A few years ago, I interviewed some of our Sunday school kids. I started with a kindergarten class, and told them they needed to answer a few questions and that they would have to think really hard to come up with the right answers. The little pinched masks of concentration broke into smiles of relief, and every hand shot up when I asked: “How many of you have experienced more than one Christmas celebration?” My next question was greeted by a chorus of answers from little people who, even though they raised their hands, couldn’t wait to tell me the answer to my second question. The good news answer to: “Who’s coming on Christmas?”Their unanimous and enthusiastic response? “SANTA CLAUS!”
“But wait,” I protested, “don’t we expect someone REALLY important on Christmas?”
Faces lit up and hands waved frantically: “My Mom!” “My Daddy!” “My Aunt!” “My cousins!”
“Isn’t Christmas a celebration?” I asked, “Who do we celebrate on Christmas?”
“JESUS!” shouted the entire classroom in unison.
“Ah…,” I exclaimed, “so then… what do we NEED TO DO to prepare for Christmas?”
A few hands went up while the rest wrestled with the answer to this new question. Their responses: “Put up Christmas lights?” “Send Christmas Cards?” “Put out milk and cookies for Santa?” “Shop for presents?” “Decorate the tree?”
For each of their answers, I simply asked: “Won’t we still celebrate Christmas if we don’t put up lights? …send cards? …put out milk and cookies? …buy presents? …decorate a tree?” Slowly the hands went down. They were stumped. “Well,” I asked, “it’s a celebration, isn’t it? A celebration is like a party. What is the first thing we need to do to prepare for a party?”
This time, I had finally asked the right question. “Ask people to come,” said one. “Invite people,” said another, to which the others wholeheartedly agreed.
I’m not sure what kind of answers I expected to hear from 5-year-olds, but I was surprised that I heard nothing about setting up a manger scene, lighting Advent candles, or anything faintly religious in nature. As much as the kindergarten class surprised me, however, the first grade class blew me away! The first-graders seemed even less aware of the spiritual significance of Christmas than the kindergartners had been!
I was still stunned over how the older kids could be even more focused on Santa Claus and all the commercial aspects of Christmas as I sat down for worship later that morning. We had a guest preacher, Pastor Dave Nagler from San Diego. Although Pastor Nagler was preaching on giving, he had answers for me that morning. He spoke about the book Let the Children Come unto Me, and how the world “sells” us on our needs; suddenly he had answered my question.
It was simple, really. The first-graders, being a year older, had been exposed to hundreds of hours of more television, radio, recordings, billboards, peers, and the rest of the secular world. The younger children had simply not had as much exposure… yet. I wonder if we would be so quick to plop our children down in front of the TV if we could SEE a steady stream of lethal sludge pouring out of it, directly into our children’s pure little minds.
Now I am not condemning anyone, here. I am just as guilty as anybody. As a matter of fact, the seriousness of the situation really didn’t hit me until I experienced, and actually measured the numbing effect of the world on our spiritual lives, and the lives of those we love and care about. I challenge you, ask children about the latest new game or fad, and they will be able to tell you everything about it, right down to the tiniest little detail. Think back over the years, and you may remember Pokemon, Harry Potter, Transformers, Elmo, Dora the Explorer, and many other toys and games. If we take the time to listen, our children can expound at length on most of the strengths, weaknesses, and characteristics of their favorite games and characters. Ask those same children about the 10 Commandments, and you will only get a blank stare. The sad truth is that the world is fighting to win… not just our children, but every one of us! We are certainly in this world, but we are not called to be of this world, rather we are called to be Children of God.
So then, what do we NEED TO DO to prepare for Christmas, after all?
You probably have already guessed that it doesn’t have anything to do with trees, or wreaths, or presents, or lights, or even manger scenes. You can be certain that it’s not any tradition. You don’t have to memorize anything, learn a carol, or even attend a service. Those things may comfort us, but they won’t prepare us for Christmas. What then?
Remember, Christ ALREADY came to Earth. He was born, performed his ministry, was crucified and died for us, and defeated death by rising from the grave. He is not born again every Christmas like some video on an endless cosmic loop. Christmas is a remembrance of that, a time to reflect and focus, and remember that Jesus is waiting to be born. Not in Bethlehem, but in your heart.
Jesus wants to come into each of your lives. He comes as a precious baby, not as a demanding tyrant. He comes to lift you up, not weigh you down. He comes, not to add another responsibility or burden to your life, but as a loving friend and caring healer. He comes at Christmas. He comes today. He is here, knocking at the door of your heart. Will you be like the innkeeper, and be too full to let Him in? “There’s no more room. Sorry, the world has filled me up. I just can’t fit you in, Jesus!”
Preparing for Christmas isn’t difficult. Focus on Jesus. To quote an overused phrase: “He’s the reason for the season.” Let people know about Jesus… about the free and unmerited gift of salvation that they can receive. And that includes your children; you need to tell them as well. Are you listening for the quiet little knock? Will you throw open the door to your heart? Or will there once again be… no room at the inn?
Your brother in Christ,
Dave
