As the days approach Christmas, more and more I am coming to realise that the meaning of Christmas is forever in danger of being pushed aside for other meanings we try and attach to it. As the shops stay open later, and are filled more than ever with people hungry to max out their credit cards, consumerism beings to take over from the meaning of Christmas. As there are fights over whether councils will display nativity scenes, more and more people are wanting to cut out the idea of a baby lying in a manger, altogether.

However, lately I have been confronted with the fact that it isn't only non-Christians that are pushing aside the real meaning of Christmas. Many Christians seem to be doing all they can to buy into the other 'ideas' of Christmas as much as non-Christians, and that is making me angry.

The other day I was listening to the radio station of Hope 103.2, and on came Michael W. Smith's song Christmas Day featuring Mandisa. Whilst I have several of Michael W. Smith's CD's, and have been quite impressed with his worship albums he has produced, I was shocked after hearing this Christmas song. What really shocked me was that part-way through the song a children's choir sing, "Make the cookies for old santa. Make a runway for his sleigh." What?? Why on earth does Santa even get mentioned in a Christmas song by a leading Christian Worship leader? Now I am not attacking parents who decide to tell their children about "Santa", but what I am doing is attacking this lie which has crept its way into the praises that we are meant to be lifting up to Christ - to the real meaning of Christmas.

However, the attack against the real meaning of Christmas doesn't end there. Even Hillsong Church continues this blatant lie in their Christmas Spectacular. For the advertisement of their Spectacular, it says this: "The Christmas Spectacular is always special. There will be live musical performances, dancing, special guests, and beautiful carols for all to sing, plus a visit from Santa!" In this description about the Christmas Spectacular, there is no mention of Christ, no mention of a baby in a manger, no mention of any nativity scene, and no mention that God has anything to do with Christmas. Instead, it mentions that there will be an appearance from Santa.

Sorry but I don't go to Church to see Santa. I don't go to Church to hear about a lie that we have all made up, and undoubtably know that it is a lie. I go to Church to hear about the God who came down here, as a baby, fixed His eyes upon the cross, and defeated death. Why? So that we might know Him and have a relationship with Him. Santa hasn't done anything for this world except caused us to take our eyes away from the real meaning of Christmas. Now I know that not all Christians are like this, and in fact I hope most Christians uphold the true meaning of Christmas, but whatever we do over Christmas lets be sure that we don't destroy the real meaning of CHRISTmas, and instead turn our eyes to the baby that is God.

Disclaimer: The blog entries on this website represent the views of the author, and do not necessarily represent the views of this Church.

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