Quite the Party

Wal-Mart is throwing the Christmas party for America again this year.  And Best-Buy is co-hosting.

They've already sent out the invitations.  The decorations are up.  They've started playing the party music.  They've set the theme: Consumption.  And we will all send in our RSVP shortly, if not already.

Churches around the country will be hosting smaller, less well-attended events.

What is it about Christmas that evokes this annual frenzy?  Of this I am certain:  it is not love of Jesus or hunger for the Kingdom of God.

I think it is time for Christians to stop saying Jesus is the Reason for the Season.


Love of family might be the reason for the season.  The delight in the eyes of small children as they approach a tree under which presents sparkle and shine.  The feasts over which we give thanks and the tables around which we gather to laugh and remember, update and plan.  The ease of a long day off with people we love and the happiness of cousins entertaining themselves while the adults only sort of pay attention to them.

Beauty might be a reason for the season.  The lit trees that hold ornaments and memories.  The candles that scent a room with sugar and spice.  The extra glitter that dusts our homes, the snow, the mood.

Sentimentality might be the reason for the season.  Participating in the familiar traditions makes us feel good and connected to people who may no longer be with us and memories that are more sweet than bitter.  A touchstone for the child that dwells within us and fondly (mis)remembers the way it used to be.

But Jesus?  Not so much. 

If Jesus were the reason for the season, we'd be sacrificing more, indulging less.  We'd be praying more and shopping less.  We'd be feeding the hungry, not over-feeding ourselves.  The world would be a different place in January if we spent Advent standing on the side of the poor, rather than the aisle of Bed, Bath and Beyond. (Not that I don't understand we have a civic duty to spend, spend, spend. But I wonder: are civic duty and christian duty the same thing. That would be a post for another day.)

I like Christmas. I really do.  I like the presents, the trees, the food, the family, the Grinch and Santa.

But Jesus is not the Reason for much of we do at Christmas.

The party Jesus invites us to?  Not much flash.  Not much show.  Some feel-good carols and some beautiful candles.  And the hard work of transforming the world with the unbelievable power that is ours.  Our wealth.  Our health.  Our time.  Our creativity. Our love.  Our imaginations.  Our intelligence.  Our strength. The Holy Spirit.  All gifts from the One to whom we belong.

"God-With-Us" isn't an afterthought or faith-filled fairy dust we sprinkle on our cultural holiday. It isn't piggybacking on Rudolph or playing second-fiddle to Santa.  "Behold I make all things new" isn't about Mattel or Hasbro.  "Go and sin no more" isn't about the party last night, it's about our choices for tomorrow.  "I come that they might have life, and that more abundantly" is a better deal than a new laptop.

We bear in our hearts and in our churches an invitation to a life worth living, full of purpose and promise.  We teach compassion over consumption. Courage over fear.  Forgiveness over grudges.  Love over hate. Peace over war. Life over death.  Triumph over defeat.  It's not as shiny as a new bike, but we've got something to offer the world, indeed.

Thankfully, even though Christmas is a terrible advertisement for Jesus, it is a great time of year filled with family, food and celebration.  I just hope the other 11 months of the year Jesus dwells more visibly in us than the season that ironically bears his name.