CW Weekly Devotional - "Reclaiming Christmas" > Clemson Wesley

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Monday, December 10, 2007

CW Weekly Devotional - "Reclaiming Christmas"
By laneglaze @ 9:58 PM :: 146 Views :: 0 Comments ::

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:8-11, KJV

Several years ago I read an editorial by Charley Reese entitled "Christians Can Reclaim Christmas." Reese opened his article with the following bold statement:

It is not too early for Christians to think about reclaiming Christmas from the merchants. These merchants have turned Christmas into a debt-fueled commercial orgy devoid not only of religious meaning but even of common sense.

Needless to say, this strongly worded introduction caught my attention. I was compelled to read more. The author went on to describe how the season’s meaning for Christians has been watered down over the years in favor of an expression that is more culturally friendly. Reese joked, "The idea that religion has to be fashionable is laughable. The eternal does not conform to the temporal." After several hundred words, he finally summarized the main point of his article with the following closing statement:

My real point is just to remind people of religious faith that they live now in a secular society as hostile to their faith and to them as the Roman Empire once was. Their faith is under virtually continuous attack - often subtle and indirect - by the government, by the entertainment industry, by academia and by the news media. The state-as-god is jealous and aspires to have nothing higher than itself. It positively views with great alarm those individuals whose first loyalty is to something above and beyond the state. Personally, I hold with George Washington, who said enemies of religion are enemies of republican government. Christmas is about Christ and the message he brought. It is not about snow or jingle bells or half-off sales. It should be celebrated at home and in church, not in the malls (emphasis mine).

Strong words to contemplate as we prepare to "celebrate" the holiday in our own special ways.

I am the first to admit how difficult it is to capture the "good tidings of great joy" in Luke’s story. Everything seems to be pulling us in the direction of more stress, more parties, more spending and more fatigue. It is so easy to allow the sacred aspects of the holiday to take a backseat to the worldly lures of shopping and "good cheer."

Throughout this Advent and Christmas season, I invite you to do your family, your friends, your loved ones but most of all yourself a favor. Instill a few daily practices into your life that will allow you to experience the joy of the Christ child's birth. Here are some possibilities:

Read a little of the Christmas story from the Bible every day.
Set aside time each week to sit in front of a lighted Christmas tree or Nativity scene and to reflect on how much God has blessed you and your family.
Send your regrets to at least one Christmas drop-in.
Pray daily that God will bring about "Peace on earth" for you and others during this time.
Volunteer your time or give of your resources to help the poor, the homeless, the sick or shut-in.
Attend church services, on Sunday morning and whenever possible, to help you stay focused on the true meaning of the season.

I hope this Christmas season proves to be the most uplifting and meaningful ever for each of you as you attempt to "Reclaim Christmas." I pray that this time will also be a time for you to grow in your knowledge and love for our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.

May God bless you and your family during this time and in the New Year to come!

Abiding in the field,
lane

Rev. C. Lane Glaze
Director - Clemson Wesley Foundation
Campus Minister - Clemson UMC
PO Box 1703 Clemson SC 29633
864-207-9135 (c) or 864-654-5547 (o)
www.clemsonwesley.com

Feel free to forward this email to a friend. The Clemson Wesley Weekly Devotional is a ministry of the Clemson Wesley Foundation, the United Methodist Church’s ministry to students on the campus of Clemson University. The purpose of this email is to look at issues relevant to the life of Clemson students through the lens of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you would like your name added to this list, email Rev. Lane Glaze at glaze@clemson.edu.

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