He would have us perform here on earth.

Not Celebrating Advent

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Advent, which falls four weeks before Christmas is recognized by many Christians as the period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. The term comes from the Latin translation of “coming” and many prophecies in the Old Testament pointed to this promise. This waiting period is just as important at the day of celebration itself as we are reminded of His coming. Light an Advent wreath each day leading up to Christmas and find a daily Advent devotional that you can reflect on each day. This is also a great time for introspection. Remind yourself through daily devotion and prayer that in Him, there is no darkness all. Ask yourself where you are in your journey with Christ. If you’re not where you want to be, make it a point to change as the year transitions.

Excessive Commercialization

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One of the biggest ways we kick Christ out of Christmas is with the commercialization of Christmas. Likely the least religious aspect of Christmas is the one which involves the most time, effort and money: shopping. We rush to the malls to ship and to see Santa and his little helpers. None of us should be surprised when our little kids ask if the wise men came to Bethlehem in a sleigh pulled by Rudolph. The bottom line is that even though we all dutifully tip our hats to the real meaning of Christmas, all of us know that Christmas comes in a poor second to parties and decorations, gift giving and receiving, shopping and credit card exhaustion. By participating in the commercialization of Christmas, we are moving further away from the true meaning of Christmas.

Not Worshipping

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Christmas is a day to worship and celebrate God the Father and Jesus Christ. What needs to get back into Christmas is worship. As it was with the shepherds and angels, Christmas is about worship before it’s about anything else: falling on our knees, falling flat on our faces, adoring the brilliance of this God who comes to us as a baby, lying in a feed trough, breathing with other animals, wrapped tightly against the cold and the anxiety of leaving his mother’s womb. If every Christian worshipped that majestic mystery at Christmas, lived that worship in every moment of our celebrations, yes, but also actually worshipped in churches, storefronts, cathedrals and living rooms on Christmas Eve/or Christmas Day – wherever the body of believers they call home worships weekly – we likely wouldn’t have to worry about getting Christ back into Christmas.

No Reminders of Jesus

Many of us get caught up in the setting up the Christmas tree and all the decorations, but forget to highlight Jesus and His birth in our homes when He is what Christmas is all about. A nativity display is one of the best reminders of the joy of Christ’s birth. Set up a Nativity in your home and make that scene a focus. Some place them on their mantles or on the entry tables in their home. One fun thing you can do is hide the baby Jesus and have your family “seek” Him before opening any gifts. This will remind your children (and some adults) that the holiday is not our birthday but His. You can also place Christian ornaments on the tree so that we are reminded of Him every time we walk past it.

Being More Focused On Getting Than Giving

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Taking the time to give, and talk and pray is a really important aspect of Christmas. After all, Christmas is about celebrating our one true King and what better way to do that then showing love to those around us, specifically those in need. Time spent giving our hearts to Jesus has powerful and eternal effects. It’s extremely important that the season isn’t just about Santa, gifts and Christmas movies. The holiday season is the perfect opportunity to instill and develop a child’s philanthropic mindset while cultivating an attitude of gratitude. Finding ways to practice kindness doesn’t have to be a major production either. It comes in many different shapes, sizes and forms.