You know, I really hate this time of year. Some people might find that rather strange, given that I’m a Christian, and after all – Christmas is about Christianity. Right?
Well, yes, this is true. But I don’t hate this time of year because of that. It’s because it’s so incredibly far from how it was supposed to be. As it’s getting late, I’ll just mention a couple of examples.
Firstly, Christmas is all about Christ. That much is obvious. I just find it so incredibly ironic that Christmas is probably the most stressful time of the year for many people (buying presents etc) — many people seem to get into debt and work themselves into a stress about it. And all this for the celebration of a man who once said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Jesus is the bringer of peace, not stress and chaos!
Another thing that annoys me leads on from that. What about peace, huh? People often quote at Christmas, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” You know, all that stuff about goodwill to all men. Well, (a) when do you see that at Christmas? All I see is frenzied consumerism; (b) that’s not really what it’s on about. This is: “… [talking about Jesus] For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”
Our peace comes first and foremost from our peace with God. If we have peace with God, we have peace with each other. Let’s not go around espousing pithy little “goodwill” messages (I just hate the superficiality, even hypocrisy, of people saying that) — instead, let’s take a deep, long look at our own lives and see how best we can make them peaceful, with God and with each other.
And that’s enough for now!
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