Christmas is a Christian holiday—but you would never know it by the way the American culture celebrates it. For years, people have been arguing about whether there should be community-sponsored nativity scenes in the public square. Many have been removed. Most public schools have knocked from their student Christmas concerts any songs that refer to Jesus or God. Even the word Christmas itself has been eliminated from politically correct conversation. According to these rules, we should only be greeting one another with “Happy Holidays.” Since Christmas contains “Christ,” we must not offend anyone who is not a Christian by wishing them a Merry Christmas. Few Americans even consider that without God coming to earth as The Baby in the manger, there wouldn't even be a holiday. 

I hate the obliteration of Christ during this season that seems to grow stronger and stronger with every passing year.  Does the average American child even know why we celebrate Christmas? Here are some interesting statistics found by Pew Research Center in 2017 (https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/12/18/5-facts-about-christmas-in-america). 

1. Ninety percent of Americans and 95% of Christians say they celebrate Christmas, however only 46% of Americans say they view it primarily as a religious rather than a cultural holiday (down from 51% in 2013). Millennials are less likely than other adults to say they celebrate in a religious way. [Makes me wonder what will happen with the current generation of children as they become adults.] Fifty-six percent of U.S. adults recognize that religious aspects of Christmas are emphasized less than in the past, but relatively few are bothered by this.
2. Fifty-two percent of Americans say it “doesn't matter” how stores greet customers during the Christmas season (up from 46% in 2012). Only 32% choose “merry Christmas” (down from 42% in 2012).
3. Pew Research Center asked Americans if “Christian symbols such as nativity scenes should be allowed on government property, and, if so, whether they should be allowed by themselves or only if accompanied by symbols from other faiths.” Twenty-six percent say they should not be allowed under any circumstances (up from 20% in 2014). Thirty-seven percent say they should be allowed by themselves (down from 44% in 2014). Twenty-nine percent say Christian symbols should be allowed if they are accompanied by other religious symbols. This last statistic has stayed the same in recent years.
4. “In the 1980's, the Supreme Court handed down two landmark rulings that allow for displays of Christmas creches, Hanukkah menorah and other religious holiday symbols on public property so long as they do not actively endorse or promote a particular religion or religion in general.” It seems that in practice, putting religious symbols in displays with secular symbols such as Christmas trees or Santa Claus and reindeer, will better survive a court challenge.
5. A declining majority of Americans believe that the biblical Christmas story is based on actual historical events. Sixty-six percent believe Jesus was born to a virgin (down from 73% in 2014). Seventy-five percent believe Jesus was laid in a manger (down from 81 percent in 2014). Sixty-eight percent believe wise men, guided by a star, brought Jesus gifts (down from 75% in 2014). Sixty-seven percent believe an angel announced Jesus' birth to shepherds (down from 74% in 2014).  Nineteen percent of Americans say none of these things actually happened. [Remember these statistics are from two years ago, so the trends no doubt continue.]

With these continuing trends, it will become more and more unlikely that children who are not introduced to Christian beliefs in their homes will even learn the true meaning of Christmas. Instead, Santa Claus has taken center stage in America's celebration of Christmas. Santa is everywhere. In stores, shopping malls, parades, public events—even some churches. Every child knows who he is and most believe he is giving them all, or at least some, of the gifts they receive every year.

My Christian parents never told me Santa Claus was real, and I continued that tradition with my own children. I knew who was giving me each of my presents and it was great fun to wait and see who would give me what. I was the youngest of five siblings, with a difference of 14 years between my oldest brother and me. He was already working and could afford good presents, from my earliest memories. My favorite was a record player that played 45 rpm records. It was also great fun to pick out gifts for my family—which I was taught to do, saving money from chores and even being given some by my parents so that I could participate in buying presents for others.

But the emphasis on our Christmas practices was never on the presents. Living on a farm, we waited until my dad finished the morning chores before we gathered around the Christmas tree. My dad would open his Bible and read Luke 2 aloud. We would sing a Christmas carol or two. And only then did we open our presents. After that, we hurried to prepare to go to my grandparents' house about an hour away. There we always had a turkey dinner in their finished basement. The tables were long and my many aunts, uncles, and cousins would be gathered around them. Usually at some point in the day, a big group of us would walk down to Lake Erie which was just a block away. 

My mother told us how the many traditions of Christmas had come about—including how the Santa Claus legend originated—and about the man, St. Nicholas. It's an interesting story about a well-meaning and good man. Born around 280 A.D., St. Nicolas was a monk who had been orphaned as a child. He was left a large inheritance and used it to help the sick and poor. And from that we got Santa Claus who has through the centuries—and particularly in this century—become almost god-like. 

According to Christmas Chronicles, (2018, produced by 1492 Pictures and Wonder Worldwide, and distributed by Netflix) which has a well-known cast, Santa Claus knows all and sees all. The story is about a family who had always celebrated Christmas well. Mom and Dad believe in Santa, and then Dad dies suddenly—causing their teenage son to act out as a criminal and treat his sister badly. But the sister talks him into waiting for Santa on Christmas Eve, even though he is an unbeliever. It's a very entertaining story, and Santa turns out to be a very wise and good fellow through several humorous adventures on Christmas Eve. In the end, the teen son believes, forsakes his life of crime, loves his sister, and even talks to his dad who I guess is in Santa heaven. While it's a nice story, the very real problems of life are answered through lies that lead impressionable children far away from truth. This Christmas movie is typical Hollywood style.

And that's sad. Because the Truth is the reason we celebrate Christmas in the first place. Something far more lasting, fulfilling, and meaningful is the reason we still have this holiday, 2,000 years after the birth of Christ. The Love of God was sent to earth in the form of a Baby. He draws us to Himself and allows us to know who He is—the God of the universe! 

The story culminates in the death and resurrection of that Baby. This awesomely displayed grace of God only requires us to believe. Our lives are changed and we are able to get through struggles and problems that we could not, if we didn't know the Baby Jesus. That God-Man is with us, in us, and promises us eternal life with Him in a beautiful place He has prepared for us. Because we have some realization of what He has done for us, we are able to give our inheritances away to help others, and to love others just as we have been loved. 

There is no magic, only the love of God—which is far more substantial and real than our best Christmas memories. We don't have to be good to receive it, because we can't. We can't be good. There will always be death, crime, lies, problems, and struggles since we can't be good. We were born unable to cope with these problems, and we contribute sinfully to their causes. But then came the Baby, the God-Man, Who said He would take these burdens from us and onto Himself and pay the necessary debt we incurred, so we could be a part of His family. 

That is the beauty of Christmas. That is why it should be a quiet, yet joyous time, contemplating with our loved ones the wonder of it all. Rejoicing with music that reflects the wonder. Reading and absorbing the words of Scripture, the prophecies, the fulfillment, and the purpose. The beauty, the lights, the feasting, the giving of meaningful gifts—traditions that reflect the loving life of the Baby in the manger and His Father. These should be the traditions we instill in our children. If we don't, they certainly aren't going to learn them from the culture around us. They must know who the Baby in the manger is in order to do life.

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). Let us encourage and pray for one another during this season, that those of us who believe and know Jesus, celebrate these days by glorifying Him in our practices and traditions, brightening the artificial and darkening culture around us with True Light. 

“And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord' (Luke 2:9-11). Merry Christmas!