Leaving the "True meaning of Christmas" battle behind

Every December, many Christians may find themselves caught in the familiar tug-of-war with the World over the “true meaning of Christmas.” It is the battle over what the holiday is supposed to be—the religious celebration of the birth of Christ— against the secularized, cultural celebration of family traditions, festive cheer, and commercialism. Christians often feel the need to sound off, in a way that almost sounds grumpy, reclaiming Christmas from the secular world, hoping to win this fight of preserving its Christian essence amid the rampant consumerist, generic, exclusively human and materialistic celebration. 

But this ship has sailed. Christmas has moved past the Christian observance in the western society at large. If you look closely, even in some Christian circles. For many, it is a season of holidays, festivities, and shared traditions, regardless of any particular religious meaning or avoiding the Christian exclusiveness in Jesus. While the secularization of the holiday is undeniable,  many Christians continue to try to make their voices heard over the noise of the massive secularized voices, hoping that somehow they can turn the tide back to a more religiously focused celebration.  However, the idea of “the true meaning of Christmas” is increasingly irrelevant to those who see the holiday as a time for family, food, festivities, and goodwill—things that can be good by themselves, though not rooted in the Gospel. It is almost like "nobody cares", including increasingly secularized and culture-adherent so-called Christian Churches. As much as we might wish for a world that sees Christmas only through a Christian lens, this is not the world we live in. 

This battle may not only be pointless—it risks missing the point of Christmas altogether.

Instead of fighting to force culture to preserve the Christmas Christian observance, Christians can focus on what they can offer in this season—living out the message of Christmas and sharing the Gospel of Christ with grace and humility. Arguing over the “true meaning” of Christmas helps more to create a divide between culture and Christianity, and less to create bridges and connections, reinforcing this the very cultural boundaries we hope to overcome. The world may not share our faith, but it does share a longing for joy, peace, and connection that Christmas brings. 

This is where Christians have the opportunity to share something beyond a "true meaning" -- the Truth Himself: Jesus, and the hope, forgiveness, and life he brings. On Christmas we are free to love, live and share Jesus, the Son of God, Redeemer and Saviour. We don't need to do the work of the Holy Spirit, fighting a losing battle for relevance in the public square. Led by His inspiration we can offer a living witness to the Truth of Christmas—God’s love made flesh in Jesus Christ to bring light to darkness, joy to sorrow, and salvation to humanity. It is true that people are always looking for true meaning in life, but here we have the opportunity not to show grumpiness and a feisty spirit, but to show that the Truth and the joy of Christmas is the gift of God’s love offered freely, and the hope of eternal life is made known.

But here's a challenging thought: perhaps, it is not a shame that Christmas has become secularized in culture. Perhaps it is a blessing that it has come to this point. With the Christian meaning of Christmas separated from cultural, commercial, philosophical and motivational improprieties and distortions, we are free to be the holders and announcers of its essential message. We are no longer under to the expectations of a "Christianized" cultural holiday. We shift the focus from a battle to a conversation about

what Christmas is: God’s incarnation in Jesus Christ, coming to bring peace, hope, and salvation to a broken world. In this space, free from the distractions of a dominant cultural narrative, we reclaim our unique opportunity to shine the light of the Gospel without distortion, offering the world the Christmas beyond cultural and seasonal expectations.

Leaving the "the true meaning of Christmas" battle behind, and focusing on sharing the Truth of Christmas —the love, grace, and redemption found in Jesus Christ, we meet people where they are. We stop arguing about what Christmas should be in the World, and keep on living out the joy of Christ’s birth as revealed in the Word, in a way that speaks to the human heart. We will proclaim, live and share Christ as the centre of Christmas, Easter, daily life, and eternity. 

Which is really what Christmas is about.