Two Sorts of Christmas

This year, two sorts of Christmas are on offer. Which will you be celebrating? One sort is Jesus Christ Christmas focusing on Jesus: how he was born, why he came. The other sort is Everything Else Xmas - far more popular, it is about anything but Jesus. Of course, there may be a nativity scene, and some carols, but that's not the heart of it. It's called Christmas, but almost any other name would be more suitable: party-mas, family-mas, tele-mas, turkey-mas, booze-mas, presents-mas ... but not Christmas. But the two sorts of Christmas may have one thing in common: they're both about giving - either God giving or Santa Claus giving. How do they compare? Does it matter which one you celebrate? Ask yourself these three questions...

What Sort of Stuff?

We all know what Santa gives: it's in the shop windows and the catalogues (from September!) Santa gives once a year. Why? One reason is that everything he gives either wears out, runs out, rusts out - or gets nicked. Some things are forgotten by New Year. Other things last longer... but often because they just sit around, not needed, not used. Santa certainly needs to keep filling up those stockings. So what about God? His 'giving' is not every year but once, and his 'gift' is not things but a person:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (all quotes from the Bible, NIV)

God gave his unique Son, Jesus Christ, as the very first Christmas present; and together with him God gives, the chance of forgiveness and of getting right with the God who made you, God's power within you, enabling you to live in the way you should, and the certainty of eternal happiness in the World to Come - 'heaven' rather than hell. God's gifts are never disappointing, and they last forever.

Who Pays the Price?

Santa churns out the presents year on year. How does he fund his operations? Who pays the elfish workforce? In reality, it's Mum or Dad who feel the pinch at Christmas time; Santa's 'generosity' costs him nothing!

What about God? Now there's a sacrifice! God gave the most valuable gift in all the world. In the person of Jesus, God invaded our world, lived as one of us, and died a cruel death in the place of the guilty. Yet God doesn't charge us. How could we ever pay? Could we ever merit this great rescue mission? Can we reimburse Jesus, who gave his life so we might have life? Even suggesting that we might contribute would be an insult; our part is simply to trust the provision God has made. In one sense, God's gift costs us everything: God wants all of us - our life, love, loyalty. But he gave Jesus to us entirely freely, at his own expense.

"...you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich."

Who Gets the Gifts?

We know the 'Santa' theory: it all depends on whether you're good enough. Which sounds nice. But the reality is rather different! It may depend on whether Mum can get credit or Dad can face another loan. You have to be good... but the whole Christmas thing so easily descends into selfishness, family feuds, over-eating, binge drinking, wastefulness, and spoiled or disappointed kids.

What about with God? Does he discriminate like Santa? Do you have to have been good to benefit from his gift? The truth could not be more different. Jesus himself said,

"It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

The requirement isn't a good life - rather, you qualify on the basis that you're bad, sinful! You have to own up to falling short of God's standards and breaking his laws; to admit that you love yourself more than your neighbour, and that you love God hardly at all. And you have to say sorry, turning from the old ways (that's what 'repentance' means) and trusting in Jesus alone for forgiveness, new life and hope.

The stark reality of 'Everything Else Xmas' is that rich kids get more. By contrast, with God you only benefit when you admit you are morally bankrupt, deserving God's judgement:

"...the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

So which will it be - Jesus Christ Christmas, or Everything Else Xmas? Jesus issues the challenge:

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven..."

Despite the general chaos and confusion, Christmas is still a great time to discover the real life-transforming good news of Jesus Christ. Why not attend a church where this message will be clearly explained? Why not request something to read that will open your eyes to real hope. Amidst the emptiness of our modern society, which is so evident at Christmas time, why not seek the truth?

And may you experience a truly happy Christmas...