Christmas Adventure

The turkey was barely cold before shoppers hit the stores last week for “Black Friday.” Some found unbelievable deals while others found disappointment because they missed the specials.

Amazingly, some actually finished all their Christmas shopping last weekend. But why were they buying gifts? The reason many buy presents is for a holiday that could be called ‘Giftmas,’ the tradition of exchanging gifts. In many homes it’s all about the presents.

For an increasing number of Americans the Christmas tradition centers on putting up pretty lights and a tree. Then they worry about what gifts to put under the tree. But if a gift exchange is the only point of Christmas, we’ve settled for second best.

“Now hold on just a minute! Are you trying to ruin family Christmas celebrations?”

No--just the opposite. Hear me out. I’m suggesting that, to improve your family’s Christmas celebration, it might be advantageous to add a new tradition. Would you consider that?

It might even be exciting—sort of a Christmas Adventure—to add something new to your family traditions. So if you’d like a real adventure, introduce Advent to your family this year.

What is Advent? During the weeks before Christmas many Christians and churches intentionally focus on a 2,000-year-old event--an event that divides history and unites Christians.

Of course I’m speaking of the birth of Jesus Christ. His birth divides time into B.C. (“Before Christ) and A.D. (“Anno Domini” – Latin for “in the year of our Lord”). And Christ’s birth unites Christians because all agree it’s the defining moment in history.

The word ‘Advent’ means the arrival of something. So Advent is the four-week period before Christmas preparing to celebrate the arrival of the Christ Child 2,000 years ago.

Once Thanksgiving is over, people often remark about how “Christmas will be here before you know it.” Well, celebrating Advent is a good way to prepare and to ponder why Jesus’ birth was important. Even though Advent began last Sunday, there’s still time to celebrate it.

Without Christ, Christmas celebrations become about us--the decorations, the food, the parties and the gifts we like. Advent helps keep Christmas about Christ.

But even if you focus your Christmas celebration on the birth of Jesus, you won’t necessarily have Christmas joy. Why not?

Well, why do we celebrate the birth of someone who lived 2000 years ago? We don’t celebrate the births of Plato, Aristotle or even Socrates. So why celebrate Jesus’ birthday?

Because Christmas is the day “God moved into our neighborhood.” That’s significant.

Jesus showed us what God is like and that he wants a relationship with us. But he not only showed us, he made it possible. How? His death on the cross makes it possible for the sin that separates us from God to be forgiven. Result? We can become children of God by faith in Jesus.

So Jesus’ birthday is significant to you if your faith and trust are in him as your Savior. Otherwise, why bother celebrating Christmas? Until Christ has changed your life, his birthday is no different than other days. But as a child of God you want to celebrate—because he’s family!

Now I’m not telling you what to do. I’m just thinking about how Christmas can be more of a benefit to us than just increasing our stash of stuff. One way is to make it an Advent-ure.

Here’s a suggestion: During December buy an Advent calendar for your family. Attend a church that celebrates Advent and introduces people to Jesus Christ as their Savior. Then become God’s child by faith. When you do, you won’t believe the joy you’ll have at Christmas!

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!